The Mariposa County Health Department, Tobacco Education Program, awarded a grant to Woodland Elementary School with which it purchased a large number of library books and some computer based devices to assist and support with education.

In addition to the purchase of books and computer based educational products, students at Woodland Elementary conducted a day of cleaning up cigarette butts thrown on the ground to create an environment where tobacco use becomes less desirable, so youth do not start using tobacco, thereby creating generational change in behavior.

The Health Department also supported the school district in the purchase of kindergarten through 12th grade tobacco education materials, pens/crayons, and personal planners. In this time of shrinking school budgets, cooperation between agencies for the benefit of the children’s education and health is a good approach.