Tobacco & Vaping Prevention Education

Reducing Youth Tobacco Use

The Napa County Office of Education serves as the Tobacco Use Prevention Education coordinator for the county. The purpose of the TUPE program is to reduce youth tobacco use by helping students make healthful tobacco-related decisions through tobacco specific educational instruction and activities that build knowledge as well as social skills and youth development assets. The Napa County Office of Education provides technical assistance to school districts to develop and implement effective, comprehensive tobacco education programs. Training and technical assistance includes provide Tobacco Free School Certifications and the following supports.

Youth Running on Field

Community Coalition

The Napa County Office of Education works in collaboration with community organizations throughout the valley to address youth tobacco and substance use. In 2005, the Catalyst Coalition was formed to grapple with the higher than average substance use rates in the County. Since then, the partnerships have deepened as the Coalition continues to meet regularly. The Napa County Office of Education currently partners with the UpValley Family Centers to address the harms of underage drinking and access to alcohol.

NCOE Catalyst Coalition – Up-Valley Partnership for Youth
The Napa County Office of Education works in collaboration with community organizations throughout the valley to address youth tobacco and substance use. In 2005, the Catalyst Coalition was formed to grapple with the higher than average substance use rates in the County. Since then, the partnerships have deepened as the Coalition continues to meet regularly. The Napa County Office of Education currently partners with the UpValley Family Centers to address the harms of underage drinking and access to alcohol.
Aldea Children & Family Services (external website, new window)
Friday Night Live (external website, new window)
Napa County Health & Human Services (external website, new window)
Community Action of Napa Valley (external website, new window)
Up Valley Family Centers (external website, new window)

Youth Development

NCOE’s Youth Development Strategies are designed to engage youth in leadership roles, build resiliency and support increased engagement in the community. Youth Development Strategies include: Anti-Tobacco Advocacy, Peer Education, Media Literacy and youth Media Production.

Students who participate in NCOE Prevention Health & Wellness Youth Development programs are given the opportunity to engage in the following activities: training by NCOE staff about alcohol, tobacco & other drug prevention, Participate in Peer-to-Peer Education to design and deliver school campaigns such as: Red ribbon week, Kick butts day, Alcohol Awareness Month, Healthy Relationships Month/Anti Bullying, Mental Health Awareness Month. Students create media literacy campaigns, highlighting deceptive media practices and educating on the dangers of tobacco and e cigs. Existing TUPE efforts: Mariposa. NCOE also works together with LGBTQ Connection (external website, new window) and school districts to strengthen gay alliance clubs and engage them in tobacco and e cigs education and advocacy efforts.

Group of Teen Boys Sitting Around Table with Facilitator

Prevention Programs

The Napa County Office of Education is the technical assistance coordinator for the statewide Tobacco-Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Program. This grant provides funds to local education agencies for tobacco use prevention, intervention, and cessation programs. The Napa County Office of Education ensures that every middle and high school class receives critical information about making healthy lifestyle choices and avoiding the use of tobacco and other substances.

LifeSkills

The Napa County Office of Education provides the Botvin LifeSkills (external website, new window) program to all middle and high schools in Napa County. The program trains students in grades 6-9 on Personal Self-Management skills, General Social Skills and Drug Resistance skills. These topic areas help students enhance their self-esteem, learn to communicate clearly, develop problem-solving skills, and build defenses against pressures to use tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs.

All students participating in LifeSkills Training receive information about the California Smokers Helpline. NCOE Community Programs also provides intervention education to students at high risk for smoking cigarettes or e-cigarettes at schools with highest smoking rates.

Stanford Prevention Toolkits

The NCOE TUPE program also utilizes the theory-based and evidence-informed Stanford Tobacco Prevention Toolkit and Marijuana Prevention and Awareness toolkit in our classrooms. These programs provide current information to address vaping, smokeless tobacco and hookah use.

Stanford Tobacco and Marijuana Toolkit (external website, new window)

Project Ex Tobacco Cessation Training

Project Ex is an evidence based tobacco and vaping use cessation program for youth ages 14-19. Young tobacco users are likely to continue using into adulthood. Project Ex consists of 8 sessions, each 40-45 minutes in length to be delivered in a 6-week period that provide strategies to quit, minimize withdrawal symptoms, and skills to maintain being tobacco-free. Students who have used tobacco and/or vaping products in the last 30 days can self-refer or be referred by their school and will not be required to quit until sessions 4-6. For more information, please contact the Tobacco Senior Coordinator.

Project Ex Training Site

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Vaping and Nicotine Addiction Awareness Classes for Youth and Parents

Training offered through Community Action Napa Valley

Nicotine addiction comes in different forms. Come and learn more about how vaping, smoking and smokeless tobacco affect you and those around you. We offer classes for both parents and youth.

Trainings held monthly at VOICES, 780 Lincoln Avenue, Napa

For more information or to register for a class contact Carmen Gonzalez at 707-523-6100 ext. 120 or mcgonzalez@can-v.org

Printable Flyer (new window) – PDF

Group of teenagers in a gym

Intervention and Cessation

Napa County Office of Education works closely with school districts throughout the county to develop tailored tobacco and vaping protocols as part of the Tobacco-Use Prevention Education Program.