Comprehensive Comprehensive School PolicySchool Policy

Why do we need a School Policy?Why do we need a School Policy?

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S.

80% of adults start smoking before the age of 18

3,000 youth start smoking every dayImplementing a comprehensive school

policy, combined with other efforts, can reduce youth tobacco use by 20-40%

What constitutes a Comprehensive Policy?What constitutes a Comprehensive Policy?

1. Developing and enforcing policies prohibiting tobacco use

2. Educating on short and long-term effects of smoking

3. Providing K-12 prevention education

4. Providing teacher-specific training

5. Gaining parental and family support of school-based programs

6. Offering cessation support

7. Assessing tobacco-use prevention programs at regular intervals

Steps to Creating a Steps to Creating a Tobacco-Free CampusTobacco-Free Campus

1. Assess your policy • What do you already have in place? • What pieces are missing?• Are the policies easy to find?

2. Educate • Students, staff, and community

3. Gather support for your policy change• Board members, staff, parents, and community

members

Educating. Students, Staff Educating. Students, Staff and community and community

8,900

kids

become

new

regular

smokers

everyday.

Did you know 1200 Missourians die each year from illnesses caused by secondhand smoke?

Did you

know a

smoker

inhales

4.000

chemica

ls

with every

puff of a

cigare

tte?

4. Learn your school board process• When does the board meet?• How do you get on the agenda?• How much time do you get for your

presentation?• What are you going to say? Make sure you keep

things positive (i.e. “This is a health issue,” not “This kills people”).

• All students on team should participate in some way.

5. Gather evidence for your efforts• Take pictures of the grounds.• Have people ready to testify.• Gather cigarette butts from the grounds.

Steps (Cont.)Steps (Cont.)

Man on the StreetMan on the Street

Adult Survey ResultsAdult Survey Results

(36)

(10)

The Big PictureThe Big PictureResponses In Favor of Zalma R-V Becoming A Tobacco Free Campus

Tobacco-Free Campus Petition Tobacco-Free Campus Petition

BoardBoard

What should you wear?◦ Dress professionally (i.e. T-shirts, jeans, tennis

shoes, etc.)◦ Nothing revealing (i.e. Short skirts, low cut tops,

clothes with holes, etc.) Create a timeline

◦ October/November: Start meeting with your team Make sure each member is committed and

excited◦ December: Try to get on school board calendar

Details When Presenting Details When Presenting to the School Boardto the School Board

09/10 Smokebusters Team09/10 Smokebusters Team

Left to Right, bottom row – Alisha Hendrix, Taylor Whitehead, Torie VanGennip, second row, Levi Payne, Lorie VanGennip, Savanah Rogers, Austin Sitze, back row, Hillary Merick, Kelsey Whitehead, Sponsor Karen Eftink, RN, Kalie Bennett and Hannah Rogers.

Create a timeline (cont’d.) ◦ February: Collect community and school surveys

Start developing presentation Practice, Practice, Practice

◦ March: Present to school board◦ April: Follow up with school board◦ May: Help implement new policy

School Board Meeting School Board Meeting

• Come early, • Be professional• Address members by proper titles

◦ (Dr., Mr., Mrs., etc.)

• Be polite• Answer questions in a professional manner • Thank them when you are finished

Follow up• Did the Board have any questions that you could

not answer?• Find out what the Board’s next steps are.• Do you need to gather more support?• Keep watching to make sure they address the issue.

o If they do not follow up with a vote in the next couple of months, you may need to go back to the board again.

• Make sure they agree on a comprehensive policy.

After Board Meeting After Board Meeting

After Policy Passes After Policy Passes

Implement tobacco policyEducate the community

o Create posters and banners, make announcements at games, hold contests, place an ad in the paper, etc.

o Monitor the target areas. • Students and mentors can help with this.• A simple reminder to anyone using tobacco

helps considerably.Thank the Board for passing policy

Tobacco free throws

Tobacco free throws

Educational DisplayEducational Display