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EPA and HHS Issue Smoke-Free Home Pledge Challenge

Release Date: 10/7/2004
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     Today U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (HHS/ACF) Regional Administrator Leon McCowan challenged supervisors, managers and employees in their respective agencies to take the EPA Smoke-Free Home Pledge in observance of Children's Health and Indoor Air Quality Awareness Month.

     EPA and HHS/ACF predict that through October 27, about 1,600 federal employees and Head Start staff and families will take the Smoke-Free Home Pledge, in addition to the more than 1,600 Head Start staff and parents who have already registered.   Pledges are being received at various Head Start events and through EPA's website.  The Smoke-Free Home Pledge challenge is part of a cooperative partnership between the EPA and HHS/ACF, which will be expanded to include the entire federal sector.  The general public is also invited to take the pledge.  

     Every year, millions of children suffer from health problems caused by exposure to secondhand smoke.  Increased protection from secondhand smoke helps remove barriers to children's overall education and development.

     The EPA/HHS/ACF collaborative partnership seeks to inform parents about the harmful effects of secondhand smoke and to encourage Head Start and Early Head Start staff and parents to take the Smoke-Free Home Pledge.  The pledge is just one of the many commitments the partnership has made in its first year to reduce environmental health hazards to young children.
 
     For more information about the EPA Smoke-Free Homes Pledge program, or to take the pledge, visit https://www.epa.gov/smokefree.