[HealthyTribes] URGENT REMINDER: Youth prevention stories needed TODAY

[Modie Jonathan N]

TPEP grantees,

Per my message yesterday about the March 8 release of the Surgeon General's report, "Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults," (see below), please send me a paragraph or two about your local youth tobacco prevention efforts by 2 p.m. TODAY. They could get highlighted during the Surgeon General's press event for the report next week.

Thanks for your help.

Jonathan

TPEP grantees,

An interesting opportunity is coming our way next week. On Thursday, March 8, HHS will release the latest tobacco-related Surgeon General's Report (SGR), "Preventing Tobacco Use among Youth and Young Adults." Oregon TPEP's own Karen Girard will be with the Surgeon General for the release.

This may provide a good news hook for your youth-related work. Although youth engagement is not a BPO, many of you are working on projects that involve youth and could have strong tie-ins. For example: tobacco-free community colleges, tobacco retail licensure, tobacco-free fairs, tobacco-free parks and playgrounds, etc. Your liaisons and Metropolitan Group can help you determine how to use this news hook with your local media.

In addition, HHS is looking for local projects that involve youth advocates to maximize the impact of this scientific report and use it to bring attention to local tobacco control activities. Their suggestions are below. We realize time is short to plan something like this, but your liaisons and Metropolitan Group are available to help you explore these or other ways to leverage the report in your local community. And if you're already planning something, please let us know. We can share it with the Surgeon General, who might include it in her news conference as an example of effective youth engagement.

Suggestions for youth events in conjunction with the SGR release, from HHS
Media events to amplify the need to address specific interventions, such as policy or systems change:

*         Classroom viewing of Surgeon General's press conference, followed by a media advocacy activity, such as youth writing letters to the editor.

*         Town hall forums led by youth or with youth participation to highlight the Surgeon General's Report's findings.

*         Youth creating personal testimonials of how their lives are affected by tobacco product promotions or tobacco use.

*         Highlight recent youth-driven tobacco prevention and control activities conducted to address core intervention strategies (i.e., smoke-free air, price, product manipulation, tobacco advertising at point-of-sale or near schools, sales, sustainability).

We'll forward details on the report as we receive them. Meanwhile, please let us know if you'd like help to leverage this opportunity.

Thanks.

Jonathan

Jonathan Modie
Oregon TPEP
971-673-1102

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