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-Free Park & 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

Minnesota Cities with Tobacco-Free Park Policies May 2005

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

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: Resources.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 Recreation Brittany McFadden Association for Nonsmokers-MN 2395 University Ave West, Suite 310 St. Paul, MN (651) ;