PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - The South Dakota Tobacco Control Program has awarded $325,000 in grant funding to 13 community-school partnerships.

Each partnership was granted $25,000 to improve tobacco prevention and control efforts in their communities.

The partnerships carry out a variety of tobacco prevention activities throughout the year.

Colleen Winter is director of health and medical services for the South Dakota Department of Health.

She says tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in South Dakota and the United States. She says coalitions can help reduce tobacco's impact on communities.

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