Guidelines for school health programs to prevent tobacco use and addiction . In addition, many districts administer a local YRBS to assess their student population. The Massachusetts Department of Education requires evidence of a Comprehensive K-12 Needs Assessment for the Health Protection Fund Grant Application . The Health Protection Fund for comprehensive school health education has been in place for three and a half years. Districts are challenged to increase the prevention education effort in the upper grades.
Many districts run cessation programs, but the necessity for more cessation programs is recurrent.
A commitment to a cessation program is critical for the success of the participants. For commitment to occur, the cessation program should be dynamic, exciting, and include peer and community leaders where possible.