Section 1 TFS.jpg
Tobacco-Free Schools Virtual Toolkit
A Tobacco-Free School Policy is an evidence-based strategy for preventing youth tobacco use and creating a safe and healthy learning environment. In Georgia, 139 of 181 school districts have adopted the 100% Tobacco-Free School Policy, protecting 1,580,192 students from the dangers and harms of secondhand smoke and aerosol exposure.
Why are Tobacco-Free Schools (TFS) Important?
A comprehensive Tobacco-Free School Policy does more than deter individual tobacco use. It benefits everyone by reducing secondhand smoke and aerosol exposure. As a result, Tobacco-Free School Policies impact the health of students, staff, and the community at large.
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the United States, and more than 80 percent of adult users started before age 18. Reasons young people start smoking cigarettes or vaping are varied but influences to quit may come from parents, teachers, coaches and other adults, peers, and mass media. Efforts to reduce tobacco and vaping use must include a multi-strategy approach.
Who can utilize a TFS Toolkit?
The purpose of this virtual toolkit is to guide schools and school districts in adopting comprehensive tobacco-free policies, implementing vaping prevention programs, and offering cessation services to those ready to quit. This toolkit provides information and resources for schools/school districts to facilitate the enhancement, adoption, implementation, and compliance of comprehensive tobacco-free school policies in Georgia K-12 schools.
How can schools use the TFS Toolkit?
This virtual toolkit is designed with you in mind and is divided into two helpful sections. In the first section, we'll guide you through 5 easy steps to enhance your existing tobacco-free policy, ensuring it's comprehensive and impactful. If you're starting fresh, the second section offers a straightforward, step-by-step process to implement a new tobacco-free policy from the beginning.
This toolkit also includes recommendations for vaping prevention education programs, aimed at increasing awareness about the harmful effects of vaping and supporting efforts to quit.
Need assistance? Email [email protected] for support. The Georgia Tobacco Use Prevention Program (GTUPP) is ready to provide personalized technical assistance to schools and districts. We're here to support you every step of the way.
You can start today by following the steps below.
Click
here
to see if your school district has adopted and implemented the 100% model Tobacco-Free School Policy. If your school district is not on the list, scroll down to section two to get started.
This section is for schools that want to enhance their existing tobacco-free policy, ensuring it's comprehensive and impactful. It is always recommended revisiting a policy to ensure it is comprehensive. Below you will find five steps that will ensure an effective and sustainable policy.
1. Assess the current tobacco-free policy to identify gaps, if any.
Click
here
for a list of comprehensive language that can be used to strengthen your current policy. Replace less direct, ambiguous, and general statements with language that is thorough and multi-faceted. Removing gaps in language will ensure a comprehensive model policy.
Click
here
to complete a tobacco-free school policy assessment this tool assesses the school/school district’s current tobacco use policy to determine areas of improvement to achieve the model 100% tobacco-free school standard.
Please click
here
for a full model policy as a reference to guide you through the rest of this process.
2. Submit your updated tobacco-free policy for review.
Once your school/school district has updated its policy, email [email protected] to submit your model policy for a final review and technical assistance provided by GTUPP.
Allow GTUPP two weeks to review and provide feedback.
Once the update to your policy has been approved and implemented by school administration/board, please submit the final version to GTUPP to be added to the tobacco-free school list.
Submit your updated policy to GTUPP to be added to the tobacco-free school list. Notify GTUPP when the policy is implemented to be added to tobacco-free schools list.
3. Congratulations! It’s time to communicate the policy to all school staff, students, and visitors.
Click
here
for a communications checklist. This checklist will assist schools/school districts with evidence-based activities that promote and increase awareness of tobacco-free school policies.
Click
here
for a signage checklist. This checklist will assist schools with ensuring accurate signage placement on school property.
4. Compliance of your school’s tobacco-free policy.
Click
here
for compliance tips. This document offers suggestions to ensure everyone follows your tobacco-free school policy.
5. Vaping prevention education.
Click
here
for a vaping prevention curricula and program list that aligns with the GA Code § 20-2-144 (2023) Mandatory Instruction Concerning Alcohol, Tobacco, Vapor Products, and Other Drug Use. The list will provide schools/school districts with vaping prevention education and prevent tobacco and vaping use among elementary, middle, and high school students.
Click
here
to review a curriculum review conducted by GTUPP using the K-12 Georgia Standards of Excellence for Health Education by the Georgia Board of Education. The rubric includes health standards, the number of sessions, length, and additional program resources. Note: These are a few options that were reviewed in 2024.
6. Offer cessation resources. (Optional but recommended)
For more information and support to help quit contact the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line. Click here for more information about quitting.
To maintain a healthy tobacco-free school, evaluate the policy every 1-2 years to ensure that it is using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended language.
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Congratulations on making the decision to implement a 100% tobacco-free school policy. Below are steps to get started.
Need assistance? Email [email protected] for support. The Georgia Tobacco Use Prevention Program (GTUPP) is ready to provide personalized technical assistance to schools and districts. We're here to support you every step of the way.
Steps for Adopting a New Comprehensive Tobacco-Free Policy.
1. Conduct a survey and environmental scan to establish the attitudes, behaviors and climate of the school towards implementing a tobacco-free policy.
Click
here
to conduct a survey that will help determine tobacco usage, beliefs and perceptions to tailor communication and messaging at your school.
Click
here
to complete an environmental scan to inform policy design. Conducting an environmental scan will determine where tobacco use, and secondhand smoke and aerosol exposure is occurring. Use the information gathered from this tool to help determine the number of tobacco-free signage needed and signage placement. This information can also be used to assess compliance in the future.
2. Develop policy language that is clear, concise and specific.
It is essential to craft a policy that is comprehensive and easy to understand. A policy’s language will determine its strength.
Click
here
to use the model tobacco-free policy as a template of a comprehensive Tobacco-Free School Policy.
As you review the model policy, please consider including the following key components, responsible parties, compliance, and evaluation plan.
Once your school/school district has created the policy, email [email protected] to submit your model policy for final review and technical assistance provided by GTUPP.
Allow GTUPP two weeks to review and provide feedback.
3. Implement and communicate the policy.
Click
here
to complete the communications checklist. This checklist will assist schools/school districts with promoting and increasing awareness of the policy.
Click
here
to complete the signage checklist. The checklist will assist schools with ensuring accurate signage placement on school property.
Once the policy has been approved and implemented by school administration/board, please submit the final version to GTUPP to be added to the tobacco-free school list.
4. Ensure successful compliance of the tobacco-free policy.
Click
here
to view compliance tips for your school’s tobacco-free school policy.
Vaping education and cessation resources can be found in section one, steps four and five.
To maintain a healthy tobacco-free school, evaluate the policy every 1-2 years to ensure that it is using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended language.
Last reviewed 9/23/2024