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Chesterfield County, VA – Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS) has made important updates to its School Wellness Policy to ensure that students have increased access to water throughout the school day. This change will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the health and well-being of students throughout the division and their overall academic success, with 62,500 students covered under the policy revision and having access to the support they need to stay hydrated during the day. By prioritizing the well-being of its students, CCPS is setting a great example for other school divisions to follow. 

This updated policy was developed in collaboration with the Rev Your Bev campaign, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) healthy hydration campaign, and its statewide, award-winning high school program Y Street.

VFHY and Y Street are committed to supporting Virginia school divisions’ efforts to maintain a positive, healthy learning environment and serve as a resource for Virginia schools. “The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth is thrilled to have Chesterfield County Public Schools join as a partner to support healthy hydration. Adequate water consumption is a great habit for youth to develop and a key component to creating positive health outcomes,” said Executive Director Marty Kilgore.

CCPS’s revised wellness policy now ensures water is accessible in high-traffic areas and that schools throughout the division are promoting healthy hydration behaviors. To celebrate, CCPS hosted a celebratory event on January 9, 2024, at James River High School in Midlothian, VA. During the event, students, teachers, and staff participated in fun water-related activities and wrote Thank You messages, thanking CCPS for their efforts to empower their school community to make drinking water a habit. Students like Chaya McLean at James River High School are appreciative and shared, “Water plays a bigger role in our lives than giving credit to. It is amazing to see the positive impact Rev your Bev has had on my school and community. The campaign has been received with open arms, and everyone is really on board with it. The support is absolutely amazing. This policy win means so much to me and our whole student body.” 

The Rev Your Bev campaign donated and distributed over 1,000 water bottles to support the division in implementing its policy and provided water promotion posters, dispensers, and a Toolkit. 

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About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity. VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, day cares and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.

Press Releases

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York County, VA. – York County has taken a step towards promoting a healthier outdoor environment by implementing a new tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free policy for the McReynolds Athletic Complex in Yorktown, VA. The facility boasts 13 athletic fields, 2 playgrounds, and a multi-purpose path perfect for walking and jogging to name a few, an ideal location to begin enhancing residents’ outdoor experiences. 

The policy change was initiated by Y Street, a program of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) and Virginia’s largest youth-led movement. VFHY and Y Street members strive to ensure Virginians have equitable access to clean and healthier outdoor environments through its campaign, Share The Air. Share The Air aims to create 100% tobacco-free parklands by encouraging local park and recreation departments and government officials to adopt comprehensive tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies. 

In November 2023, Y Street members, Morgan Morris and Alisha Mask, from Tabb High School met with the Director of Community Services, Sheri Newcomb, to explain how the county can provide an even greater outdoor experience for its residents by going 100% tobacco-free. When asked why the campaign is important, Morgan stated, “As someone who suffers from asthma, I would like to enjoy my time in outdoor recreational areas without fear of a sudden asthma attack or having to use my inhaler due to secondhand smoking.” 

York County strives to create dedicated spaces that allow residents to be active, relax, and gather outdoors. For this reason, the Director of Community Services signed a commitment form to adopt a voluntary tobacco-free outdoor policy and partner with Share The Air.

The impact of the new policy is expected to reduce tobacco and vape litter and residents’ exposure to secondhand smoke, as well as promote positive role modeling for youth who visit McReynolds Athletic Complex. York County joins the growing list of localities with tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies, becoming Share The Air’s 19th partner. Director of Community Services, Sheri Newcomb, shared, Whether you are hitting a homerun, scoring a goal, or exercising on the fitness trail at the McReynolds Athletic Complex, residents can now enjoy the fresh air by avoiding smoking and vaping at the sports complex.” 

This is just the beginning, as the county hopes to extend this policy to all its parklands in the near future. York County received free tobacco-free signage as part of its partnership with Share The Air to post as a reminder to visitors.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity. VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, day cares, and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.

Press Releases

Halifax County Public Schools is Setting a Healthy Example to Increase Students’ Water Consumption

Halifax, VA – Students in Halifax County are seeing significant, healthy changes this fall. Halifax County Public Schools has made important updates to its School Wellness Policy to ensure students have increased access to water throughout the school day. This change will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the health and well-being of students throughout […]

READ MORE
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Dickenson, VA – Students in Dickenson County are seeing significant, healthy changes this fall. Dickenson County Public Schools has made important updates to its School Wellness Policy to ensure students have increased access to water throughout the school day. This change will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the health and well-being of students throughout […]

READ MORE
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Fairfax County, VA. Fairfax County Park Authority is committed to promoting 100% tobacco-free outdoor environments by partnering with Share The Air, a campaign by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY), and Y Street, its largest youth-led movement. Share The Air aims to establish 100% tobacco-free parklands across the Commonwealth by assisting local parks and […]

READ MORE
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READ MORE
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Falls Church, VA. – The City of Falls Church Recreation and Parks recently decided to commit to providing 100% tobacco-free and vape-free parklands to provide a clean, healthy, and safe environment for all to enjoy.  The voluntary policy change was initiated by Y Street, a program of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) and […]

READ MORE
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Radford City, VA – Students in Radford will see significant, healthy changes when the new school year begins. Radford City Public Schools has made important updates to its School Wellness Policy to ensure students have increased access to water throughout the school day. This change will undoubtedly positively impact the health and well-being of students […]

READ MORE