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School Policies

School Policies. Joyce Lara School Coordinator University of Missouri laraj@health.missouri.edu 573-823-3809. Why do we need a Comprehensive School Policy?. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S. 80% of adults start smoking before the age of 18

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School Policies

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  1. School Policies Joyce Lara School Coordinator University of Missouri laraj@health.missouri.edu 573-823-3809

  2. Why do we need a Comprehensive School Policy? • Tobacco use 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 day

  3. Why? (continued) • Various reasons why youth smoke • Influence of parents, teachers, coaches • Mass media • Peers • Price. • Due to the many different influences, efforts must include more then one strategy • Implementing a comprehensive school policy, combined with other efforts, can reduce tobacco use by youth from 20-40%

  4. What is a Comprehensive Policy? 1. Develop and enforce policies prohibiting tobacco use 2. Educate on short- and long-term effects of smoking 3. K-12 prevention education 4. Teachers’ specific training 5. Involve parents or families in support of school-based programs 6. Cessation support 7. Assess tobacco use prevention programs at regular intervals

  5. Steps to passing a policy 1. Assess the policy you already have • What do you already have in place? What pieces are missing? • Are the policies easy to find, etc. 2. Educate • Students, staff, and community 3. Gather support for your policy change • Board members, staff, parents, community members

  6. Steps (continued) 4. Learn your school board process • When does board meet? • How do you get on the agenda? • How much time do you get for your presentation? 5. Gather evidence for your efforts • Take pictures of the grounds. • Have people ready to testify. • Gather cigarette butts from the grounds.

  7. Steps (continued) 6. Gather some statistics to support your efforts • How many other schools have policies, statistics of smoking and secondhand smoke? 7. School board presentation • Who is going to say what? • Do you need to bring any handouts? • What about a Power Point Presentation? • What questions do you think they may have? • What to do and say with unsupportive board members? 8. Practice, Practice, Practice

  8. Board meeting • Come early, • Be professional • Address members by proper titles (Mr., Mrs.) • Be polite • Answer questions in a professional manner • Thank them when you are done

  9. After board meeting Follow up • Did you have any questions you couldn’t answer? • Find out what their next steps are. • Do you need to gather more support? • Keep watching to make sure they address the issue.If they don’t 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.

  10. After policy passes • Implementation • Educate the community • Posters, banners, announcement at games, have contests, put ad in paper. • Monitor the target areas. Students and mentors can help with this; a simple reminder to anyone who is using tobacco works wonders. • Thank the board for passing new policy.

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