For many families, Father's Day is a time to fire up the grill or treat Dad to a Sunday morning brunch.  Whatever a family's tradition may be, we recognize this as a time to say "thank you" to dads everywhere.

Unfortunately, many of the pregnant women you see are surrounded by people who smoke, including the fathers of their babies.  The good news for these fathers is that it's never too late to quit, no matter the age.  Even at an older age, quitting smoking can improve circulation and repair lung damage.  A study published in the American Journal of Public Health also showed that male smokers that quit at the age of 65 added up to two years to their lifespan and female smokers that quit at the same age gained up to three and a half years.

Quitting smoking has numerous benefits, but perhaps the greatest of all is more time spent with those we hold most dear: our families.   

Encourage fathers and grandfathers to give their children a gift they'll treasure by calling the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT NOW.  The Quit Line offers free counseling and medications to help you quit smoking for good. Dads and other BadgerCare Plus members may be eligible to earn money by taking part in a quit smoking research study.

Regional Practice Sessions will take place at the end of September in Eau Claire, Ashland, Madison, Milwaukee and Appleton.  This year we will be trying a new format, with video examples to critique and learn from, as a group.  While this format won't include role playing, it will allow providers to discuss and share how they handle resistant clients and challenging situations.  In addition to this valuable experience, we will also have a number of presentations on timely topics.  Look for more information and registration in next month's newsletter!