Become a Child's Hero Today —
Stop Exposure to
Secondhand Tobacco Smoke!

The Head Start Bureau (HSB) and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Indoor Environments Division have formed an important new partnership entitled Smoke-free Homes for Head Start Families. The goal of the partnership is to reduce children’s exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke. HSB and EPA will introduce educational materials and training to motivate parents and caregivers to make their homes and cars smoke-free.

Numerous studies have shown that breathing secondhand smoke is especially harmful to infants, toddlers, and young children because their lungs are still developing. Health consequences from exposure to secondhand smoke include bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, and increases in the number and severity of asthma attacks. Secondhand smoke also is a risk factor for new cases of asthma in children who have not previously exhibited asthma symptoms.

A review of data in the 2002 Head Start Program Information Report shows that nationwide approximately 5%, or more than 52,000 children in Head Start, received or are receiving medical treatment for asthma alone. Many asthma attacks and other illnesses can be avoided by making the children’s homes and cars smoke-free.

Recognizing the positive impact that fathers have on their children’s healthy development, the Smoke-free Homes for Head Start Families partnership will be launched officially at the National Head Start Training Institute on Father Involvement, June 14-18, 2004 in Dallas, Texas. HSB and EPA are committed to involving fathers in reducing their children’s health risks by motivating them to take the “Smoke-free Home Pledge.” The pledge is a promise parents make to keep their homes and vehicles smoke-free.

Workshops will be conducted at the Institute on Father Involvement to train and encourage fathers to take the smokefree message back to their local communities and to help promote awareness of the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. Presenters will explain effective techniques to prevent exposure to secondhand smoke and will share materials to encourage parents and caregivers to create a healthier environment for children at home.

Through this nationwide partnership, the EPA and HSB will provide local Head Start programs with multi-cultural materials in both English and Spanish about the effects of secondhand smoke.

The materials, which include posters and brochures, will support the efforts of staff and parents to promote safe and healthy indoor environments for their families. These materials and other publications are available free of charge by calling EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Hotline (IAQ Info) at 1-800-438-4318 or by visiting www.epa.gov/smokefree

Get a “head start” on this new initiative by becoming a leader and role model for your Head Start program. Call 1-866-SMOKE-FREE (1-866-766-5337) and take the pledge to make your home and vehicle smoke-free. You can become your child’s hero today!

Mona Ivey-Soto is a Head Start Fellow in Washington, D.C. T: 202-205-8034; E: mivey-soto1@acf.hhs.gov; Brian Ortiz is a Program Analyst, Environmental Protection Agency, Indoor Environments Division. T: 202-343-9819; E: ortiz.brian@epa.gov.