Youth Services
Program description
West Florida AHEC offers youth tobacco prevention programs that can
be tailored to various ages and needs of the organization and can
include:
- Interactive activities that provide information on the short and
long term health effects of tobacco
- How to resist using tobacco through role play
- Information on youth tobacco cessation
West Florida AHEC has been given the opportunity to partner with MD
Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas to provide a web
based youth cessation program.
 ASPIRE (A Smoking Prevention Interactive Experience) is a pilot
program which uses animations, videos, and interactive activities to
communicate the facts about smoking and tobacco use, as well as offers
skills to adopt a tobacco-free lifestyle. With broadband internet
access, ASPIRE can be used at home, in the classroom, the computer
lab, the library or at any public computer. ASPIRE is evidence-based
and free of charge. The pilot version of ASPIRE includes a pre-test, quizzes after
each of the five modules, a post-test and the capability to print an
ASPIRE certificate of completion. The pilot is being implemented to
enhance existing health and physical education programs, in addition
to being used as an alternative to suspension when adolescents are
found using tobacco on school grounds. The ASPIRE pilot will help
measure knowledge transfer with the quizzes and the ASPIRE certificate
will demonstrate program completion. To access ASPIRE, simply log on to
www.mdanderson.org/aspirepilot.
The student will be asked to create a login name and password. The
student must then select the county they reside in. From there the
students will have access to the 5 modules. In Florida, 369,000 kids who are under the age of 18 now will die
prematurely from tobacco use. Please help me to encourage our youth
not to smoke and to help those who already are to quit. Together we
can save lives.
Tips for Parents: 4 Ways to Help Your Child Stay Tobacco-Free
Children are learning about smoking and tobacco everyday-in school,
from friends, from TV and movies. As a parent or caregiver you also
play a big role in what they learn. Here are some things you can do to
help your kids be tobacco free for life!
a. Talk to your kids about smoking and tobacco use on a regular basis.
Let them know that the nicotine found in tobacco products is an
addictive drug, meaning that once you start, it is very difficult to
stop. Discuss some of the long term health effects associated with
tobacco use including cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Let them know
that tobacco use is linked to chronic coughing, more colds and flu,
less energy, and poor performance in sports. Teach your kids HOW to say no. It’s not as simple as just saying
no. They need encouragement and support from you to help them resist
the pressure to use tobacco. Help them to make a list of reasons why
they shouldn’t use tobacco. Practice with them on how to say no. Be a good role model. The best way to be a good role model is not
to use tobacco products. However; if you do smoke, don’t do it when
you are around your kids. Don’t leave cigarettes (including used
butts) where children can easily get to them. Take steps to quit
smoking. Consider joining a cessation group. (Visit
www.ahectobacco.com for a cessation group near you.) Protect your children from secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is
especially dangerous to children because their lungs are not fully
developed. Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke have more
colds, ear infections, and asthma attacks. Make your home and car a
smoke-free environment. Opening the window does NOT protect your
children from second hand smoke. It’s up to YOU to help your children grow up tobacco free! Source:
www.cdc.gov/tobacco Contact
Information to Schedule Presentations
Anna Dyess, M.S.
(850) 682-2552
adyess@wfahec.org |
