News and Events

The Tobacco Free Partnership of Indian River County sets goals for the 2023-2024
August 9, 2023

The Tobacco Free Partnership of Indian River County is dedicated to the creation of tobacco-free social norms through a combination of community education, youth advocacy and changes in local tobacco policies. Our work would not be possible without our community leaders and youth advocates who greatly impact this community through our Tobacco Free Partnership and Students Working Against Tobacco program. 

On August 9, 2023, the Partnership met and identified multiple policy areas which will be priority this fiscal year. The Partnership will continue its work alongside Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) to address the policy and education priorities of the organization.


Our work on addressing Point of Sale tobacco advertising will be focusing on menthol-related education and communicating the benefits of eliminating menthol from all tobacco products.  To assist in getting this message out, and to kick off Vaping Awareness Month coming up in October, the partnership is renting a table at a Lunch & Learn hosted by the Substance Awareness Center and SAFIR Coalition.  This event will be held at the Vero Beach Heritage Club on September 28th, 2023.  A member of the Partnership will speak about youth vaping and the dangers of menthol. 

In the area of Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Housing, the Tobacco Free Partnership will be continuing their work from previous years in establishing tobacco-free policies in apartment complexes and condominiums to ensure that every resident has the right to clean air. 

To work on comprehensive tobacco-free policies in our K-12 schools, the Tobacco Free Partnership will continue to closely work with the School District of Indian River County.  On January 24, 2022, the School District of Indian River County implemented their new policy that includes almost all the recommended comprehensive policy provisions. The missing element remains a written commitment of tobacco prevention education. The Partnership will continue to educate the School District on the importance of making a written commitment to tobacco prevention education by adding the missing element to the policy. 

Creating Tobacco Free Public Spaces is another area of focus for the Partnership.  On July 1, 2022, House Bill No. 105 took effect. This bill authorizes counties and municipalities to further restrict smoking within the boundaries of public beaches and public parks. Having smoke-free beaches and parks will benefit the entire community by ensuring a healthy environment, free of secondhand smoke and cigarette litter.  Indian River County passed an Ordinance in December of 2022, prohibiting smoking at any public beaches or County owned public parks.  The Partnership will continue their focus to offer support and education to the Cities in Indian River County as they develop/strengthen their Resolutions or move to Ordinances.

For more information on the work of the Tobacco Free Partnership of Indian River County, contact us at info@TFP-IndianRiver.org.