Working With Schools

Schools are a key part of supporting youth prevention and cessation efforts. Supporting students who are looking for help quitting, and providing education and resources to those who are learning about products for the first time, can change the lives of young people for the better. These resources can help you educate and support school administrators, counselors, and teachers as they work with students and parents. Remember, you don't have to do this important work alone. Contact

RMC Health

or your STEPP Project Officer for additional guidance on how best to engage with schools in your community. To learn more about engaging youth in your community or working with a youth coalition, contact

Heather Kennedy

Allyson Howe

with UpRISE.

Take Action Policy Toolkit: The Take Action Policy Toolkit is intended for both education and public health sectors to identify and implement best practices for supporting tobacco-free and nicotine-free schools efforts. The Toolkit includes six sections: Addressing policy, Reviewing Data, Providing Education, Supporting Quitting, Engaging Youth & Families and Partnering with Community. A policy checklist, sample policy language and guidance on the use of equitable discipline are included.
Restorative Meeting Guidance: Support school administrators by sharing this helpful guide to addressing student tobacco or nicotine infractions.
School-Partner Letter: The School-Partner Letter touches on Tobacco Free Schools (TFS) policy, the importance of tobacco and nicotine education, quit support, and community efforts to reduce access. Use the letter to introduce/reintroduce yourself to school staff and remind your school partners of available resources.
Prevention Education and Alternatives to Suspension Resources: This document outlines various Prevention Education and Alternatives to Suspension resources, including 1-pagers that can be shared with school staff.
Youth Cessation Resource Guide: The Youth Cessation Guide is a curated collection of resources designed to support youth on their journey towards healthier choices and a smoke-free future. The toolkit is divided into multiple sections including: Resources for Providers, Parents, Schools & Communities. The toolkit includes links to Quit Curriculums, Flyers, and Youth Programs.
STEPP Quit Kit Guidance: This document includes an overview of quit kits, examples, best practices, and outlines the approval process for requesting to implement quit kits in your tobacco free schools work.
Vape Detector One-Pager: This document explains what vape detectors are, why they are not recommended for use in schools, and provides guidance for evidence-based sustainable alternatives to Vape Detectors.
Vape Detector Conversation Planning Document: This document is designed to help you prepare to engage in conversations with school staff around the topic of vape detectors and ultimately, around taking a supportive approach to addressing vaping on campus. The document includes guiding questions and other suggestions to help you prepare.
Vape Collection & Disposal Guidance:
- TobaccoFreeCo Guidance for Colorado Schools About Storage and Disposal of Nicotine Waste
- Boulder County Schools Electronic Smoking Device Disposal Guide
Helpful Videos to Share with School Partners:
- Tackling Teen Vaping: School social worker, Haley Figueroa, discusses how vaping impacts young people and strategies for trusted adults to support them.
- My Vaping Mistake: Videos of real teen experiences with vaping. Videos specific to peer pressure, athletics, the future, and mental health
Vaping and Mental Health:
- National Behavioral Health Network: Youth, Vaping, and Stress Statistics
- Truth Initiative: Vaping, Nicotine, & Mental Health Infographic
- My Health Clinic for Teens and Young Adults: Nicotine and the Brain
- I MATTER: The I Matter program connects youth with a therapist for up to six free virtual counseling sessions (some in-person appointments available) that are completely confidential