WEBINAR: Tobacco-Free Parks: Keeping Michigan Parks Healthy and Beautiful for All

This webinar will discuss the benefits of commercial tobacco-free parks, beaches, and recreation areas. There will be practical tips for drafting, implementing, and enforcing these policies, and the presentation will feature a case study on the adoption and implementation of the Grand Rapids tobacco-free parks ordinance. There will an update about how the explosion in youth vaping rates raises new concerns for parks and communities.

After the educational program participants will be able to:

• Summarize the benefits of commercial tobacco-free parks.
• Discuss the characteristics of a strong commercial tobacco-free park policy.
• Describe strategies for how to adopt and implement, and enforce a commercial tobacco-free parks policy.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Amanda Gallaher is a Tobacco Policy Consultant with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Tobacco Control Program and has been working in public health for nearly a decade. She provides training and technical assistance to support Michigan communities across the state with adopting and implementing tobacco prevention and cessation policies, including tobacco-free parks, beaches, and recreation areas.

Carolyn Quiney is a Health Educator at the Kent County Health Department, working in Chronic Disease Prevention.  She primarily works on initiatives around Healthy Eating and Active Living, as well as tobacco control.  Carolyn coordinates the Tobacco Free Network Coalition in Kent County and has worked in tobacco prevention, cessation and advocacy for over 20 years.  Members of the Tobacco Free Network Coalition, in partnership with the City of Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation, Friends of GR Parks and the Urban League of West MI, worked to enact a tobacco-free parks policy for the city of Grand Rapids. After several years of laying the groundwork and gaining community support, this policy passed in the fall of 2020.

THIS WEBINAR IS ELIGIBLE FOR .1 CEU (CPRP/E)