playing tobacco free: helping your community adopt a tobacco- free policy for its parks,...
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Playing Tobacco Free: Helping Your Community Adopt a Tobacco-Free Policy for its Parks,
Playgrounds, and Athletic Facilities
Brittany McFadden
Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation program,
Association for NonSmokers—Minnesota
Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation Overview
Minnesota-based statewide program of the Association for Nonsmokers—Minnesota
Funded by MN Dept. of Health to provide training, technical assistance, and materials to local MDH grantees and other advocates working on tobacco-free park and recreation policy initiatives in Minnesota
Evidence Supporting Our Recommendations
The Surgeon General’s Report (1994) and CDC recommend that communities adopt smoke-free policies as a strategy to prevent youth smoking
Park Policies Lay the Foundation for Future Local Policy Work Build relationships with policy makers Engage community members in policy discussions Build momentum for worksite/public places
ordinances Change community norms
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TFYR Successes
81 city & 2 county policies since 2001 2 cities have included their golf courses
Created a domino effect Signs are becoming recognizable from
city to city More cities are considering policies Unique niche of policy work
Why are communities working on park
policies?• Help change social norms about tobacco
use
• Ensure that participants and spectators are not exposed to secondhand smoke
• Promote positive role modeling
• Involve youth and community members in advocacy
• Reduce harmful cigarette litter
Minnesotans support tobacco-free park
policies Tobacco-Free Park & Recreation Study carried
out by the University of Minnesota in summer of 2004 Survey mailed to 2,400 adults from metro and
greater MN 1,500 surveys returned
Results: 70% of Minnesota adults support tobacco-free
park and recreation areas 66% of golfers support these policies 73% of families with children support these
policies
Minnesota park directors’ observations after implementing
policies: 88% reported no change in park usage
(no loss of park users) 71% reported less smoking in parks 58% reported cleaner park areas
U of MN Tobacco-Free Park & Recreation Study
Communities without policies have enforcement concerns
Of the MN Park Directors surveyed: 73% concerned about whether there
should be penalties 90% concerned about enforcement 49% concerned with lack public of
interest
U of MN Tobacco-Free Park & Recreation Study
Enforcement concerns are unfounded where policies are in place
Of the MN Park Directors surveyed: 26% reported compliance issues 24% reported staff concerns about
enforcement 39% reported difficulty monitoring
areas covered by the policy
U of MN Tobacco-Free Park & Recreation Study
How are these policies enforced?
Similar to other park policies, such as alcohol and litter policies, primary enforcement is with signs.
Most communities do not ask their police to actively patrol the parks. Instead, they rely on peer enforcement among park users.
Community awareness through policy manuals, newsletters, and local media.
Reminders at coaches’ or parents’ meetings, or signed statements from teams, participants, coaches, and parents.
Each department’s requirements vary – but some departments ask violators to leave the park area for the remainder of the event.
Policy Initiative Process
TFYR’s Policy Advocacy Handbook
• Developed in 2002
• Focuses on park policies
• Available online:
www.ansrmn.org/TFYR03Resources.htm
Involving Youth Advocates
Hands-on project that usually gets positive results
Youth are natural advocates since they are the regular park users
Youth gain experience in local government and public speaking
Opportunity to gain volunteer hours/improve college applications
Five Major Steps for Success
1. Assess your community2. Create your policy request3. Build support for your policy4. Plan your presentation5. Thank & Promote!
Mobilize Your Coalition(Steps 1-2)
Assess your group’s readiness
Attend TFYR’s policy initiative training Youth training packet
Assess the Community
(Steps 3-6)
Determine who makes the decisions
Inventory the community’s recreational facilities
Gauge community support
Develop your policy request
Build Policy Support
(Steps 7-10) Ask community members to support your
policy request Brochures Sample letters of support & petitions TFYR portable display
Collect cigarette litter as evidence
Capitalize on media advocacy
Find a champion from the Park & Rec staff
Hold informal discussions with policy makers
Assist with Policy Adoption
(Steps 11-16) Get on the agenda of Park Board or City
Council meeting Plan your presentation & prepare speakers
TFYR powerpoint Policy Maker’s Guide
Present policy request and evidence Assist in policy development Continue building support Attend remaining public hearings
Life after Policy Adoption
(Steps 17-18)
Assist with policy implementation Tobacco-free park signs Policy publicity packet Thank you postcards
Look for opportunities to promote the tobacco-free message
Sample Media Coverage
Sample Media Coverage
Sample Media Coverage
Educational Ads
Educational Ads
TFYR Publicity Materials
Signs Ads News releases Display Postcards Banners Pledges Posters
“Thank You” Postcard
TFYR Policy Resources
PowerPoint/overhead presentation for board and city council meetings
Policy Maker’s Guide to Tobacco-Free Policies for Recreational Facilities
Model policy for city-owned recreational facilities
Metal signs for Minnesota cities
Contact Information
Tobacco-Free Youth RecreationBrittany McFadden
Association for Nonsmokers-MN2395 University Ave West, Suite 310
St. Paul, MN 55114-1512(651) 646-3005; [email protected]
www.ansrmn.org