Smoke-free Homes 

Community 

Action Kit

EPA 402-C-06-005

June 2006

O Customizable 

letters to the editor, 

public service 

announcements, 

and more 

O Slide presentations 

on “Health Effects 

of Secondhand 

Smoke” 

O State and national 

Smoke-free Homes

contacts

O FREE outreach and 

educational tools 

What’s Inside 
To Take the Pledge, Visit www.epa.gov/smokefree

Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

1

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

What You Need to Know ................................................................................................... 3

Section 1: How to Use this Kit ..................................................................................... 4

How is the Kit Organized? ........................................................................................ 4

How Do You Use the Information?..................................................................... 4

Section 2: Outreach Activities..................................................................................... 5

Suggested Activities....................................................................................................... 5

Local Programs’ Activities ......................................................................................... 6

Boulder County (CO) Health Department

Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership .......................................... 6

Carbon-Monroe-Pike Counties, Pennsylvania,

Drug and Alcohol Commission, Inc. ................................................................... 6

West Virginia Division of Tobacco Prevention ............................................... 6

Ideas for Other Activities............................................................................................ 7

Smoke-free Childcare ............................................................................................... 7

Outreach to Diverse Communities ...................................................................... 7

Community Baby Showers..................................................................................... 8

Issue a Press Release................................................................................................. 9

Coordinate and Publicize Special Events ......................................................... 9

Write a Letter to the Editor ................................................................................... 9

Write Opinion Editorials ........................................................................................ 10

Identify and Use Public Service Announcements (PSAs)......................... 10

Submit an Article ...................................................................................................... 10

(Click here to view and print a PDF document that includes all pages of the Kit and all of the linked files.)
To Order Smoke-free Homes Program Materials,

Call IAQ INFO at 1-800-438-4318

Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

2

Table of Contents

Section 3: Resources for Outreach....................................................................... 11

How Can EPA Assist You?......................................................................................... 11

Partnerships ................................................................................................................ 11

EPA’s Smoke-free Homes Products .................................................................... 12

EPA’s Asthma Products ........................................................................................... 15

What Additional Resources Are Available?................................................. 16

Technical Studies and Reports............................................................................ 16

Video .............................................................................................................................. 16

Customizable Documents ..................................................................................... 16

Section 4: Ordering and Contact Information.......................................... 17

How to Order EPA Products ................................................................................... 17

Contact Information .................................................................................................... 17
To Take the Pledge, Visit www.epa.gov/smokefree

Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

3

What You Need to Know

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed this Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

to assist you in educating your community about the risks that secondhand smoke exposure poses to children’s

health. The information and materials provided in this Kit are designed to help you develop ideas, implement

activities, and identify the resources available to initiate (or enhance) an existing community-based campaign to

reduce children’s exposure to secondhand smoke.

Why is this important? Studies show that infants and young children whose parents smoke indoors can be

severely affected by exposure to secondhand smoke. These children are at increased risk for a number of health

problems, including lower respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis. EPA estimates that

secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke, is responsible for between 150,000 and

300,000 lower respiratory tract infections annually in infants and young children under 18 months of age

resulting in 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalizations each year. Children regularly exposed to secondhand smoke are

more likely to suffer from symptoms of respiratory irritation like coughing, excess phlegm, and wheezing.

Secondhand smoke can also lead to a buildup of fluid in the middle ear, the most common cause of childhood

operations requiring hospitalization.

Children with asthma are especially at risk from exposure to secondhand smoke. EPA estimates that up to one

million children with asthma have their condition made worse by secondhand smoke exposure. In addition, a

2000 National Academy of Sciences study suggested an association between young children’s exposure to

secondhand smoke and the development of new cases of asthma in children who had not previously displayed

symptoms of the disease.

Nationally, EPA has worked with many organizations

to inform the public about the health risks, but we

need help locally – in your community. This

Community Action Kit helps you take action by

providing resources and suggested activities to connect

with your local media, businesses, civic groups, and

community groups. These activities will help make

real progress in reducing the number of children

exposed to secondhand smoke both in your

community and nationwide.

“EPA’s Community Action Kit is a great

resource – very comprehensive and well

organized. We have found the Smoke-free

Homes Program to be a great way to reach

pregnant women and families with young

children.” Joan, Rice County Minnesota Public

Health Nursing Service, Minnesota

What You Need to Know

Thank you for your interest in taking

action to protect children’s health!
To Order Smoke-free Homes Program Materials,

Call IAQ INFO at 1-800-438-4318

Community Action Kit

4

Section 1: How To Use This Kit

EPA’s Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

provides important information to help

organizations implement community-focused

programs to reduce children’s exposure to

secondhand smoke.

How is the Kit

Organized?

The Kit is organized into three main sections that

cover the following topics:

z Ideas for outreach activities and samples of local

programs.

z Free resources available for your outreach

activities.

z Resource ordering, reference, and contact

information.

The Kit contains useful tools such as customizable

letters, a sample press release, a ready-made

secondhand smoke presentation (in both English

and Spanish), and sample public service

announcements (PSAs). You can click on the

underlined links in the Kit to navigate through the

various sections and attachments. A print-ready

version of the entire Kit is available on the CDROM and can be accessed by clicking on the link in

the Table of Contents.

How Do You Use

the Information?

This Kit centers around the Smoke-free Home Pledge

– a tool to help you secure commitments from

parents and other caregivers in your community to

make their homes smoke free. After taking the

Pledge, parents receive materials to help them

communicate that smoking is not allowed in their

home. Pledges can be made in person, by calling the

Smoke-free Home Pledge Hotline (1-866-SMOKEFREE), or by visiting EPA’s Web site: www.epa.gov/

smokefree.

Use these steps to plan and implement effective

smoke-free homes activities in your community to

help families live healthier, happier lives.

Section 1: How to Use This Kit

Steps to Getting Started

1. Review the Kit for ideas of activities that

could work in your community.

2. Determine how you can incorporate

Smoke-free Home messages into your

existing activities.

3. Review the list of free resources and

identify materials that will complement

your planned activities.

4. Use the sample letters in the Kit to invite

other organizations to join in or cosponsor an event or activity.

5. Promote your program and obtain local

coverage on secondhand smoke and

upcoming events.

6. Celebrate your successes and share them

with EPA.
To Take the Pledge, Visit www.epa.gov/smokefree

Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

5

Section 2: Outreach Activities

Section 2: Outreach Activities

Hold community events!

z Community baby showers

z Health fairs

z Carnivals

z School or childcare center open houses and

back-to-school events

z State/county/city fairs

z Anniversary events of state and local“Clean

Indoor Air” campaigns

Create educational activities!

z Songs z Scavenger hunts

z Coloring books z Puppet shows

There are a variety of activities you can undertake to

support and build your smoke-free homes program.

This section:

z Lists some activities you might try in your

community.

z Highlights examples of successful smoke-free

homes programs from three states.

z Details three specific activities and associated

resources that have been used successfully by other

smoke-free homes programs.

As you review the activities listed below and begin to

plan your own program, keep in mind that EPA has a

variety of free products and resources available to assist

in your efforts. For a listing of resources see Section 3,

and for ordering information see Section 4.

Suggested

Activities

Consider using one or more of the activities listed

below to promote your smoke-free homes program.

z Host educational workshops

z Hold a poster design contest

z Sponsor pledge challenges

z Host smoke-free homes storytelling events

z Post pledges to maintain smoke-free environments

on a community pledge wall

z Link your Web site to EPA’s Smoke-free Homes

Web site

z Promote EPA’s Smoke-free Home Pledge Hotline

z Sponsor “No Tobacco Day” at a sporting event

z Create a smoke-free homes mascot

z Make goodie/tote bags to distribute at events

z Sponsor movie theater advertisements

z Show videos in healthcare settings and waiting

rooms

z Generate media publicity

 Secure guest speaking spots on local radio or

cable network stations

 Create opportunities to air radio and

television public service announcements

(PSAs)

 Place stories and op-ed pieces in your local

newspaper

z Coordinate with community asthma events
To Order Smoke-free Homes Program Materials,

Call IAQ INFO at 1-800-438-4318

Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

6

Section 2: Outreach Activities

Local Programs’

Activities

These examples highlight local programs that are

using unique approaches to promote smoke-free

homes in their communities. For other case studies

of effective local programs, please see EPA’s Local

Programs Promoting Smoke-free Homes series at:

www.epa.gov/smokefree/community.html.

Boulder County (CO) Health

Department Tobacco Education

and Prevention Partnership

Collaboration: Partnered with Community Infant

Project, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

clinics, “Bright Beginnings” educational program

for new parents, and physicians to educate the

public about secondhand smoke.

Publicity: Produced articles and print advertisements

and placed them in parenting publications, the

local newspaper, and a childcare center newsletter.

Workshops: Conducted training sessions for WIC

and childcare staff on the Smoke-free Home

Pledge and how to communicate with parents

and caregivers. Provided child care centers with a

sample education policy including strategies for

communicating the Smoke-free Home Pledge

campaign message to parents and caregivers.

Funding: Secured an EPA regional grant to support

the program.

Carbon-Monroe-Pike Counties,

Pennsylvania, Drug and Alcohol

Commission, Inc.

Puppet Shows: Developed short puppet shows

discussing the dangers of cigarettes and

secondhand smoke and performed them for

kindergarten and pre-school audiences.

Community Events: Displayed the Smoke-free

Homes Display Booth at health fairs and expos,

county fairs, school health and safety fairs, and a

local mall community day event.

Games: Developed the “Wheel of Misfortune,” an

educational tool for elementary school children

that addresses the dangers of secondhand smoke.

Publicity: Ran advertisements on billboards and in

movie theaters promoting smoke-free homes.

Funding: Supported by the Pennsylvania

Department of Health and the Single County

Authority (SCA), providing administrative,

planning, and coordination support.

West Virginia Division of

Tobacco Prevention

Collaboration: Partnered with the American Lung

Association of West Virginia to promote

programs addressing secondhand smoke and

clean indoor air.

Business Community Partnerships: Partnered with

the Wellness Council of West Virginia to reach

out to businesses by promoting the Smoke-free

Home Pledge to employees and their families.

Workshops: Trained counselors in the “Right from

the Start Program” to counsel Medicaid-eligible

pregnant women about smoking cessation and

infant and child secondhand smoke exposure.

Asthma Partnerships: Collaborated with the West

Virginian Asthma Education Program to include

secondhand smoke messages in their outreach to

families and physicians of children with asthma.

Funding: Secured a grant from EPA to fund this

program.
To Take the Pledge, Visit www.epa.gov/smokefree

Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

7

Section 2: Outreach Activities

Ideas for Other

Activities

Smoke-free Childcare

Childcare facilities and programs geared toward

young children (such as Head Start and WIC) are an

ideal setting for outreach activities. For example,

many childcare facilities are already smoke-free.

Childcare programs reach low-income and minority

communities with higher-than-average smoking

rates and often require parents to participate in

structured childcare.

Consider the following activities for childcare

facilities:

ÎProvide training and materials to facility staff

to educate them about secondhand smoke and

your smoke-free homes program. EPA’s

Secondhand Smoke Slide Presentation can be used

for the training along with EPA’s customizable

fact sheet and the Smoke-free Home Pledge

Brochure.

ÎIdentify existing activities where secondhand

smoke messages and materials may be

incorporated. You can customize the letters

provided in this Kit to reach out to childcare

facilities in your community to share the Smokefree Homes message.

ÎSpeak to parents to determine their smoking

behavior and to identify families that allow

smoking in the home.

ÎTrain family advocates to educate parents about

the benefits of keeping their homes smoke-free.

Incorporating EPA’s products, such as Help Your

Child Gain Control Over Asthma, the Smoke-free

Home Pledge Brochure, and Smoke-free Home

Pledge Poster, can help you educate families of

children with asthma about the linkage between

secondhand smoke and asthma.

ÎTrain teaching staff to incorporate secondhand

smoke lessons into their curricula. Dusty the

Asthma Goldfish and His Asthma Triggers

Funbook is a learning tool that teachers can share

with their students. For more examples of how

other organizations have incorporated smoke-free

homes messages into classroom lesson plans, refer

to EPA’s Local Programs Promoting Smoke-free

Homes series.

ÎDevelop a newsletter with smoke-free homes

messages to send home to parents. Consider

incorporating information from EPA’s

customizable fact sheet on secondhand smoke

and the Smoke-free Home Pledge Brochure into

the newsletter.

ÎTrain home visit staff to include Smoke-free

Homes messages in their consultations. To help

educate parents about triggers (including

secondhand smoke) of the child’s asthma,

encourage home visit staff to use EPA’s Clearing

the Air: 10 Steps to Making Your Home Asthmafriendly.

ÎHost a “kick-off” or “end-of-year” event for

children and families in the center or facility.

Displaying EPA’s Smoke-free Homes Display

Booth and Smoke-free Homes Banner will help

you capture families’ attention. You can also use

the Planning Guide for Pledge Events to collect

Smoke-free Home Pledges from parents and

provide certificates and other materials for

families who take the pledge.

Outreach to Diverse

Communities

Not in Mama’s Kitchen is one example of a successful

nationwide secondhand smoke campaign targeting

diverse communities. This program uses a

community-focused approach and the power of

family, church, and food to encourage women in

African-American and Latino communities to create

smoke-free zones.
To Order Smoke-free Homes Program Materials,

Call IAQ INFO at 1-800-438-4318

Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

8

Section 2: Outreach Activities

The Not in Mama’s Kitchen campaign, as well as

EPA’s bilingual materials, can be integrated into a

variety of programs targeted at reaching out to

diverse audiences. Add enthusiasm and creativity to

any smoke-free strategy by considering the

following activities:

ÎInvolve churches and other community groups

to gain support for your program. Consider

displaying the Smoke-free Homes Display Booth

and Smoke-free Homes Banner at church

functions (e.g., dinners, picnics, church camps)

and using the Planning Guide for Pledge Events

to encourage church members to take the Smokefree Home Pledge.

ÎReach out to media outlets that have

programming designed for your target audience.

Distributing copies of the customizable letters in

this Kit can help you educate station managers,

producers, and editors about secondhand smoke.

You can also provide media outlets with copies of

public service announcements (PSAs).

ÎTrain community health advocates to conduct

pledge drives based on EPA’s Planning Guide for

Pledge Events. Be sure to reward everyone who

takes the pledge with an item to remind them of

their commitment (e.g., a fan, pot holder, coin

purse, or coloring book). You can reach out to

community organizations with the customizable

letters included with this Kit.

ÎPartner with Not in Mama’s Kitchen to design a

campaign specific to your community and your

target audience. For more information on

partnering with Not in Mama’s Kitchen, please

visit: www.notinmamaskitchen.org.

Community Baby Showers

Part health fair, part community party, these events

hosted by local American Lung Association chapters

and other local groups are effective in reaching out

to low-income and minority pregnant women and

new parents. Showers can provide information on a

wide range of health topics such as secondhand

smoke, child nutrition, asthma, and lead screening.

ÎSet up a display area at the community baby

shower. Consider using the Smoke-free Homes

Display Booth and Smoke-free Homes Banner. You

can distribute copies of the Smoke-free Home

Pledge Brochure and Smoke-free Home Pledge

Poster and a customized fact sheet to educate

expectant parents about the dangers of

secondhand smoke.

ÎConduct a Smoke-free Home Pledge drive

based on EPA’s Planning Guide for Pledge Events

to collect pledges at the baby shower.

ÎProvide giveaways promoting your smoke-free

homes program. Consider including Smoke-free

Homes magnets, coasters, window stickers,

placemats, and posters.

ÎEducate baby shower participants about the

connections between secondhand smoke and

asthma. Dusty the Asthma Goldfish and His

Asthma Triggers Funbook is a fun activity for

young children accompanying parents to the

baby shower to learn about asthma and

secondhand smoke. You can educate parents

about steps they can take to reduce asthma

triggers in the home by distributing Clearing the

Air: 10 Steps to Making Your Home AsthmaFriendly and Help Your Child Gain Control Over

Asthma.

ÎPromote your smoke-free homes efforts and

the community baby shower to local media. The

customizable article and letters found in this Kit

can assist you with educating the media about

your program. You may also want to invite the

media to come and help you collect pledges at

your event (this is also a good way to get footage

of your program “in action”). Remember that

parents who have taken the pledge can serve as

powerful spokespeople for your program.
To Take the Pledge, Visit www.epa.gov/smokefree

Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

9

Section 2: Outreach Activities

Issue a Press Release

A press release is a succinct account of your story

(usually one page) written as a news article,

following the “5W’s and H” format: provide the

who, what, where, when, why, and how of the

story.

z Issue a press release to publicize an event or

program, announce an upcoming activity or new

initiative, or report relevant news.

z Write releases in an “inverted pyramid” format

(i.e., the most important information comes first

and the least important information is last, which

allows the editor to cut the story to fit in the

available space).

Coordinate and Publicize Special

Events

Special events (e.g., an opening day, an anniversary, a

nationally, or locally, recognized day or week of

celebration) are great opportunities to gain media

coverage.

z Encourage other community organizations,

leaders, or VIPs to participate.

z Publicize the attendee list, the issues to be

addressed, and the planned events when you

contact the media.

z Provide story options to convince each media

outlet to send a reporter or film/audio crew.

Write a Letter to the Editor

The Letter to the Editor section is always one of the

most popular sections of any newspaper. Many

television and radio news programs share letters

from their audiences during their shows. Securing

coverage in this section is an easy way for you to

educate the public about your program and issues of

concern.

Use letters to the editor to:

z Correct or respond to facts in a recent article or

on a television/radio show.

z Praise or criticize opinions expressed in the

publication or program.

z Bring attention to the issue you want to address

and explain why people need to know more.

Use the sample letter to the editor provided in this

Kit to promote an upcoming event, educate your

community, or recruit partners. When modifying

the sample letter for a television or radio editor,

remember to shorten it and contact the outlet in

advance to find out how it prefers to receive

submissions (e.g., recorded video or audio tape of a

reading of the letter).

Click here for a customizable letter to the editor

Tips!

z Read or listen to other letters to the editor

to become familiar with standard formats

and length considerations.

z Respond to an article or news items in a

timely manner.

z Keep your letter clear and concise (one

page) and be sure you know the name of

the editor to whom it should be addressed.

z Fax or email your letter to multiple

outlets.
To Order Smoke-free Homes Program Materials,

Call IAQ INFO at 1-800-438-4318

Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

10

Section 2: Outreach Activities

Write Opinion Editorials

Like letters to the editor, opinion editorials (op-eds)

are written by readers, viewers, and listeners, though

they tend to come from people of authority such as

heads of local organizations, CEOs, or even

legislators.

z Op-eds are usually between 300 and 750 words

and are written about important issues.

z Strong op-eds make the readers understand why

an issue is important to them and what they

should do about it.

z An op-ed should be submitted to one newspaper,

television, or radio station exclusively.

Identify and Use Public Service

Announcements

Many excellent PSAs are available for your use in

local radio, television, and print media. Encourage

media outlets to donate the space or airtime for the

PSA. If they will not, defray the cost by asking for a

discount, holding a fundraiser, or partnering with

local organizations that share your commitment to

children’s health.

Learn more about EPA’s Smoke-free Homes Program

PSA materials by visiting www.epa.gov/smokefree

or visit the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention Media Campaign Resource Center at

www.cdc.gov/tobacco/mcrc/index.htm.

Click here to view a sample Smoke-free Homes print

PSA

For more information on how you can use this

PSA, call the IAQ INFO Clearinghouse at

1-800-438-4318.

Additionally, many of EPA’s national partners (e.g.,

the American Lung Association) have developed

PSA materials. For a list of EPA partners and their

Web sites, visit www.epa.gov/smokefree/

resources.html.

“The Community Action Kit gave us

examples, such as the letters to the editor and

press releases that we shared with the health

educators. These samples helped the educators

communicate more effectively with the

media, legislators, and members of the

community on the importance of smoke-free

homes.” Cynthia, Healthy East Chicago, Inc.,

Indiana

Submit an Article

Place a story in a local media outlet using the

customizable article included with this Community

Action Kit. Whenever you can, include as much

data about your local population as possible.

Including credible data about your local population

(e.g., smoking habits, asthma rates, etc.) makes it

easier for media outlets to cover your story and

helps convince them about its relevance to your

community.

If you are considering a television or radio version of

a similar story, remember the tips on working with

the media outlined above. Make it easy for

television and radio reporters or editors to turn your

story into a broadcast piece by including only the

most important facts, and supplying audio, video,

or visuals as appropriate.

Click here for a customizable article
To Take the Pledge, Visit www.epa.gov/smokefree

Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

11

Section 3: Resources for Outreach

How Can EPA

Assist You?

EPA has many FREE resources that are available for

your outreach efforts. A number of national partners

are incorporating smoke-free homes messages into

their programs. These partners can assist your efforts

by providing resources and contacts at the local

level.

EPA’s education and communication tools are

designed for a range of audiences and can easily be

incorporated into existing programs and activities in

your community. Display EPA’s materials at pledge

fairs, distribute them to local doctor’s offices, and

give them to school nurses to share with your

community. For more examples of how to use these

materials to support your program, see Section 2.

Information on how to order EPA’s free resources is

provided in Section 4. EPA publication numbers,

used to facilitate the ordering process, may be

obtained at www.epa.gov/smokefree/

publications.html.

Partnerships

Over the years, EPA has cultivated partnerships with

many national, state, and local organizations to

promote smoke-free homes messages. Forming

partnerships at the community level to support your

efforts is important. The benefits to partnering are

numerous, including:

z Sharing costs,

z Improving your program’s visibility and

credibility,

z Increasing technical expertise, and

z Obtaining new resources.

For a listing of EPA’s Smoke-free Homes Program

partners and their Web sites, please visit:

www.epa.gov/smokefree/resources.html. Contact

information for national and state government

contacts is presented in Section 4.

Section 3: Resources for Outreach

Some programs and venues focus explicitly

on the care and well-being of children and

make ideal partners to help promote smokefree homes messages:

z Tobacco control programs (such as your

local American Lung Association chapter)

z Women, Infant, and Children (WIC)

clinics

z Local and county health departments

z Healthcare practitioners

z Childcare centers (e.g., Head Start),

preschools, and children’s programs

z Colleges and universities

z Social workers (particularly those who do

home visits)

z Churches

z Family support groups

z Cooperative Extension Service programs
To Order Smoke-free Homes Program Materials,

Call IAQ INFO at 1-800-438-4318

Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

12

Section 3: Resources for Outreach

“We used the PowerPoint slides from the

Community Action Kit for presentations to

WIC clients, young moms, health

department staff, and at PTA meetings.”

Cynthia, Healthy East Chicago, Inc., Indiana

EPA’s Smoke-free Homes

Products

EPA has developed educational and outreach

products for a variety of audiences. Use them in

your smoke-free homes program activities. The

items listed below are available to you free of

charge and many are bilingual - English and

Spanish! Instructions on how to order products are

included in Section 4.

Secondhand Smoke Presentation Slides

Also available in Spanish!

z What is this product? This PowerPoint

presentation contains slides on the health effects

of secondhand smoke exposure and how to

conduct a smoke-free homes program in your

community.

z How can you use

it? Present the

slide show to

local community

groups, Head

Start classes, health

clinics, etc., to educate people about the dangers

of secondhand smoke and actions they can take

to protect their children.

English: Click here for the PDF version of the

presentation

Click here for the PowerPoint version

Spanish: Click here for the PDF version of the

presentation

Click here for the PowerPoint version

The Smoke-free Home Pledge Brochure

Bilingual - English and Spanish!

z What is this product? This booklet describes the

effects of secondhand smoke on

children and provides information

on how to take the Smoke-free

Home Pledge.

z How can you use it? Distribute brochures to

parents and community members at health fairs,

daycare centers, libraries, community centers, and

hospitals.

The Smoke-free Home Pledge Poster

Bilingual - English and Spanish!

z What is this product? This colorful poster attracts

attention to your program and

encourages people to take the

Smoke-free Home Pledge.

z How can you use it? Display

posters in places where parents

will see them, such as pediatricians’ offices,

daycare centers, libraries, and community centers.

The Smoke-free Home Pledge Thank You

Kit

Bilingual - English and Spanish!

z What is this product? This Kit includes all the

materials you need to reinforce peoples’ pledges

to keep their homes

smoke-free,

including: a pledge

certificate, magnets

and decals, a

magnetic photo

frame, and more.

z How can you use it? Distribute at smoke-free

home local pledge events and other outreach

events to reward people for taking the Smoke-free

Home Pledge and to serve as a reminder of their

pledge.

Local Programs Promoting Smoke-free

Homes Series

z What is this product? This series of booklets

highlights local smoke-free homes programs’
To Take the Pledge, Visit www.epa.gov/smokefree

Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

13

Section 3: Resources for Outreach

activities from across the

nation and provides

innovative ideas,

recommendations, and

examples to use in your

community. To download

these brochures, visit

www.epa.gov/smokefree/

community.html.

z How can you use it? Learn from other

communities’ efforts when developing an

outreach program in your community.

Planning Guide for Pledge Events

Bilingual - English and Spanish!

z What is this product? This CD-ROM is an

essential component for conducting a

Smoke-free Home pledge

event and for tracking

pledges. It provides a host

of tools to help you plan a

community event,

including: customizable

event signs, pledge

certificates, and pledge logs.

z How can you use it? Print and utilize the

materials in the guide to help you

conduct an effective pledge event in your

community. Display the event signs, collect

signatures with the pledge logs, and distribute

certificates.

English: Click here for the complete

version of the Guide

Spanish: Click here for the complete

version of the Guide

Smoke-free Homes Display Booth

Bilingual - English and

Spanish!

z What is this product?

This 10’x7.7’ standalone display booth

includes four

graphics panels containing information on

secondhand smoke and how to take the Smokefree Home Pledge. Organizations may borrow the

booth from EPA at no cost by calling the EPA’s

Indoor Environments Division at 202-343-9370.

z How can you use it? Display the booth at

community health fairs, family events, and

pledge events to distribute Smoke-free Homes

materials and recruit people for the Smoke-free

Home Pledge.

Smoke-free Homes Banner

Bilingual - English and Spanish!

z What is this product? This 3’x6’ colorful, eyecatching display banner promotes the Smoke-free

Home Pledge, Hotline, and Web site.

Organizations may

borrow the banner

from EPA at no

cost by calling the

EPA’s Indoor

Environments

Division at

202-343-9370.

z How can you use it? Display the banner at local

health fairs, pledge events, or other community

gatherings to attract attention for your program.

Keep Your Home and Car Smoke-free

Placemat

Bilingual - English and Spanish!

z What is this product? This 11"x17" paper

placemat (100 per pack) has a

Smoke-free Homes

message and

information on the

Smoke-free Home

Pledge on the front

for parents and a

coloring activity on

the back for

children.

z How can you use it? Distribute to schools,

childcare centers, and during activities directly

reaching parents and children.
To Order Smoke-free Homes Program Materials,

Call IAQ INFO at 1-800-438-4318

Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

14

Section 3: Resources for Outreach

“I found the most useful part of the

Community Action Kit to be information on

how to get posters, brochures, magnets, and

other incentive materials, which we

distributed during smoke-free homes

presentations.” Lori, County Heart Health

Project, Missouri

How to Take the Smoke-free Home

Pledge

Also available in Spanish!

z What is this product? This

8.5"x11" display sign explains

EPA’s Smoke-free Homes

Program, the importance of

taking the Smoke-free Home

Pledge, and three ways

individuals can take the Pledge.

z How can you use it? Use this display sign to

encourage people to take the Smoke-free Home

Pledge at fairs, in health offices, and other venues

where you collect pledges.

Click here for an English version of the sign

Click here for a Spanish version of the sign

Steps to Starting Your Smoke-free Home

Pledge Campaign

Also available in Spanish!

z What is this product? This

8.5"x11" display sign describes

the three basic steps for

implementing a Smoke-free

Home Pledge Campaign as well

as some useful EPA products.

z How can you use it? Display the sign at

community fairs or training events to encourage

other organizations or individuals to begin their

own Smoke-free Home Pledge Campaign.

Click here for an English version of the sign

Click here for a Spanish version of the sign

Environmental Tobacco Smoke: A Health

Hazard to Children (Speaker’s Kit CDROM)

z What is this product? This CD-ROM is designed

for pediatricians to help them educate their

patients (and the

public) regarding the

health effects of

secondhand smoke. It

includes a script, slide

show, and other

materials.

z How can you use it?

Encourage your local

pediatricians to educate their patients (and the

community) about secondhand smoke by

providing them with a copy of the Speaker’s Kit.

Smoke-free Homes Program Graphics

z What is this product? This Microsoft Word

document contains many of the graphics and

logos used in EPA’s Smoke-free Homes products

and resources.

z How can you use it? Program graphics can be

used to customize your program materials and

create a consistent look for your program. Rightclick your mouse on a graphic to save it and use

it in your program materials.

Click here for graphics to use in your program

materials

z For information on including the official EPA

logo when designing your program materials,

please contact the EPA’s Indoor Environments

Division at 202-343-9370.
To Take the Pledge, Visit www.epa.gov/smokefree

Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

15

Section 3: Resources for Outreach

EPA’s Asthma Products

EPA’s Smoke-free Homes Program also educates

parents of children with asthma about the links

between secondhand smoke and increased asthma

attacks. The following are a few of the asthma

resources available to use in your smoke-free homes

program. For more EPA asthma resources and

information, visit: www.epa.gov/asthma.

Help Your Child Gain Control Over

Asthma

z What is this product? This low-literacy asthma

management guide

provides tips on

managing asthma,

minimizing exposure to

asthma triggers, and

helpful visuals

displaying how to

implement the

suggested tips.

z How can you use it? Provide copies to local

health clinics, daycare providers, Head Start

centers, and distribute at health fairs or other

Smoke-free Homes events and activities.

Dusty The Asthma Goldfish and His

Asthma Triggers Funbook

Also available in Spanish!

z What is this product? This fun-filled educational

booklet contains puzzles,

games, and other activities

designed to help parents and

children learn more about

asthma and identify and

manage their asthma triggers.

z How can you use it? Distribute

copies of the Funbook to

school nurses, health clinics,

pediatricians’ offices, Head Start centers, WIC

facilities, and other locations serving young

children and parents.

Clearing the Air: 10 Steps to Making

Your Home Asthma-Friendly

Also available in Spanish!

z What is this product? This one-page, step-by-step

guide provides

helpful hints for

comprehensive

asthma

management, including tips to reduce asthma

triggers (like secondhand smoke) in the home.

z How can you use it? Distribute at pledge events

and provide copies to local pediatricians, clinics,

hospitals, and childcare centers; provide copies to

libraries, community centers, schools, and other

family places.

Asthma Facts

Also available in Spanish!

z What is this product? This fact sheet highlights

the growing

asthma problem

among children

and addresses

some of the

environmental triggers and concerns related to

asthma management.

z How can you use it? Provide copies to local

health care providers, schools, daycares, and other

family places.

“EPA’s Community Action Kit was an

invaluable resource for us and was userfriendly. The most useful aspects of the Kit

for us were the action steps, PowerPoint

slides, posters, and the presentation and

layout of the materials in the Kit.” Kaysie,

Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership,

Colorado
To Order Smoke-free Homes Program Materials,

Call IAQ INFO at 1-800-438-4318

Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

16

Section 3: Resources for Outreach

What Additional

Resources Are

Available?

In addition to the EPA products listed above, other

resources are available that provide background

information and support for your outreach efforts,

including:

Technical Studies and Reports

Respiratory Health Effects of Passive

Smoking, U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency, 1992

z Key Finding: Environmental tobacco smoke

(ETS) exposure in children increases the risk of

lower respiratory tract infections (e.g., bronchitis

and pneumonia) and the prevalence of fluid in

the ear, a sign of chronic middle ear disease.

z Key Finding: ETS exposure in children increases

the frequency of episodes and the severity of

symptoms in children with asthma and is a risk

factor in new cases of asthma.

z To view the whole report, visit:

www.epa.gov/nceawww1/ets/etsindex.htm.

Health Effects of Exposure to

Environmental Tobacco Smoke,

California Environmental Protection

Agency, 1997

z Key Finding: ETS exposure in children can

exacerbate asthma and affect lung growth and

development.

z Key Finding: Chronic respiratory symptoms such

as cough, phlegm, and wheezing are associated

with parental smoking.

z To view the whole report, visit:

www.oehha.org/air/environmental_tobacco/

index.html.

Video

Poisoning Your Children: The Perils of

Secondhand Smoke (Video), American

Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and

Neck Surgery

z This 12-minute video presents dramatic statistics

on the harmful effects of secondhand smoke on

children. Speakers stress that infants and children

are at most risk because of possible damage to

developing organs.

z Limited copies of the video are available by calling

the IAQ INFO Clearinghouse at 1-800-438-4318.

Customizable Documents

Below are a number of customizable documents in

Microsoft Word that you can edit and use to support

your outreach efforts.

Customizable Proclamation

Use this customizable proclamation to help your

mayor, county executive, or governor recognize the

dangers associated with secondhand smoke and to

encourage citizens to take the Smoke-free Home Pledge.

Click here for a customizable proclamation

Customizable Letters

Many organizations in your community are a natural

ally for your Smoke-free Homes efforts. Often, an

introductory letter to a community group, hospital,

childcare center, or health maintenance organization

will open the door to a successful partnership.

Click here for customizable letters

Customizable Fact Sheet

This two-page fact sheet details some of the primary

health concerns associated with secondhand smoke and

highlights key findings in EPA research studies. You

can adapt this fact sheet to help educate your target

audience. For example, include local statistics on

tobacco use and local contact information. Distribute

fact sheets at events, leave in offices, schools, and

clinics, or distribute in community mailings.

Click here for a customizable fact sheet on secondhand

smoke
To Take the Pledge, Visit www.epa.gov/smokefree

Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

17

Section 4: Ordering and Contact Information

Section 4: Ordering and Contact

Information

How to Order EPA

Products

The Smoke-free Homes Program products detailed in

Section 3 are available to your program free of

charge. When ordering printed materials, be sure to

include the EPA publication number for each

product. To obtain publication numbers, please

visit: www.epa.gov/smokefree/publications.html.

To order, contact one of the following sources:

Indoor Air Quality Information

Clearinghouse (IAQ INFO)

Mail Orders: P.O. Box 37133

Washington, DC 20013-7133

Phone Orders: (800) 438-4318 (long distance) or

(703) 356-4020 (local area)

Fax Orders: (703) 356-5386

Email Orders: iaqinfo@aol.com

U.S. EPA National Service Center for

Environmental Publications (NSCEP)

Mail Orders: P.O. Box 42419

Cincinnati, OH 42419

Phone Orders: (800) 490-9198

Fax Orders: (513) 489-8695

Web Orders: www.epa.gov/ncepihom/

ordering.htm

Email Orders: ncepimal@one.net

U.S. EPA Smoke-free Home Pledge

Hotline

Phone Orders: 1-866-SMOKE-FREE

(1-866-766-5337)

Contact

Information

The following organizations can provide you with

additional information and assistance in establishing

and promoting your Smoke-free Homes Program:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Indoor Environments Division

1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (6604J)

Washington, DC 20460

Phone: (202) 343-9370

www.epa.gov/smokefree/

U.S. EPA Smoke-free Home Pledge

Hotline

1-866-SMOKE-FREE

(1-866-766-5337)
To Order Smoke-free Homes Program Materials,

Call IAQ INFO at 1-800-438-4318

 Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

18

Section 4: Ordering and Contact Information

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Regional Offices

(also consider contacting your state environmental

protection office)

EPA Region 1 (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

1 Congress Street, Suite 1100 (CAP)

Boston, MA 02114-2023

Phone: (617) 918-1639

EPA Region 2 (NY, NJ, PR, VI)

290 Broadway (MC R2DEPDIV)

28th Floor

New York, NY 10007-1866

Phone: (212) 637-4013

EPA Region 3 (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV)

1650 Arch Street (3PM52)

Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029

Phone: (215) 814-2185

EPA Region 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN)

61 Forsyth Street SW

Atlanta, GA 30303-3104

Phone: (404) 562-9143

EPA Region 5 (IL, IN, MI, M, OH, WI)

77 W. Jackson Boulevard

(MC AE-17J)

Chicago, IL 60604-3590

Region 5 Environmental Hotline: (312) 886-7901

EPA Region 6 (AR, LA, MN, OK, TX)

1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200 (6 PD-T)

Dallas, TX 75202-2733

Phone: (214) 665-7547

EPA Region 7 (IA, KS, MO, NE)

901 N. 5th Street (MC ARTD/RALI)

Kansas City, KS 66101

Phone: (913) 551-7391

EPA Region 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)

999 18th Street, Suite 300 (MC 8P-AR)

Denver, CO 80202-2466

Phone: (404) 488-5705

EPA Region 9 (AZ, CA, Guam, HI, NV)

75 Hawthorne Street (MC AIR-6)

San Francisco, CA 94105

Phone: (415) 947-4192

EPA Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA)

1200 Sixth Avenue (MC OAQ-107)

Seattle, WA 98101-9797

Phone: (206) 553-4273

State Departments of Public Health

(also consider contacting your local and state health

departments)

Alabama: www.adph.org

Alaska: http://health.hss.state.ak.us/dph

Arizona: www.azdhs.gov/

Arkansas: www.healthyarkansas.com

California: www.dhs.ca.gov

Colorado: www.cdphe.state.co.us

Connecticut: www.dph.state.ct.us

Delaware: www.state.de.us/dhss/dph

District of Columbia: http://dchealth.dc.gov

Florida: www.doh.state.fl.us

Georgia: http://health.state.ga.us

Hawaii: www.hawaii.gov/doh

Idaho: www.idahohealth.org

Illinois: www.idph.state.il.us

Indiana: www.in.gov/isdh

Iowa: www.idph.state.ia.us

Kansas: www.kdheks.gov

Kentucky: http://chfs.ky.gov

Louisiana: www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/

?ID=79

Maine: www.state.me.us/dhs/boh
To Take the Pledge, Visit www.epa.gov/smokefree

Smoke-free Homes Community Action Kit

19

Section 4: Ordering and Contact Information

Maryland: www.dhmh.state.md.us/

Massachusetts: www.state.ma.us/dph

Michigan: www.michigan.gov/mdch

Minnesota: www.health.state.mn.us

Mississippi: www.msdh.state.ms.us

Missouri: www.dhss.mo.gov

Montana: www.dphhs.state.mt.us

Nebraska: www.hhs.state.ne.us/

Nevada: http://health2k.state.nv.us/

New Hampshire: www.dhhs.state.nh.us

New Jersey: www.state.nj.us/health/

New Mexico: www.health.state.nm.us

New York: www.health.state.ny.us

North Carolina: www.ncpublichealth.com

North Dakota: www.health.state.nd.us/

Ohio: www.odh.state.oh.us/

Oklahoma: www.health.state.ok.us/

Oregon: http://oregon.gov/DHS/ph/

Pennsylvania: www.health.state.pa.us

Puerto Rico: www.salud.gov.pr

Rhode Island: www.health.state.ri.us

South Carolina: www.scdhec.net/

South Dakota: www.state.sd.us/doh

Tennessee: www.state.tn.us/health

Texas: www.tdh.state.tx.us

Utah: http://health.utah.gov

Vermont: www.healthyvermonters.info

U.S.Virgin Islands: www.usvi.org/health

Virginia: www.vdh.state.va.us

Washington: www.doh.wa.gov

West Virginia: www.wvdhhr.org/bph

Wisconsin: www.dhfs.state.wi.us

Wyoming: http://wdhfs.state.wy.us