Kendall County Sheriff Receives IL Grant To Combat Youth Smoking

OSWEGO, IL — The Kendall County Sheriff's Office announced it's received a state grant to reduce youth access to tobacco. The Illinois Department of Human Resources has given the office $770 to launch an educational and enforcement program. The agency awards $1 million annually in grants to communities that are willing to implement its Tobacco Enforcement Program.

“The health of the children in our community is very important and we are dedicated to reducing the availability of tobacco products to minors through enforcement efforts,” Sheriff Dwight A. Baird said in a media release.

The office said it will conduct two compliance checks of tobacco retailers in unincorporated Kendall County. Prior to the first compliance check, all tobacco retailers will be educated on the sale of tobacco and will receive the department’s Tobacco Retailer Kit, which includes a review of state minimum age tobacco laws, required signage and training guides for their personnel, the office said.

Tobacco retailers within the entire program currently average over 80 percent compliance rates, the Illinois Department of Human Resources said. In 2017, tobacco retailers in unincorporated Kendall County were above the state average for compliance, the state agency said.

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