Phast

Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) & the Protecting Health And Slamming Tobacco (PHAST Youth Coalition)The purpose of the Tobacco-Use Prevention Education (TUPE) program is to prevent or reduce student tobacco use and nicotine addiction through tobacco-specific, evidence-informed educational instruction and activities that build knowledge, social skills, and youth development assets.  TUPE funding originates from tobacco tax revenue and provides prevention programs in grades six through twelve.

The Stanislaus County Office of Education provides technical assistance and direct services to school districts to develop and implement effective, comprehensive tobacco prevention education programs. Support provided to local education agencies (LEAs) includes:  

• Assistance with the tobacco-free school district certification process.
• Provide technical assistance and direct services for comprehensive tobacco use prevention education programs, including curriculum, intervention, and youth development programing such as the Protecting Health And Slamming Tobacco (PHAST) Youth Coalition.  
• Support strategies to eliminate tobacco-related disparities within the county.
• Encourage and support cessation efforts by students and school staff.  
• Provide countywide professional development for staff.
• Assist with planning educational and engagement opportunities for parents and families.  
• Support California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) administration, data analysis, and communication.  

The Stanislaus County TUPE Programs is a partnership of 22 school districts. Participating school districts are:

       To learn more about TUPE programming statewide, visit www.tupeca.org.​  

In Stanislaus County an innovative model of collaboration and connection was developed in 2005 to enhance the youth development component within the TUPE programming. The Protecting Health and Slamming Tobacco (PHAST) Program strives to be a youth coaliton respected statewide for our active and enthusiastic programs that educate our peers on the dangers of tobacco use, and counter pro tobacco influences through our empowered community advocacy.

PHAST Program Goals

The PHAST Program is dedicated to fostering greater public awareness of the dangers of tobacco use while also providing an opportunity for members to participate in school and community activities designed to promote healthy lifestyles. The program's goal is to aggressively educate students through peer presentations, campus activities and various tobacco-use prevention campaigns such as Red Ribbon Week. There are 69 active high school, middle/junior high school and elementary youth councils in Stanislaus County. Through these clubs, youth will acquire and apply valuable leadership skills, interact with experts in the areas of community service and tobacco education and establish relationships with a diverse group of peers.

Build Peer Tobacco Education Skills by Participating in Training Events

For example: PHAST/PHASTjv members and advisors are invited to attend the annual trainings held at the beginning of each school year. In September, the PHASTjv Boot Tobacco Camp is held with 250 middle/junior high school members in attendance and in October, the PHAST Tobacco Slam Training is held with 250 high school members in attendance.  Members receive training on tobacco 101, emerging trends, creating Public Service Announcements, organizing campus/community activity planning, how to be an advocate and much more.

​Conduct Tobacco Prevention Education Activities  

For example: Tobacco Prevention Education Campaigns held on campuses annually.  Red Ribbon Week in October, Great American Smoke-out in November, Escape the Vape in January,  Through with Chew in February and Take Down Tobacco in April. PHAST clubs are tasked with educating their peers through campus tabling events, morning announcements, relays, contests, rallies and much more.

Conduct Community Advocacy Activities to Promote Nicotine-free Living

For example: The Tobacco Waste Cleanups conducted by the PHAST Coalition have collected more than 60,000 pieces of tobacco waste in parks across the county. We use the tobacco waste collected as data to raise awareness about the problem of smoking/vaping in parks. On average we collect over 80 pieces of tobacco waste per volunteer hour.  The PHAST members in Patterson, Modesto, Turlock & Hughson had a direct hand in assisting these cities to pass policies to ban smoking/vaping in parks and keep our community clean, safe and healthy.