Here are documents attached that were used as supplementary material for presenting our findings and efforts at the National Youth Panel.
We thank everyone involved including the individuals that helped us out in the Missouri Health Department.
The list below are activities accomplished my two Parkway footprint facets: Parkway PATH & Teen Voice For Change w/ Alliance of Healthy Communities (AHC in panel)
Peers Advocating for Total Health Includes three middle school programs, one per grade level, which are all student taught. Two of those programs address tobacco use.
High School Heroes - A 6th grade program prevention program which covers vaping, marijuana and CBD. This program has grown and changed since 1996 when it first started because one of our goals is to address the current drug trends that middle school students need to be informed about. This year we had 23 high school students who helped make 2 lesson videos which not only informed them about the harmful effects of these drugs but also encouraged them to find their natural high.
Now n L8r - An 8th grade decision making program which includes a third lesson covering vaping, addiction and natural highs. This year we had 30 students sign up to help make videos lessons and share their experiences so others can learn.
Red Ribbon Week - The Red Ribbon Campaign is the largest drug-abuse prevention campaign in the United States. Middle schools plan activities designed to get people talking about and working towards the common goal of having a drug-free community. Some activities our middle schools have participated in:
Making post on social media
Spirit week with Dress up day ideas
Sharing facts on announcements
Cup messages on the fence
Table toppers in the lunchroom sharing the harmful facts about e-cigarettes
Teen Voice for Change is a youth-led organization through which teen voices, passions and talents are channeled into action, impacting communities for the greater good. Whether through service work, charity drives or social norm campaigns, TVC provides an opportunity for teens to act on issues about which they have real concern.
TVC has sponsored a variety of events but those that focus on tobacco products include:
Hidden in Plain Sight (This 60-minute live virtual experience is intended for parents and other adults who care for youth. This virtual exhibit provides participants an opportunity to explore a mock teen’s bedroom to explain various trends of teen substance use, signs, symptoms and lingo in an effort to raise awareness about substance use disorders)
Student led talks with HS teachers educating them about vaping. (North and South) North HS did their own climate survey related to drug use and was given staff meeting time to share the info.
South HS students(2019) hosted a “lunch and learn” over 4 days, 83 teachers attended and learned:
-Data- use among students
-Location where students vape and strategies to reduce use (certain hallways, stairwells, unlocked rooms, behind closed blinds (so leave them open or pulled up), inside sweatshirt)
-examples of vapes (vape or flash drive?)
-how students are getting them (buying from other students and stores most likely to sell, and earlier, close proximity to “18 to buy” counties
The 2019 South HS group also contacted a local convenience store district manager about “ease of sale & access” of vapes to minors and the manager agreed to look at video from the store, talk to the manager and MOVE the Juul display off the counter to the table behind the cashier.
Stickers (clings) on Mirrors, Lockers, computers, cars, *This project was scheduled for spring ‘20, school closure delayed it, a few students did share and put out a few stickers, they plan on following up with this plan after spring break. The sticker message” “Know Your Worth- No Vaping”
HS students talked to the Board of Education about having a consistent policy across the district with regards to vaping. The board adopted new language in the district policy to meet state recommendations
Idea of Parent Tool Kits (requested by a principal who wanted to have “all the info in one place” when chatting with parents about substance misuse)
Students attend conferences: Speak Hard Conference, (Aka: Hear Us), Teen Institute, Red Ribbon Week Training by PreventEd, National Youth Leadership Institute-CADCA (National conference/training), and Stand Up 9 Leadership training and recruitment.
The data below shows the impact of these activities that these initiatives have done. TVC Takeback is one initiative that strives to do the same.
A comparison of our Missouri Student Survey data (reminder: our 2020 survey student total was lower)
It IS reflective of the work being done, vaping education has increased over the years and I feel like it has had an impact. BUT..we can’t stop.
Here is additional information and a call to action for other schools!
Link to the MD Anderson program we would like to see used in all schools. West wanted to implement this with those who were caught vaping, I think it was used a couple of times and then Covid. I should follow up and see where things stand with that intervention.