Students Working Against Tobacco

Our Mission

To Empower and Unite Youth to Resist and Expose Big Tobacco’s Lies while

Changing Current Attitudes about Tobacco.

Defining Youth Empowerment within the context of SWAT

Youth Empowerment is the process by which SWAT youth become active participants in the planning and implementation of activities within their state and local communities.

Visible characteristics of youth empowerment include changes in attitudes and beliefs, as well as an increase of knowledge, skills and confidence to encourage change among others.

Our Purpose

To raise awareness about tobacco industry marketing practices that target youth as replacement smokers.

Our Purpose

To provide youth with the chance to become advocates for health and get involved within their communities.

Our Purpose

To provide youth with opportunities for “real-life” learning experiences through mentoring, training, community assessment, and grassroots activism.

Operating Principles Adopted by SWAT Leadership

SWAT is not against the tobacco user. SWAT is against the tobacco industry.

Empower youth by helping them learn how to make decisions; don’t make all of the decisions for them.

Recognize the need for teens to educate other teens on the influences of the tobacco industry.

Operating Principles Adopted by SWAT Leadership

Give SWAT resources for both members and adult partners to mobilize against the tobacco industry and bring awareness to communities.

Encourage members to be innovative and become activists through empowerment, knowledge, and skill building.

Be positive mentors.

Operating Principles Adopted by SWAT Leadership

Help SWAT create partnerships among communities, schools, youth organizations, health organizations, and government.

Recognize cultural diversity and maintain respect for cultural traditions.

Recognize individual and community rights to make their own decisions within the framework of the program.

Recognize the need and be prepared to help SWAT move as conditions change.

SWAT Structure: A Team Approach

SWAT Headquarters

(OTCP)

SWAT Teams Adult

Partners

CX Coordinators

(County)

SWAT Regional

Coordinators

Empower youth to expose

Big Tobacco CX SWAT Staff

SWAT Regions

Was

hing

ton

Haskell

Pottawatomie

Seminole

Caddo

TulsaCreekLogan

Payne

Kingfisher

Greer

Beckham

OklahomaCanadian

Grady

Jackson

Tillman

Comanche

Cotton

Jefferson

Stephens

McClain

Garvin

Murray

Carter

Bryan

PushmatahaAtoka

Muskogee

Le Flore

Sequoyah

Wagoner

Cherokee Adair

Mayes

Delaware

OttawaCraigNowataOsageKayGrantWoodsHarperBeaver

Rogers

Cleveland

Pittsburg

Pontotoc

Custer

McCurtain

ChoctawMarshall

Love

Harmon

Kiowa

Washita

Johnston

Coal

Latimer

Hughes

McIntosh

Okfuskee

Okmulgee

Noble

Pawnee

Garfield

BlaineDewey

Roger Mills

Lincoln

Alfalfa

Major

WoodwardEllis

TexasCimarron

Oklahoma SWAT Region Map

NW SWAT Region

NE SWAT Region

SW SWAT Region

SE SWAT Region

Cliff Niles: Cliffn@health.ok.gov

D’Elbie Walker: Delbie@health.ok.gov

Maureen Henderson: Maureenh@heath.ok.gov

Dawn Edwards: Anitae@health.ok.gov

CX Programs

Role of the SWAT County Coordinator

Recruit Adult Partners to serve as youth mentors.

Provide training and technical assistance to SWAT Adult Partners and teams.

Build and nurture community partnerships.Promote use of the SWAT Activity Guide.Link new members to existing teams. Provide incentive/promotional gear.

Role of the SWAT County Coordinator

Develop and maintain a tracking system of Adult Partner contact information.

Convene youth project committees for county-wide efforts.

Collaborate with CX Coordinator for reporting purposes.

Attend required meetings and trainings.

SWAT Youth Recruitment

SWAT Adult Partner Recruitment

Role of SWAT within the CX Program

Provide funding support for local team activities. May leverage funds with Region.

Recruit Adult Partners for local SWAT teams.

May issue sub-contracts with Adult Partners for SWAT team facilitation services.

Provide travel reimbursement to Adult Partners who transport youth to meetings and events.

Role of SWAT Regional Coordinator

Provide training and technical assistance to CX and County SWAT Coordinators.

Convene Youth Project Committees as needed.

Recruit community partners and Adult Partners when necessary.

Facilitate SQUADS trainings twice per year.

SWAT Youth Leadership

Youth Leaders assist Coordinators in developing project committees for larger events.

Serve as program spokespersons. Ex: SWAT Teen Summit Bullnanza: Spit Out Big Tobacco

Initial Team Assessment

Are there existing SWAT teams? If so, where are they? How many members? What has been their level of activity?

Who are the Adult Partners? Do you have their contact information? Did they submit an application for a background

check? Have they received orientation training?

Outreach to the Adult Partner Set up a time to go and meet them.

Needs Assessment Are they utilizing the SWAT Activity Guide? Are they on mission? Assist them in developing an action plan.

Initial Team Assessment

Tools for Community Activism

Several options of monthly activities.

Instructions provided for each.

Developed based on Best Practices.

Little or no cost at all. Guide was designed to unify

efforts across the state. Guide was designed to

correspond with nationally recognized tobacco prevention holidays.

Tools for Community Activism

SWAT Brag Sheet.

Submitted to CX Coordinators.

Aids in reporting local SWAT activities.

Aids in assessing local team and/or Adult Partner training and/or resource needs.

Tools for Community Activism

Internal tobacco industry document quotes and other tobacco facts.

Tools such as downloadable training materials, resources, and videos.

News and Latest Happenings. Updates on SWAT events. Contact Information for SWAT

Regional Coordinators along with a map of the regions.

Action Planning

•Task

•Person Responsible

•Deadline

Counter Marketing

See Program Guidelines ManualLimit of $10 per item (excluding screening

charge)Promotional

Inexpensive giveaways (pens, stickers, stress balls)

Incentive Given to reward leadership behavior (going the extra

mile—mouse pad, back pack, calculator)

Counter Marketing

Earned media-vs-paid media Public Service Announcements (PSA)

Radio spotsNewspaper adsBillboardTheater ads

Community Indicators Examples from the Field

Priority Area I: Eliminate SHS

Partnered with community coalitions to recognize “Breathe Easy Restaurant of the Month.”

Community Indicators Examples from the Field

Priority Area II: Prevent Youth Initiation

Promote 24/7 Tobacco Free School Policy.

Approximately 80 school districts passed policy with the help of SWAT teams.

Community Indicators Examples from the Field

Priority Area III: Promote Tobacco Cessation Services

Community Indicators Examples from the Field

Priority Area IV: Reduce Tobacco Industry Influences

Operation Storefront

Stomping Butts on Hollywood

Sponsorships such as Rodeos

Community Indicators Examples from the Field

Social Capital Assets: Extent of Activism among Youth

SWAT Sentinel Documents

CDC Best PracticesState Plan for Tobacco Use Prevention

& Control Program Guidelines ManualProgram Financial Procedures Manual SWAT Activity GuideSWAT Training Materials

Lessons Learned

Convene Youth Project Committees to plan county-wide events.

Schedule regular phone and face-to-face visits with Adult Partners.

Schedule your drive time.

Lessons Learned

Public education alone does not bring change. Public education coupled with activities bring change.

Delegate tasks to Youth Leaders and give a deadline.

Investment Time + Energy & Manpower = Outcome Will an investment in this effort bring desired

outcome?

Lessons Learned

Schedule leave time for one year in advance if possible.

Schedule conferences and trainings you plan on attending.

If possible, utilize materials and forms that already exist rather than develop new ones.

Utilize action plans for everything possible and share them with others who have delegated tasks.

Web Resources

Community Toolbox http://ctb.ku.edu/

American Legacy Foundation http://www.americanlegacy.org

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) http://www.cdc.gov

OSDH Breathe Easy: http://www.breatheeasyok.com OSDH: http://www.health.state.ok.us

Closing ThoughtsJennifer Wilson

Statewide SWAT Coordinator CX Program Consultant

JenniferLW@health.ok.gov(405)271-3619

1-866-4OK-SWAT