22 N. Georgia Ave.  Suite 300  .  Mason City, IA 50401  .  Phone: 641-421-9300  .  Toll Free: 1-888-264-2581  .  Fax: 641-421-9350

 

 

 

 

 

 
     Health Promotion and Education

Promoting a Tobacco Free Lifestyle

Do you enjoy tobacco-free dining?

Hundreds of communities, even entire states, are now 100% smokefree — and the list is growing fast.
The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health surveyed all dining establishments in the county to see which establishments offer 100% smoke-free dining. If your establishment did not reply to the survey, it's not too late. Call today so you can be included the next time the guide is updated. Call Penny at 641-421-9309.

Cerro Gordo County Smoke-Free Dining Guide
updated 9/07

 

 

 

Parenting is prevention! Parenting is one of the best tools against risky behavior among young people, including smoking, which kills 1 in 3 people it hooks!

Got a Minute? Give it to your kid!

Tobacco Prevention

Organized efforts to curb youth tobacco use in Cerro Gordo County began in the fall of 1999 when the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health and the Mason City YMCA Teen Leadership Group launched a comprehensive community-based counter-tobacco strategy. As a result of that effort, the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health invited more community members and organizations to participate in this important effort. From that, the Partnership for a Tobacco Free Cerro Gordo County was formed. This new partnership has worked year-round to educate county residents, especially teenagers, of the dangers of tobacco use. Many high school students in Cerro Gordo County are working on the local JEL campaign. (see JEL link below).

The Partnership for a Tobacco Free Cerro Gordo County is a unique partnership of community members, organizations, school officials, law enforcement and youth who work to promote activities that discourage tobacco use, while supporting tobacco-free environments. Read the Partnership for a Tobacco Free Cerro Gordo County brochure.

The Partnership members are committed to the ongoing effort of reducing tobacco use among our youth. The partnership started in 2002 by organizing the first Cerro Gordo JEL Youth Rally: "Just Eliminate Lies" from Big Tobacco. JEL is a statewide effort to educate youth while trying to curb tobacco use among youth.

Other tobacco prevention efforts at the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health include:

JEL: Just Eliminate Lies (from big tobacco companies). JEL CIA: We took JEL one step further with “Just Eliminate Lies: Communities in Action.” We are using the C.I.A. theme to get young people excited about searching for ways to create tobacco-free environments.

Tobacco Cessation Efforts: The Partnership is working with community partners to promote cessation:

  • Smoke-Free Families: (641) 423-5044 or Toll Free: 1-800-657-5856. It is coordinated through the North Iowa Community Action Organization.
  • Freshstart: Get the information, strategies and group support you need to stop smoking and have a fresh start in life. Coordinated through the American Cancer Society: (641) 422-9085
  • Quitline Iowa: Toll free: 1-866-822-6879. This is a toll-free smoking cessation helpline whose trained counselors provide emotional and practical support, free information through the mail, referrals for assistance in your area, optional follow-up calls and encouragement anytime you need it. It's confidential!

 
© 2004 • Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health