Parents Pledge to Protect Head Start Kids from Secondhand Smoke

In October, SIEDA Head Start invited us to meet with parents of pre-school children in Sigoureny and Fairfield. After the presentations, most parents signed Smokefree Home and Car Pledges. Here is a comment about the events from Stacy Hartweg, Director of the program:

"Although the new Smokefree Iowa Law now protects people from secondhand smoke in most public places, a high percentage of children are exposed to secondhand smoke at home. We have been very grateful that members of the local Tobacco-Free Coalition are available to help educate parents about the heightened risk that secondhand smoke poses to children. Two recent presentations by the Coalition to
parents were very well received and they seemed to make a difference. I believe the parents will now be much more sensitive to exposing their children to poisons in the air."

Gift boxes of health for low income families

JEL members from Keota and Fairfield High Schools have been busy wrapping small gift boxes for the holidays. 200 boxes were given to Lord's Pantry in Keokuk County and 500 boxes to Lord's Cupboard in Fairfield to be distributed to low income families with the holiday gift baskets to low income families.

Cessation Classes for the New Year

We are happy to offer to the public free tobacco cessation class again in January 2009. We had 6 participants in our November class. The next session starts Thursday, January 8 at 5:30 p.m. at Jefferson County Hospital First-Floor Boardroom. Call 641-209-2209 for more information.