Staff Report / July 7, 2026
PENN YAN — Local health and advocacy leaders are turning to the community for reinforcement in a high-stakes campaign against juvenile nicotine dependency. Yates County Public Health and the Yates Prevention Coalition have joined forces to secure public input from area families, hoping to design an airtight counterstrategy against the rising tide of youth e-cigarette usage.
The collaborative push is fueled by a newly mobilized JUUL Settlement Funds Workgroup, an oversight team specifically assembled to figure out how to allocate local payout shares resulting from state-level legal settlements with the e-cigarette manufacturer. Rather than making decisions behind closed doors, the workgroup is deploying two distinct community feedback surveys to gather authentic data directly from local households. Local officials emphasize that the insights gathered will dictate where these financial resources are funneled, paving the way for targeted interventions and school-based prevention programs.
To incentivize participation and gather a robust data pool, organizers are offering a tangible reward for those who step up to share their experiences. The community outreach initiative is anchored by a few critical participation pathways:
- The Student Survey Corridor: An online feedback portal specifically reserved for local youth to anonymously share peer observations, usage trends, and social pressures surrounding vape availability.
- The Parent and Guardian Network: A separate virtual questionnaire designed for adults to voice concerns, report observed behavioral shifts, and suggest what resources families need to tackle dependency at home.
- Financial Incentives for Feedback: Every participant who completes either digital survey will earn an entry into a raffle for a $50 Amazon gift card, with one individual card
To participate please use the links below:
Student Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YatesYouth
Parent/Guardian Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YatesParents
