The Family and Youth Enrichment Network (FYEN) is a tobacco intervention program based in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas (Phillips County). This program profoundly serves as an advocacy group for environmental policy changes. Our efforts include health promotional campaigns to:
· build public awareness of the need for smoke-free parks;
· challenge pro-tobacco messages; and
· reduce the health effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke on high risk youth and families.
To aid in carrying out our mission, FYEN is funded by the Minority Sub-recipient Grant Office (MISRGO). Additionally in July 2007, FYEN launched a major youth constituency inaugurated as 2cute2smoke/2cool2chew, recruited eight youth advocates, and implemented a thorough training program facilitated by highly experienced community activists. FYEN strongly urges support in the African American and youth communities by developing programs, information packets, and other inclusive activities that are culturally appropriate.
Since July 2007, meticulous record keeping and documentation depicts over 82 activities have been implemented to develop policy and regulatory action, build community mobilization, and conduct a tobacco counter-marketing campaign. As a direct result of educational efforts of FYEN, over 346 attendees have participated in workshops and/or recieved educational materials regarding the FYEN undertakings. Eight community-based agencies and 7 board members have partnered with FYEN to increase capacity of the agency to achieve its goals. An extensive training program with over 28 curriculum support tools has been produced to administer 32 hours of tobacco control education and policy skills for youth advocates.
FYEN works in alignment with national best practices guidelines. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Experience suggests that interventions intended to increase knowledge of and support for passing or enforcing tobacco-free policies can be effective. In addition, experience and logic dictate that sufficient support for tobacco-free policies by either the public or decision makers will lead to the adoption of tobacco-free policies (including voluntary tobacco-free policies).” FYEN is building the momentum needed to make parks smoke-free, shrink tobacco-related healthcare costs, and save lives by reducing tobacco-use.
Like-minded individuals and groups are invited to partner with us as we increase awareness of risks associated with secondhand smoke, make our (3) community parks smoke-free in Helena-West Helena, challenge pro-tobacco messages --- and save lives.
