 Public Health Policy Updates from Coalitions at Jefferson County Public Health
June 2019 // Volume 1, Issue 2
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Coalition to Address TobaccoIf you are interested in helping reduce youth access to tobacco products, as well as reducing exposure to secondhand smoke/vapor in unincorporated Jefferson County, email Jenna Metzinger to join our coalition.
|
|
|
|
Colorado Gov. Signs Bills to Reduce Youth Tobacco UseH.B. 19-1033, Regarding Local Government Authority to Regulate Nicotine Products
On March 28, 2019, Governor Jared Polis signed a bill into law that provides local cities, towns and counties expanded authority to regulate tobacco within their jurisdictions. Along with giving jurisdictions more authority, the bill removes a fiscal penalty to local communities that require businesses to have a license to sell cigarettes. This fiscal penalty, or the loss of state cigarette tax share back, remains for any jurisdiction that successfully passes a local sales tax on cigarettes. The law goes into effect on July 1. Questions? Contact Khanh Nguyen at [email protected].
H.B. 19-1076, Adding E-Cigarettes to the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act and Removing Exceptions
On May 29, 2019, Polis signed into law an update to the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act, prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes and vapor products wherever smoking is prohibited; extending the distance from entryways that smoking is prohibited from 15 feet to 25 feet; as well as eliminating exceptions for certain places of business, such as airport smoking lounges, businesses with three or fewer employees, designated smoking rooms in hotels, and designated smoking areas in assisted living facilities. The law goes fully into effect on October 1. Questions? Contact Khanh Nguyen at [email protected]. |
|
|
|
|
|
Let's Talk Food in Your Community!We need your help to improve access to healthy and affordable food in your neighborhood. The Food in Communities project is looking for residents in the Sheridan Corridor/West Colfax section of Edgewater and Lakewood and the area of Wheat Ridge/South Arvada to identify food needs and barriers facing your community. Join us for an upcoming informational session to learn how you can get involved in improving food access for your community and what resources are available (or can be available in the future). Dinner and Language Justice interpretation will be provided. RSVP is encouraged but not required at [email protected] or 303-239-7131.
Wednesday, June 19, 2019, 5-7 p.m.
Mountair Christian Church, 1390 Benton St., Lakewood, CO
Thursday, June 20, 2019, 5-7 p.m.
Wheat Ridge Parks & Recreation, Carnation Room
4005 Kipling St., Wheat Ridge, CO
|
|
|
|
Jefferson County Food Policy Council Monthly MeetingThe next meeting of the Jefferson County Food Policy Council will be held at Arvada WIC and Head Start (5150 Allison St., Arvada, CO) for an outdoor/volunteer opportunity meeting. Meredith Quenzer, Nutrition Supervisor at Arvada WIC, will provide a tour of the WIC Sunshine Community Garden and background on this space. Jess Solis, Program Coordinator at GoFarm, will share more about GoFarm, particularly their farm stand onsite at the Arvada WIC/Headstart site. GoFarm’s farm stand will also be open during this meeting with hours extended past our meeting for folks interested in taking home some local produce. Brittany Cuthbert, WIC Dietitian at Arvada, will also share some background on nutrition policy.
Please bring sunscreen, water, a hat and shoes/clothes for digging! To RSVP, please e-mail [email protected], as space is limited. Please note our July meeting will be held at 645 Parfet Street on Wednesday, July 24, 2019 from 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 20, 2019, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Sunshine Community Garden, 5150 Allison St., Arvada, CO |
|
|
|
2017 Census of Agriculture Data Now AvailableThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released the results of the 2017 Census of Agriculture, which span approximately 6.4 million new points of information about America’s farms and ranches and those who operate them, including new data about on-farm decision making going down to the county level. Census data provide valuable insights into demographics, economics, land and activities on U.S. farms and ranches. To see additional information, including state and county-specific data, please visit: https://www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus/. |
|
|
|
|
|
Share Your Opinion on Sugary BeveragesJefferson County Public Health, as part of the Healthy Beverage Partnership (HBP), recognizes that community organizations and professionals play vital roles in shaping healthy food and beverage environments for youth. HBP is currently working on a project for community partners and families to educate youth about healthy beverage options. Please click here for a link to a 10-minute survey on this topic. HBP would greatly value your input and community expertise when it comes to messaging that will best resonate for youth in your community. Any individual that completes the survey will be entered to win a $25 supermarket gift card.
If you have any questions or additional feedback, or you would like to become more involved in this work, please e-mail Marissa Silverberg at [email protected].
|
|
|
|
|
|
2019 Session: Support of CO RentersColorado renters gained several critical protections and supports which aim to help prevent eviction, displacement, financial hardship and homelessness. Please click on the links below to learn more about each of these new bills.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Opioid Work in the 2019 Session
SB19-008: Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Criminal Justice System
On May 23, 2019, Polis signed a bill that requires the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice to study and make recommendations on criminal justice and substance use issues. The bill creates a harm reduction grant program to reduce health risks associated with drug use and improve coordination between law enforcement agencies, public health agencies, and community-based organizations. The bill also requires the department of corrections (DOC) to allow medication-assisted treatment to be provided to persons who were receiving treatment in a local jail prior to being transferred to the custody of the DOC. Questions? Contact Michael Miller at [email protected].
SB19-227: Harm Reduction Substance Use Disorders
On May 23, 2019, Polis signed into law a bill that carries a variety of harm reduction measures aimed at decreasing the harms associated with substance use. The bill allows school employees to be trained to administer naloxone (an opioid antagonist) to an individual experiencing an overdose; creates a fund to facilitate bulk purchasing of opiate antagonists at a discounted price; and allows naloxone to be available where an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available to the public. The bill also expands the household medication take-back program in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for the purpose of allowing the safe collection and disposal of needles, syringes, and other devices used to inject medication; and specifies that hospitals can be used as a syringe exchange site. Questions? Contact Michael Miller at [email protected].
SB19-228: Substance Use Disorders Prevention Measures
On May 23, 2019, Polis signed into law a bill which appropriates $2 million to CDPHE for the purpose of working at state and local levels to address opioid and other substance use disorder priorities for the 2019-20 fiscal year.
The bill requires certain health care providers with prescriptive capabilities to complete substance use disorder training as part of continuing education required to renew the provider's license. The bill prohibits prescribers from accepting any direct or indirect benefits for prescribing a specific medication. The bill allows medical examiners and coroners to access the prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) under specified circumstances. The bill provides enhanced pharmacy reimbursement related to medication assisted treatment. Finally, the bill requires opioid prescriptions for outpatient use to bear a warning label.
Two other opioid-related bills proposed by the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Interim Study Committee that were signed into law on May 23, 2019 include:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email
