Tobacco
Education and Prevention Program
We are funded by
Proposition 99, a state tax on tobacco products. Staff collaborates
with community agencies, youth, service and health organizations, city
officials, and schools throughout the county to offer tobacco-related
information, develop local policies and enforce laws.
Community Education
Cessation
Services: A referral to community members to smoking cessation
programs geared to individual’s needs.
Anti-Smoking media messages: billboards, posters, public service
announcement on
radio and television, and theater slides.
School/Community presentations by request
of teacher/community members on:
▪ Short term and long term
health
consequences of tobacco use
▪ Advertising of tobacco
products
▪ Effects of second-hand
smoke
▪ Effects of chewing
tobacco and
▪ Many more topics
addressing tobacco.
Legislation and Policies
Smoke-Free Bars and Bar-Restaurants: Information to bar and restaurant
owners, employees and patrons, as well as enforcement of no smoking
laws and compliance monitoring.
Tobacco Retailer Licensing developing county ordinance. The license
will help curtail tobacco sales to minors. Our staff works with county
and city officials. Staff is working with county and city officials to
develop a tobacco retail license for all tobacco merchants.
20’ Law for Public Buildings: Information to all public buildings (a
building occupied and owned or leased by the state, a county, a city,
or a California Community College district) regarding Assembly Bill
846 (no smoking within 20’ of a door and/or operable window).
Smoke-Free Housing: Staff is working with apartment owners, managers
and staff to develop a policy that would allocate up to 25% of units
in two low-income housing complexes to be smoke-free.
Literature
Pamphlets, videos, anti-tobacco incentives, “no smoking” signs, and a
variety of other educational materials on all facets of tobacco use
are available FREE, in both English and Spanish.
Coalition
The San Benito County Tobacco Education Coalition, formed in 1990, is
made up of community agencies and community members committed to
reducing tobacco use in San Benito County. The coalition is open to
anyone interested in issues relating to tobacco in San Benito County.
For more information, office hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday
through Friday, located at 1111 San Felipe Road, Suite 102, Hollister,
or you may call us at 831-636-4011 or email us.
Resource Websites
American Cancer Society
American Lung Association
CDC’s Office on Smoking & Health
For Youth
Tobacco Free Kids
Cessation
California Smokers’ Helpline
Nicotine Anonymous
Quitnet
San Benito County Health & Human Services Agency
Public Health Department
439 Fourth Street
Hollister, CA 95023
(831) 637-5367
Fax: (831) 637-9073
© 2007 San Benito County Health & Human Services Agency Public Health Division, All Rights Reserved