Tobacco control initiatives presented to board of health

Alyssa Reichelt from the American Lung Association gave a presentation on the tobacco control priority initiatives at the Jasper County Board of Health meeting Thursday. Reichelt updated the board on the latest funding to the county and shared initiatives the ALA is working on in the county and throughout the state.

Currently, Jasper County receives $30,447 in funding with $30,746 requested for fiscal year 2015-2016 based on population in the county. Of adults living in the county, an estimated 19 percent smoke, slightly fewer than the state average of 19.5 percent. Youth tobacco use in Jasper County is estimated at 16 percent.

Tobacco-free parks is an initiative ALA is working towards by providing assistance as needed to educate and provide resources to parks that are not yet tobacco-free in an effort to achieve a policy change. Currently, Mitchellville, Prairie City and Newton have tobacco-free parks with Reichelt working with the city manager in Monroe to formalize the policy in town. She is also seeking to get tobacco-free parks in Sully, Reasnor, Mingo, Kellogg, Baxter and Colfax.

“The focus, or the idea there, is to keep it a family-friendly park, role-modeling for the youth that are there. Environmentally, we need to keep the litter down and also just to focus on promoting a healthy life style,” Reichelt said.

Youth Tobacco Prevention groups is another initiative currently working in the county with PCM, Newton and Lynnville-Sully High Schools having active groups. Spring tobacco awareness initiatives were completed at PCM and Newton and a presentation on e-cigarette education was done in Newton as well. ALA is planning as second spring event with each group before school is out.

Finally, ALA is working to promote the implementation of voluntary smoke-free multi-unit housing policies. If a property management company or an apartment manager is interested in implementing a smoke-free policy, ALA can provide a free toolkit that details the process including financial benefits, enforcement, policy samples and legal support.

In other business:

• Tammy Stapp, administrator of Skiff Hospice, Home Care and Jasper County Public Health discussed the community health needs assessments. She also gave an update on the Skiff and Mercy affiliation.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com