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Young Lungs at Play is an initiative to eliminate children’s exposure to second-hand smoke in public parks, athletic fields, playgrounds and other areas where children play, through the adoption of 100% tobacco-free policies, ordinances, or resolutions.
4.5 trillion cigarettes are discarded each year worldwide, which adds up to 2 billion pounds of cigarettes butts!
The Council on Chemical Abuse provides support to Berks County municipalities, school districts, youth sports organizations and other groups to create tobacco-free parks and playgrounds. The Berks County Young Lungs at Play (YLAP) initiative is supported by the Health Promotion Council and funded through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Dozens of Berks County municipalities and organizations have already joined Young Lungs at Play to make their play areas smoke-free. Click here to see a list of participants.
Getting involved is easy! Watch a short video for details about our YLAP program.
COCA prevention specialists may attend meetings and provide technical assistance. They can also make available Young Lungs at Play resources, including sample ordinances, policies or resolutions (see links above), as well as sample press releases to notify the media and the community.
After implementing a tobacco-free parks policy, participants will be provided at no-cost, standard pre-printed 12”x 18” metal signs to place in tobacco-free area(s). Participating schools, organizations and municipalities will also be placed on the Pennsylvania Young Lungs at Play Honor Roll. Signs are available in English and Spanish.
Fill out the form below for more information on how to get your Berks County municipality or organization involved. Please note: The Council on Chemical Abuse provides YLAP assistance to Berks County communities only.
For more information, please contact Teresa Detweiler by email at TDetweiler@cocaberks.org or by phone (610) 376-8669, Ext. 136.
