Dear community member,
Smoking and vaping tobacco and cannabis are among the most harmful and persistent issues facing teens, impacting both physical and mental health.
About 1 in 3 high school juniors now report having tried vaping statewide, and rates of cannabis vaping in particular have doubled in the past decade. Incidents of students who are choosing to vape on school campuses are occurring more often and can be disruptive for students and staff.
This fall, the COE’s Tobacco Use Prevention and Education (TUPE) program in partnership with Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance (PVPSA) has been increasing its outreach efforts and partnerships as we work to support awareness and prevention in our school community.
Our TUPE program and partners last month hosted a forum for educators and experts. And this week, we partnered with Santa Cruz City Schools and a coalition of local organizations to host a bilingual parent and caregiver forum. Panelists and speakers from the COE, SCCS, PVPSA, the Health Improvement Partnership of Santa Cruz County, and the Sheriff’s Office, shared information and spent time answering questions running the gamut of this important topic.
Due to the sensitivity of the topic, we were unfortunately unable to record this event. However, we plan to host additional sessions of this forum in the new year. Those who were unable to attend can also view the slide deck, available in English and Spanish – and can reach out to these incredible presenters with questions using the contact info on the final slide.
For those interested in learning more about countywide prevention efforts, please see local resources from the Tobacco Education Coalition.
Yours in education and equity,
Dr. Faris Sabbah
County Superintendent of Schools