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Involving Youth in Tobacco-Free Park Policy Initiatives
Brittany McFadden
Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation program,
Association for NonSmokers—Minnesota
2005 National Conference on Tobacco or Health
Chicago, Illinois
May 6, 2005
Co-Authors
Paula Anderson, Nobles-Rock Public Health Service
Katie Engman, Ramsey Tobacco Coalition
Rachel Hilyar, Anoka County Community Health
LeeAnn Mortensen, Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council
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
MDH supports locally driven efforts to create tobacco-free environments and change community norms
These are important strategies for decreasing youth smoking rates
Tobacco-FreePark & Recreation Policies
City or county-owned outdoor park and recreational areas: Parks, playgrounds, athletic fields,
beaches, etc. Some MN policies cover only youth events Recent MN trend is toward “all property”
policies for city and county-owned park areas
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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
Involving Youth Advocates
Hands-on project that usually produces a favorable policy outcome
Youth are natural advocates since they are regular park users and want to make their voice heard
Youth gain experience in local government, public speaking, and policy discussions
Opportunity to gain volunteer hours or improve college applications
Youth are often the focus of policy media coverage
Sample Media Coverage
Sample Media Coverage
Sample Media Coverage
Recruiting Youth Advocates
Consider age and experience with tobacco prevention activities
Utilize existing youth groups School tobacco prevention groups Youth centers Sports teams Youth you are currently working with
Work through school contacts Nurses Teachers Counselors
TFYR’s Policy Advocacy Handbook
Guide for tobacco control advocates
Focuses on park policies
Available online:
www.ansrmn.org/TFYR03Resources.htm
TFYR’s Youth Advocacy Training Packet
Developed as companion to adult advocacy handbook
Focuses on park policies
Worksheets allow youth to record their ideas
TFYR Policy Initiative Process
Mobilize Your Partnership
Step 1: Assess your Readiness
Step 2: Attend TFYR’s Policy Initiative Training
TFYR Policy Initiative Process
Assess the Community
Step 3: Find out Who Makes the Decisions
Step 4: Find out the Facts about Community Parks
Step 5: Gauge Community Support
Step 6: Develop your Policy Request
Youth Activities for Assessing the
Community Completed the “Recreational Facility
Inventory”
Determined who the key policy makers were
Generated a list of potential supporters (PTA, teachers, coaches, neighbors, athletic clubs, etc.)
Surveyed community members Paper survey in schools “Beads in the Jar” surveys at events
Created policy request
TFYR Policy Initiative Process
Build Policy Support
Step 7: Ask Community Members to Support your Policy Request
Step 8: Utilize the Media to Advocate for your Policy Request
Step 9: Find a Champion from Within
Step 10: Hold Informal Discussions with Policy Makers
Youth Activities for Building Policy Support
Contacted potential supporters, explained policy request, and asked them to support it by: Signing a petition Writing a letter Attending the Park Board or City Council meeting
Collected cigarette litter in local parks to use as evidence to the park board or council explaining the dangers of secondhand smoke and cigarette litter.
Met with Park Director or other city staff to learn about the policy adoption process
Collecting Cigarette Litter!
TFYR Policy Initiative Process
Assist with Policy Adoption
Step 11: Get on the Agenda of Park Board or City Council Meeting
Step 12: Plan your Presentation
Step 13: Make the Presentation Count
Step 14: Assist in Policy Development
Step 15: Continue Building Support
Step 16: Attend Remaining Public Hearings
Youth Activities for Assisting with Policy
Adoption Planned, practiced, and presented information:
Speaking roles Handouts (TFYR’s Policy Maker’s Guide) Cigarette butts Sample tobacco-free signs Potential questions from policy makers (mock
meeting) Continued to collect community support:
Letters of support Recruited supporters to attend upcoming vote
Policy Initiative Process
Life after Policy Adoption
Step 17: Assist with Policy Implementation
Step 18: Look for Opportunities to Promote the Tobacco-Free Message
TFYR’s Policy Publicity Packet
Youth Activities for Policy Promotion
Offered to help post the signs in the park areas Presented recognition certificates to policy makers Sent thank you notes or postcards to policy makers Placed educational articles and advertisements in
local/school newspapers Distributed cards or bookmarks describing the
policy at community events Marched in a community parade with a banner Participated in community cable show
Slice of Shoreview Parade
Customized Ads
Thank You Postcard
Lessons Learned from Local Advocates
Youth are busy; keeping them engaged can be difficult
Start initiative at beginning of school year Small group of energetic youth works well Community supporters attendance at the Park
Board and City Council meetings is essential Take time to practice the presentation in a
“mock meeting” setting Local politics and timing play an important role Find a champion inside City Hall Entire process can take from 3 to 12 months
“I'm so glad that I chose to be in the Ramsey Tobacco
Coalition! It makes people proud of me, and there have
not been many times that people have been proud of me.
I'm also proud of myself .”
--Youth Member, Ramsey Tobacco Coalition
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