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The SI division at TxSSC manages state contracts from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Division to help accomplish the goals of the State's Tobacco Prevention Initiative.

Goals of Student Initiatives Tobacco Program
Through training and technical assistance, we strive to increase the capacity of Texas communities and schools to effectively create positive change at the local level in reducing the burden of tobacco use and secondhand smoke.

Mission:

To reduce the health and economic toll tobacco has placed on the citizens of Texas.

Goal 1:

Prevent Youth Tobacco Use

• Educate youth and adults who influence youth about tobacco prevention and control issues.
• Increase adherence to federal, state and local youth tobacco sales, product placement and possession laws.
• Identify and recruit youth organizations, including non-school based, to promote tobacco prevention activities.

Goal 2:

Increase Cessation Among Youth and Adults

• Educate youth and adults to quit using tobacco products.
• Increase the number of health professionals who assess and counsel youth and adults for cessation.
• Increase awareness, availability and access to cessation resources, including the American Cancer Society (ACS) Quitline, for adults and youth.
• Educate the public and community leaders on evidence-based tobacco control programs and strategies, such as the effect of tobacco price increase on reductions in tobacco use and overall public health impact.
• Increase social support for youth cessation.
• Identify and recruit youth organizations, including non-school based, to promote tobacco cessation activities.

Goal 3:

Eliminate Exposure to Secondhand Smoke

• Increase enforcement of federal, state, and local secondhand smoke laws.
• Educate the public, including parents, business owners and community leaders about the harmful effects of secondhand smoke and the laws prohibiting or restricting smoking.
• Provide technical assistance to give evidenced-based programs and strategies to communities.
• Educate health professionals to assess and counsel situations where secondhand smoke may need to be eliminated.

Goal 4:

Reduce Tobacco Use in Diverse and Special Populations to Eliminate Disparities

• Educate youth and adults from diverse and special populations about tobacco prevention and control.
• Increase awareness, availability and access to cessation resources, including the ACS Quitline, with an emphasis on diverse and special populations.
• Educate diverse and special populations about the harmful effects of secondhand smoke and the laws prohibiting or restricting smoking.
• Provide technical assistance to give evidenced-based programs and strategies to communities with diverse and special populations.
• Develop demographic and geographic profiles of diverse and special populations in Texas that experience the greatest adverse impact of tobacco, or in which the impact is increasing.
• Collaborate with Texas colleges and universities to develop partnerships for comprehensive, campus-wide tobacco prevention and control.
• Decline in the percentage of 18-24 year-olds who are current users of any tobacco product.