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Strategies for Enforcement Problem Solving
Considerations around enforcement should be woven into all
phases of policy development, communication, implementation and monitoring. Here
are some strategies for enforcement problem solving that other school
administrators have found helpful.
Strategies for Policy Development and Implementation
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School infrastructure:
Identify a faculty member to take a lead role in tobacco use prevention
education, policy and cessation efforts for each school. Put tobacco use
prevention in their job descriptions and provide the training and support
necessary for them to do their job well. |
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Enforcement: Allow
students to take an alternative to suspension (ATS) program no more than two
times to avoid out of school suspension. |
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ATS and cessation program
facilitation: Recruit more than one facilitator per site for the ATS and
youth cessation program. If possible, recruit at least one former tobacco
user. Where possible, recruit school support services staff to assist in
implementing the program. |
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Staff support for students
attempting to quit: Encourage teachers to allow students in ATS and
youth cessation programs to use techniques in class (water, candy) to help
them in their quitting process. |
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Cessation program
implementation: Screen potential cessation participants to determine
tobacco use and motivation to quit. Offer cessation programs multiple times
during the school year to the entire student body, as well as ATS students.
Generate potential participants through school wide promotion activities
that focus on quitting tobacco use. Involve respected faculty who are former
tobacco users in the cessation programs. |
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Team training of staff
for program implementation: Send a team of school staff to the
“Teaming Up for Tobacco-Free Schools” policy workshop offered by the Tobacco
Prevention and Control Branch. It should consist of staff who will be
involved in different stages if implementation, such as communication,
handling discipline, etc. |
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Timing of policy: Select
an implementation date with significance, such as the start of the new
school year. Allow sufficient time for people to prepare for implementation.
Students and staff who are tobacco users may need several months to quit or
cut down on tobacco use. Identify cessation resources available to tobacco
users – in the school district and the community. Let tobacco users know
about these options well in advance of the day the policy goes into effect.
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Community partnerships:
Include the wider community in discussions about the implementation of a
tobacco-free policy. Provide a forum in which businesses and community
residents can express concerns to school administrators and board members.
All parties can develop a joint and mutually agreeable plan to address
problems. Diverse attendance can help develop and enforce diverse strategies
tailored to meet the needs of students, staff and visitors in the school
district. Explore partnerships with local hospitals, nonprofits, and mental
health or public health departments to offer programs such as ATS, cessation
and promotion activities. School districts should coordinate with local
Tobacco Prevention and Control coalitions (where they exist) to organize and
sponsor tobacco prevention initiatives. |
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Student involvement:
Involve all students in the development and enforcement of policies and in
promoting a tobacco-free lifestyle on campus. Include them on the team that
establishes standards for enforcement. Involve students in the planning and
implementation of promotion activities, either through student clubs or as
peer educators. The Teens Against Tobacco Use (TATU) program offers training
for high school students who can serve as role models to middle school
students. Create an environment that emphasizes that it is everyone’s
responsibility to promote a tobacco-free school environment.
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Strategies
for Enforcement
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Everyone’s responsibility:
Consider including everyone on enforcement responsibilities: students, staff, principals, teachers and others. |
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Enforcement officers:
Use the same monitors (i.e.: hall monitors) used for aggressive behavior and
truancy for monitoring tobacco use on school grounds. Monitors should be
trained on the enforcement protocol. If police officers or school resource
officers (SRO’s) currently monitor the school grounds for compliance with
laws and other school regulations, they should be responsible for tobacco
monitoring as well. Visibility of these law enforcement personnel may reduce
visitor policy violations. |
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Consistency: Make a firm
commitment to enforce the policy consistently. Expect some people to “test”
enforcement of the new policy. Remember that consistent enforcement sends a
clear message about the importance of the policy to the people who are
enforcing it.
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Strategies for Communication
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Proactive, clear and
consistent communication: This is most important for enforcement. Post
the actual written policy around campus for visitors and students to read.
Have sufficient signage in place concurrent with implementation of the
policy. Signage should be visible at entrance to campus, school building
entrances, playing fields, bleachers, vehicles, and other areas where
tobacco use violations may occur. Announce policies at athletic events,
plays, dances and concerts. Mention tobacco-free policies on written event
program guides. Publicize the tobacco policy in student newsletters.
Announce the policy at all PTA and PTO meetings. Place contracts in student
handbooks that detail the tobacco policy. Have both students and parents
sign and return the contract stating they have read and understand the
policy. Mention tobacco-free policies at new student orientations for
middle, high, alternative and transfer students. Direct attention to tobacco-free policies in the employee hiring or contracting process.
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Positive message:
Present the policy in a positive light – while, at the same time,
acknowledging that students, staff and visitors may find it initially
challenging. Emphasize the health, academic and social benefits of a tobacco-free school to staff and students. Send the clear message that the benefits
far outweigh any challenges that are faced. Encourage students to make
responsible decisions about the health of their bodies, and to have respect
for other students and staff by not using tobacco on campus.
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Focus on behavior: Focus
on the use of tobacco as an unhealthy behavior – not on the user. For
example, teachers who use tobacco may still be great role models for youth
but their tobacco use promotes an unhealthy behavior. Make sure students and
staff are not alienated or embarrassed about their tobacco use.
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Expectations and
consequences: Make sure the policy clearly articulates the expected
behaviors and consequences of failing to meet the expectations as specified
in the policy. Outline expectations for students, staff and visitors. Design
a contract all employees are required to sign at the beginning of the school
year to acknowledge that they understand the policy and the consequences of
violations. Create a similar one for students and their parents.
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(Adapted from the Oregon Department of
Health Services Tobacco Prevention and Education Program)
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