HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-18-2008-3eORANGE COUNTY.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 18, 2008
Action Agenda
Item No. 3 - ~
SUBJECT: Proclamation Recognizing Orange County Kick Butts Day
DEPARTMENT: Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kick Butts Day Proclamation Rosemary Summers, 245-2411
PURPOSE: To consider approving a proclamation recognizing the day of April 2, 2008 as
Orange County Kick Butts Day.
BACKGROUND: Tobacco use contributes to many health consequences including heart
disease and various types of cancer. Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death
in the US, and in 2006, the Surgeon General concluded that no amount of exposure to second
hand smoke is safe. Eighty percent of adult smokers started smoking before the age of 18.
Preventing youth from starting tobacco use as teens makes them less likely to become life long
smokers. In 2003, the Orange County Health Department received funding for the Tobacco
Reality Unfiltered (TRU) Program to prevent teens from using tobacco and provide support for
those who want to quit. Since that time, tobacco use among middle school and high school
students has decreased in Orange County. The T,RU program continues to. serve :as an
outstanding advocate concerning the dangers of tobacco use through peer education, merchant
education, media campaigns, and community service.
Kick Butts Day, founded by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, is a national day of activism
that empowers youth to speak up and take action against tobacco use. TRU of Orange County
annually organizes Kick Butts Day events at local high schools to raise awareness about the
harmful effects of tobacco use among youth. The Orange County Health Department proposes
that Apri12, 2008 should be recognized as Orange County Kick Butts Day.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the proclamation
recognizing April 2, 2008 as Orange County Kick Butts Day and authorize the Chair to sign.
a
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMIlIIISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE APRIL 2, 2008 AS
ORANGE COUNTY KICK BUTTS DAY
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina will proclaim April 2, 2008 as Kick Butts Day to
recognize five years of public health education to youth of Orange County; and
WHEREAS, since 1995, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids has recognized a day in April
or March as Kick Butts Day; and
WHEREAS, the Tobacco Reality Unfiltered Program of Orange County has been working
with youth since 2003 to prevent tobacco use and develop positive decision-
making skills among middle school and high school students in Orange County;
and
WHEREAS, the Healthy Carolinians of Orange County Partnership's 2007 Community Health
Assessment revealed lower percentages of smoking among Orange County
youth since 2003 indicating positive contributions from the Orange County
Tobacco Reality Unfiltered program; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Schools Communities that Care Survey revealed that 13.8%
of students in grades 6tH, Stn and 10tH smoked in the past 30 days and the
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed that
5.7% of middle school students and 12.2% of high school students smoked in
the past 30 days, showing that the need remains to educate students about
. being tobacco-free; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners is dedicated to its role of
developing and enacting policy to address the needs of the residents and
employees of Orange County as evidenced by their vote to prohibit smoking in
all government buildings and vehicles effective April 1; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Health Department proposes that proclaiming April 2 as Kick
Butts Day will increase community awareness of the need for preventing tobacco
use and for continuing public health education programs for youth; and
NOW, THEREFORE, be it recognized that the Orange County Board of Commissioners do
hereby proclaim April 2, 2008 as Orange County Kick Butts Day.
This is the 18th day of March 2008.
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners