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; bhm@ansrmn.org

www.ansrmn.org