Helping teens rethink their relationship with tobacco Laurie Schneider Rocky Mountain Center for Health Promotion and Education

With Thanks to Our Funder Second Chance was developed with funding from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s State Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership (STEPP). Amendment 35 voter-approved tobacco tax funds were used to finance program development.

Authors/Producers/Developers The Rocky Mountain Center for Health Promotion and Education (RMC) and partners provided project oversight and content direction. Creative Media Solutions and partners “connected the dots” between content, desired outcomes, instructional design, and programming to develop a sophisticated, experiential tool.

Today’s Objectives Participants will be able to: Describe key sections of the online program for use by youth and administrators in schools and community settings. Consider the appropriateness of Second Chance for youth in their own settings.

What It Is A non-punitive policy enforcement tool. A web-based tobacco education program for middle and high school youth who have violated a tobacco policy at school or in the community. A tracking tool to monitor student progress and download student and local data.

Who It’s For Youth may be referred to Second Chance by school personnel, staff associated with community-based youth organizations, or community law enforcement personnel. The program can also be useful for teens who are experimenting with tobacco but have not violated tobacco policy or law.

Overview of Development Web-based program based on previous video/CD-ROM versions. Content was developed using a number of best practice sources and content experts in Colorado and nationwide.

Overview of Development Development team included experts in: – School and public health – Classroom instruction – Youth tobacco prevention – School and community tobacco polices/laws – Design and programming

Development Steps 1 Content development Organization & writing 2 Content review by experts Instructional design 3 Design concepts & color palettes Focus testing

Development Steps 4 Content refinement Proposed interactivity 5 Detailed wireframes Scripting 6 Graphic design Flash programming

Development Steps 7 Talent selection Script refinement 8 Videotaping & editing Programming, programming… 9 Testing & QC Soft/pilot launch

Youth Involvement Youth guided the direction of the interface design, look and feel. – Focus groups (urban and rural) were conducted in order to guide the website design – Youth were used as “talent” in several program video clips, and for voice over narration

Program Goals Increase student knowledge of, and compliance with, the tobacco-free school policy and community-based tobacco policy. Increase student awareness about the benefits of not using tobacco.

Program Goals Increase student awareness about skills and strategies that can be used to resist health risk behaviors. Increase student interest in quitting or reducing tobacco use.

Program Objectives Describe why there are tobacco-free policies and laws. Identify myths & facts about tobacco use and addiction. Identify strategies used by the tobacco industry to target youth. Discuss the costs of tobacco use.

Program Objectives Identify social norms related to youth tobacco use. Discuss personal tobacco use behaviors. Identify skills needed to resist, quit, or reduce tobacco use. List resources available for youth tobacco prevention and cessation.

Content Content builds from simple to complex to encourage introspective thinking. Move students that are using tobacco into a contemplative or action state. Help students to think about the role that tobacco plays in their lives.

Content My notebook! – Customizable (type, color, stickers, name) – Gives an overview of section content – A place to write thoughts/notes – Contains section reviews that must be passed with an 80% or above in order to move forward in the program

Home/Main Navigation

Community Section Content Tobacco Myths & Facts Big Tobacco Tobacco Laws

Tobacco Myths & Facts

Big Tobacco

Tobacco Laws

School Section Content Laws & Schools Influences Hooked on Nicotine Teen Opinions & Norms

Laws & Schools

Influences

Hooked on Nicotine

Teen Opinions & Norms

Home Section Content Tobacco Costs Communication Step-by-Step My Action Plan

Tobacco Costs

Communication

Step-by-step

My Action Plan

Administrators Local – Add students – Track student progress RMC – Add locations – Create reports

For more information Laurie Schneider, Rocky Mountain Center (content, development) Grace Linn, Creative Media Solutions (design, production)