Tobacco-Free Ways is a state funded program managed by the Pima County Health Department (Pima County, Arizona) that offers tobacco cessation, prevention, and control programs in Tucson and surrounding areas. One goal of Tobacco-Free Ways is to reduce the prevalence of youth tobacco use. To that end, it offers intensive, school-based tobacco cessation programs in alternative, charter, and mainstream public schools to help students quit their tobacco use. Because programs are designed to meet the goals, needs, and approaches of these different types of schools, they vary somewhat in delivery methods, curricula, and recruitment strategies. In mainstream schools, site coordinators implement the tobacco cessation program and develop recruitment strategies to encourage student participation. In alternative and charter schools, the tobacco cessation program is offered as a health or science elective course that students can take for school credit. Tobacco-Free Ways staff teach these classes.
Evaluation measures outcomes of the program and examines the effects of these different interventions. In particular, students complete intake and one month follow-up questionnaires to identify changes in tobacco use resulting from participation in the program. Students also take part in focus groups to discuss their perceptions of the class. Additionally, program evaluators interview staff and facilitators about the tobacco cessation curriculum used and program implementation.
This presentation will focus on the challenges and strategies of delivering and evaluating intensive, school-based tobacco cessation programs in Pima County, Arizona. Evaluation results will also be presented.
Learning Objectives: Participants will recognize key challenges and strategies in implementing intensive, school-based tobacco cessation efforts in alternative, charter, and mainstream public schools.
Keywords: School-Based Programs, Smoking Cessation
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Pima County Health Department and Pima Prevention Partnership
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am employed by Pima Prevention Partnership that has a contract with the Pima County Health Department to provide planning and evaluation services for a countywide tobacco control program.