EPS becomes the first in Rio Arriba County to adopt stronger standards

RIO ARRIBA COUNTY – The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Tobacco Use Prevention and Control program (TUPAC) and the 24/7 campaign, in collaboration with the American Heart Association, recognize the Española Public School’s Board of Education for their recent vote on June 3 to adopt a comprehensive, tobacco-free school policy. This vote came after months of collaboration between the 24/7 campaign and the American Heart Association to develop a policy that met all of Española Public School’s individual needs for a safer and healthier district.

“This policy strengthens our district wellness policy and supports stronger efforts to promote healthy lifestyles for our students and our future,” said Anna Vargas Gutierrez, Director of Student Wellness. “The Espanola Public School district is grateful to staff from 24/7 and the American Heart Association for their guidance as we revised and strengthened the Tobacco-Free policy for students, staff and visitors.” 

The 24/7 campaign partners with school districts to help them update their tobacco policies to meet the Department of Health’s comprehensive standard, which is more stringent than the current required laws in the state of New Mexico.¹ By this standard, the definition of tobacco products must include e-cigarettes and nicotine liquid containers, and the policy must apply to students, staff, and visitors at all school property owned, leased, or rented by the district, as well as all school-sponsored activities whether on- or off-site. In addition, the 24/7 tobacco-free guidelines require schools to provide cessation resources as well as progressive and supportive discipline measures to assist those struggling with addiction.

To help promote its new comprehensive policy, Española Public Schools will be receiving free resources from the 24/7 campaign for all schools, including the 24/7 Toolkit and bilingual tobacco-free signs for all school buildings and grounds. Other free resources include faculty trainings and bilingual pre-written announcements, staff memos and parent letters explaining the policy.

“We are grateful for passionate districts like Española who are dedicated to making big changes to protect the health and wellbeing of their students,” says David Tompkins, TUPAC Community Health Initiatives Manager. “This new tobacco policy is sure to inspire many more school districts in the region to make similar commitments to tobacco-free learning environments.”

1 6.12.4 NMAC, TOBACCO, ALCOHOL AND DRUG FREE SCHOOLS RULE

About the 24/7 campaign

The 24/7 campaign is an initiative fueled by students and funded by the NMDOH TUPAC program with a vision to help all school districts in New Mexico adopt, implement, and enforce comprehensive tobacco-free policies. For more information, visit www.247NewMexico.com.

About the TUPAC program

The Tobacco Use Prevention and Control (TUPAC) program and its partners use a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to promote healthy lifestyles that are free from tobacco abuse and addiction among all New Mexicans. The program works with communities, schools, and organizations across the state to implement activities and services that decrease the harmful and addictive use of commercial tobacco, outside of its traditional, sacred or ceremonial purposes. TUPAC follows recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Visit www.nmtupac.com to learn more.

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2. Española Public Schools Continue to Strive for Excellence with New Tobacco-Free District Policy