The Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) promotes commercial tobacco-free living for everyone by:
- Educating about the harms of commercial tobacco use
- Protecting smoke-free air
- Supporting people who are trying to quit
Commercial tobacco is different from the tobacco used by American Indian and Alaska Native communities for ceremonial or medicinal purposes.
Dakota County commercial tobacco-free partners
Dakota County SHIP works with schools, property managers and community sites to create commercial tobacco-free policies, programs and activities. If you or your organization would like to discuss how Dakota County could support you, please email marguerite.zauner@co.dakota.mn.us.
Schools
Examples of Dakota County's commercial tobacco-free work with schools include:
- Conducting commercial tobacco and vaping prevention trainings for staff
- Updating commercial tobacco-free policies to include e-cigarettes, nicotine, puches and other products
- Providing recommendation on policy guidelines and penalties for students and staff
- Implementing new state requirements
- Promoting quit resources like My Life My Quit and Quit Partner
- Supporting peer-to-peer education and engagement activities
School success story
Dakota County partners with Tobacco Free Alliance to support peer-to-peer vaping prevention education activities at Hastings Middle School and ISD 196 (Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan).
During the 2024-2025 school year, Developmental Psychology students from four ISD 196 high schools led vaping prevention workshops for more than 1,700 sixth-grade students in the district. Younger students learned from their older peers about:
- Vaping's harmful effects
- Commercial tobacco industry's marketing tactics to attract young people
- Resources to quit vaping
- Opportunities to join commercial tobacco prevention advocacy work
Community
Smoke-free housing
Dakota County partners with Live Smoke Free, a program through Association for Nonsmokers - Minnesota, to help with multi-unit housing properties and cities in the county implement smoke-free housing policies. For a list of smoke-free housing options in Dakota County, view the Live Smoke Free Directory.
Tobacco sales
Dakota County helps cities review their tobacco retail ordinances and educates about policy options to reduce access and prevent youth initiation.
Smoke-free environment
Dakota County facilities and parks are smoke free (Policy 8101). Dakota County prioritizes smoke-free recreation areas for outdoor leisure and exercise.
Community testimonial
“Getting feedback and input from our residents and community members is crucial when making plans for the future of West St. Paul. Dakota County Public Health and the Live Smoke Free program made the process easy by helping us gather invaluable feedback and information about smoke-free housing in West St. Paul. I look forward to using this information and continuing to improve relationships as we work together toward a better city and place to live." - Melissa Houtsma, West St. Paul City Planner