The Power of Ten - Tobacco Free Northeast PA

On December 1, 2011, Youth Infusion, Inc. was awarded a subcontract through the Pennsylvania Department of Health to engage at least twenty youth of Monroe County in a school‐based tobacco prevention education campaign. The goal of the Tobacco Free Northeast program is to facilitate a comprehensive tobacco control program in the Northeast Health District which includes the counties of Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming. It includes required elements by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Best Practices:prevent initiation of tobacco use among young people, promote quitting among adults and young people, eliminate nonsmokers’ exposure to secondhand smoke, and identify and eliminate tobacco related health disparities.

Students in this year's program developed peer education programs which they presented at neighboring schools. They also met with local legislators to advocate in support of the program. In addition, these students organized county‐wide events such as the Kick Butts Day on March 23, 2011 and the World No Tobacco Day inMay 2011. Students from Youth Infusion’s Tobacco Free Team visited Pleasant Valley Intermediate School on Monday May 23rd, 2011. The Youth Infusion team spoke to 40 students and 2 administrators about the dangers of tobacco. They also met with State Representatives Mario Scavello and Rosemary Brown to discuss the importance of tobacco free education and visited the YMCA to teach the group about being tobacco free.

To learn more about the program or to join the campaign, please contact us.