Protivin promotes health by making parks tobacco-free
Tue, 06/27/2017 - 12:38pm
admin
Protivin - On June 13, the Protivin City Council voted in favor of the health of Protivin citizens by making all city parks tobacco-free.
Effective June 13, 2017, no person will be allowed to use any form of tobacco in parks under the new resolution. The Protivin City Council, Turkey Valley YODA (Youth Opposed to Drugs and Alcohol), Howard County Substance Abuse Coalition Prevention 5, and Helping Services for Youth & Families support this forward change.
Protivin Council members adopted this because they believe tobacco use in parks is detrimental to the health of everyone using the park system.
Promoting a tobacco-free park system enhances the quality of the parks by eliminating tobacco waste and creating an overall healthy environment for residents and visitors.
They also feel the tobacco-free resolution provides the opportunity to change community norms around tobacco use. Carol Kerian-Masters, Chief Nursing Officer states, “Regional Health Services of Howard County conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) every three years and tobacco use continues to rank among the top needs that community members feel we need to improve in Howard County.”
Helping Services assisted the community of Protivin in the resolution development and will be working with city officials to communicate the new resolution, including providing tobacco-free signs at no cost.
Helping Services Tobacco Prevention Coordinator, Tessa Willie, hopes to see other communities follow this trend: “We congratulate the City of Protivin for being the second community in Howard County to become tobacco-free. We hope more communities will consider implementing something similar. We commend Protivin’s efforts to support clean air and ensure all residents are protected from secondhand smoke.”
Serving families since 1973, Helping Services for Youth & Families is dedicated to responding to current health and safety needs of youth and families through empowerment, support, and education.
