|
School Treatment Project
news & updates
| | |
|  |
|
Partner Landing Page:
You can access all project-related information, guidance, reporting tools and materials here.
| | |
Thank you for attending our January Office Hours! | | |
|
Thank you for attending our Office Hours on January 7th and 8th. We had nearly 50% of providers in attendance. We'll continue with this model to help meet your different schedules. As always, these are voluntary opportunities to learn, share, and connect with others who are doing the impactful work that you are.
In the month of February, we'll have one session of Office Hours due to vacation, and we'll go back to two in March. Feel free to drop in, arrive late, leave early, attend both, or attend neither. These are here for you!
| | |
|
Below are some of the slides that we shared:
- We are officially in 19 schools
- Providers have had 313 student sessions
- 41% of the total sessions were initial sessions
- 48% of the students have enrolled in MLMQ
- Students voluntarily attended 48% of the sessions
Also, take a look at the Student Feedback slides. Their shares are super powerful!
| |
|
Q - Can I see Digests from prior months?
A - Absolutely! Scroll down to the bottom of Youth Tobacco Treatment: My Life, My Quit - Center for Tobacco Independence, and you'll find links to our Digests.
Q - Should I complete and submit the Daily Tracking Form every week, even if I don't see any students?
A - Yes, the weekly submission lets us know what's happening. You can enter 0s into the boxes and explain in the Narrative box what happened: snow day, vacation, midterms, students out, etc.
| | |
Tips:
Top 10 Ways Schools can Promote the Program
- Send home the Family Letter (see below)
- Share the Student Letter (see below)
- Hang Provider Promotional Flyer Posters in public areas such as: main office, administrative offices, athletic director's office, lobby, near the gym, and throughout the school's wings
- Put QR Code Clings on door windows throughout the building and on bathroom mirrors
- Display Provider Contact Information on screens in the lobby and cafeteria
- Have the AD and coaches share information at the beginning of each season
- Hang MLMQ Posters throughout the school in public areas and in classrooms
- Share Provider Information at sporting events, concerts, and plays
- Display Table Tents in the cafeteria and library
- Invite a student you're meeting with to bring or refer a friend
| |
School Administrator Quotes:
- "We are hearing some great anecdotal accounts of the power of the program!"
- “I have heard success stories from students who have quit!”
- “I appreciate this project, and I feel it is really helping the students.”
- “I love it. It has been a huge asset to our school. We love [the treatment provider]. It has helped our substance use counselor to open up her schedule to address other substances.”
- “The project is going really well in our school. Is there anything else I can do to support the project?”
Motivational Quotes:
- “All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single tiny decision.” -James Clear
- “The truth is, you don’t break a bad habit, you replace it with a good one.” -Denis Waitley
| |
|
Some providers are using stickers for motivation, and students are loving them!
| | |
Annie is looking to spread awareness of the program at Skowhegan Area HS, so she is asking the students whom she meets with to answer the question above. Then, she'll take the info and put it in a word cloud. This will go on a flyer, along with her contact info, and posted throughout the school. Great idea and thank you for sharing, Annie! Want more info? Contact her at ADymarczyk@rfgh.net | | |
Do you have an idea, picture, or quote to share? If so, you can send it to Celena.Ranger@mainehealth.org | |
|
Optional Family & Student Letters
Reach out to Elizabeth if you'd like the Word versions
| |
|
Optional Template Letter for Principals to send to families
Dear SCHOOL NAME Families,
I am sending this letter to share an update about a project we launched this Fall to support our students who are struggling with vaping and other nicotine products. We are partnering with MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence on a treatment project they are implementing in 19 high schools across the state. This project expands in-person tobacco treatment options for youth and builds the capacity of our school to address nicotine use among students. I want to share some highlights and also ask for your assistance in connecting your teens to us if they are struggling with nicotine addiction.
This project has reached many students and a lot has been learned in just a few short months as the project has been implemented across the state. Here are some of the highlights from the first three months:
- Treatment providers held 313 sessions with students in the participating high schools;
-
These sessions led to 61 enrollments in the My Life, My Quit treatment service which serves as an important and confidential tool to support teens 24/7 with a modality that is comfortable to them (phone, text, web chat);
- 160 of the sessions were voluntary, meaning the students reached out independently to talk with the treatment provider;
- Many teens in Maine high schools are interested in quitting and shared that they are struggling with the health impacts of nicotine use and have tried to quit in the past;
- Family support is very important as some of the teens shared stories about their parents and loved ones helping them as they work towards quitting by offering rewards, assistance and praise;
- Some teens shared that they appreciate the treatment provider and online quit coach meeting them where they are even if they are not ready to quit;
- The quit kits are helpful including the mints, fidget ball and quit tips;
- Peer support is helpful and some have indicated they are going through the steps with a friend;
- The support of school staff and administrators is very important as there is a recognition by students of a shift from punishment to addiction support.
We are excited to learn from the project and we are also asking you to please talk to your teen about the harms of vaping and other nicotine use. You are important allies in this work to help our students and you can suggest to them that they can reach out for help.
If you have questions, please reach out to me to ask how we are implementing the project in our school. In addition to the youth treatment program, the Maine QuitLink is available to adults who are interested in quitting.
Thank you all for your support.
Sincerely,
Principal/Other
| |
|
Optional Template Letter for Principals to send to students
Dear SCHOOL NAME Students,
Did you know we have a program to help you and your friends who are struggling with vaping and other nicotine products? We know you know that tobacco and nicotine use increases the risk for lifelong nicotine addiction and poor health, so we partnered with MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence to provide treatment in the school.
- The program is for teens ages 13-17
- You meet with a quit coach/treatment provider to help make a plan to quit or cut back, cope with stress, learn about nic and withdrawal symptoms, and get ongoing support
-
You can sign up for My Life, My Quit – a free vaping and nicotine quit service available 24/7 by phone, online, or text
Since September, teens have met confidentially with treatment providers 313 times. Here is what teens in the participating 19 Maine schools are saying about the program:
- “I just want to be able to run a mile again.”
- “My friends are jumping on the bandwagon and supporting me in quitting.”
- “If I quit, it could help with my schoolwork and help my memory. I just feel better. My body feels clean I guess.”
- “Wow. It’s really nice to talk about all this.”
- “It’s worse when I’m home all the time for three days.”
- “You always believe in me even when I don’t believe in myself.”
- “I’ve been vaping since I was 9 years old. It’s the hardest thing to quit.”
- “It really helped when the coach referred to my vape like a friend. That made sense to me.”
- “Nicotine has too many crazy flavors. That’s why I don’t like it.”
- “I don’t want to disappoint my dad again.”
The vaping and nicotine program is here to help you and your friends. Remember, you don’t have to be ready to quit – just open to a supportive, judgment-free conversation.
Thanks for listening. We care about you and your health, so please reach out to learn more.
Sincerely,
Principal/Other
| |
- Less than a 2-minute video explaining how nicotine affects the teenage brain
| | |
| | | | |
