Keeping a Smoke-Free Environment

You can create a policy for your program that protects children from smoke exposure and ensures that staff do not model tobacco use in front of the children.

The Ideas & Solutions blog is intended to provide a forum for the discussion of child care and early education issues and ideas. We hope to provoke thoughtful discussions within the field and to help those outside the field gain a better understanding of priorities and concerns.

November 19^th is the Great American Smokeout. Thousands across the country will begin their journey to quit smoking on this day. Tobacco use can come in many forms, including cigarettes, vaping, chewing tobacco, and more. As a childcare provider, you aim to provide safe spaces for children to learn and grow. Keeping smoke out of these spaces can be challenging at times, so we want to help you by providing education on the importance of keeping a smoke-free environment, and resources for you, your staff, and/or your parents to have support on their own journey to ending tobacco use.

Quick Facts about smoking:

1 in 4 Kansas adults use some type of tobacco product.
Quitting Tobacco | KDHE, KS

As a childcare provider, you can help to ensure that the children you care for grow up in safe spaces free from tobacco exposure. To start, you can create a policy for your program that protects children from smoke exposure and ensures that staff do not model tobacco use in front of the children. Using the resources below, you can also provide education and support for parents to take crucial steps in making sure their home environment is free from smoke as well.

No smoking please, children at play sign posted in a recreational playground area

Resources for Businesses:

Online Survey Software | Qualtrics Survey Solutions at no cost
Kansas Smoke-Free: Business Toolkit (kssmokefree.org)
Vape-Free-Schools-Toolkit-PDF (ks.gov) addresses the rising issue of e-cigarette concerns in the preteen and teen population

Resources to Quit Smoking:

Great American Smokeout | American Cancer Society Nov. 19^th join thousands across the country in quitting smoking
Lung HelpLine | American Lung Association Tobacco Quitline & lung cancer support

For any questions or one-on-one support, you can reach out to Child Care Health Consultants at (785) 823-3343 and request to speak with the Nurse Consultant in your area, through our website at https://ks.childcareaware.org/cchc , or by emailing cchc@ks.childcareaware.org.

Erica Goldsby

Child Care Nurse Consultant, Child Care Aware of Kansas

Erica has a Bachelors in Science of Nursing MWSU and a Masters of Public Health KSU. She has five years experience working at Fort Riley engaged with Child and Youth Services programs as a Public Health Nurse and Child and Youth Services Nurse. She has worked with children ages 6 weeks-18 years with a variety of special needs. She is an American Heart Association HeartSaver Instructor. Taught daycare providers at Fort Riley about Medication Administration, Communicable Diseases, Bloodborne Pathogens, and Diabetes.
Jessica Gable

Child Care Nurse Consultant, Child Care Aware of Kansas

Jessica works as a nurse consultant from her hometown of Derby. Before joining Child Care Aware of Kansas in 2022, she worked as a pediatric home health nurse. Jessica holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In her free time, she enjoys being creative with self-portrait photography and trying out new recipes!