Smoke-Free Summit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2009

Janice Dunaway, MS, RRT, RCP
(417) 659.4423

 

JOPLIN, MO (SNS) - Nearly 500 students and 150 adults from 75 high schools in Missouri gathered in Jefferson City on February 10-11, 2009 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel to participate in the Show-Me Smoke-free Youth Summit to grow their leadership skills in efforts to reduce the harm caused by tobacco use. 

 

The event featured leaders from state and national organizations and Missouri legislators.  Nine students were selected to represent the group and visit with the Governor regarding our smoke free efforts. They also asked for support to continue funding and to help continue to do our work in our communities and our state. 

 

Janice Dunaway, MS, RRT, RCP, instructor for the Respiratory Care Program at Missouri Southern State University and Regional Facilitator for the program Smokebusters, attended the Summit with teens from 3 area schools, Jasper High School, Carl Junction High School, and Sarcoxie High School.

 

The two-day summit included mini-sessions, activity stations, booths from state-wide and national organizations that support tobacco prevention and cessation, experimental learning activities and training to develop news stories that “aired” at the final session of the conference.  Presenters were from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), Columbia/Boone County Health Department, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Missouri, Southeast Missouri State University and Truman State University. 

 

The second day started with a Leadership Breakfast that allowed the participating students and their mentors to meet with the state legislators and leaders from DHSS.

The state legislators were invited to attend this breakfast.  Aaron Deoppers from the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids gave a brief presentation on new products the tobacco industry is marketing.  Aric Bostick, motivational speaker, also shared with the participants how to follow their dreams and passions.  He inspired the students to become more effective leaders.

 

“Students came from all regions of the state and they all are engaged in some program at their local school designed to prevent tobacco use and help people quit smoking,” said Dr. Kevin Everett, associate professor at University of Missouri. “We hope the Youth Summit will allow them to learn new information about problems cause by tobacco and become better advocates and leaders for healthy living in their communities.  I also hope they have a lot of fun while doing it”

 

For the 2008-09 fiscal year, the state of Missouri allocated $1.5 million to be spent on tobacco education programs.  Some of this money was used to support SMOKEBUSTERS in the Southwest Region of Barton, Jasper, Newton, and McDonald Counties.  This is a three program.  In the first year students in 8-10th grades work on action plans targeting a policy change for their school and/or community.  The objective of Phase 1 is to teach students to serve as advocates for change in their school and community.   Our hope is our legislators will see how effective and productive this program is and will continue funding for the next two years.

 

To learn more about this initiative, visit http://www.showmsmokefree.com/

 

 

 

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