Sheriff's Office Gets Grant To Reduce Youth Tobacco Access

KENDALL COUNTY, IL — The Illinois Department of Human Services has chosen the Kendall County Sheriff's Office to receive a $770.00 grant to establish a program aimed at reducing youth access to tobacco. According to the sheriff's office, the comprehensive educational and enforcement program will address minimum wage tobacco laws.

Through this program, the sheriff's office said all tobacco retailers in unincorporated Kendall County will be educated on the sale of tobacco, in addition to giving retailers the department’s Tobacco Retailer Kit which includes a review of state minimum age tobacco laws, required signature and training guides for their personnel.

Then, the KCSO Community Policing Deputies will conduct three compliance checks of retailers who sell tobacco products in unincorporated Kendall County. According to the sheriff's office, tobacco retailers in unincorporated Kendall County were above the state average for compliance during 2017.

“We are pleased to receive this grant to enhance our efforts to reduce youth access to tobacco products," said Sheriff Dwight A. Baird, in a release. "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.”

Each year, the Illinois Department of Human Services awards $1 million in grants to communities that are willing to implement its Tobacco Enforcement Program as the state’s lead agency in developing strategies to reduce the illegal sale of tobacco products to minors.

More: dhs.state.il.us

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