News and Events
Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Recruitment Begins in DeSoto County for the 2014-2015 School Year
August 9, 2014
The Tobacco Free Partnership of DeSoto County and Students Working Against Tobacco participated in the annual Back-to-School Health Fair held by the DeSoto County Health Department on August 9, 2014.
This event is used by local agencies to provide low-income families with school supplies for youth, as well as information about services provided by local agencies. Subway even gave away free box lunches to attendees.
The Back-to-School Health Fair was held in the gym of DeSoto High School. Parents and their children were lined up outside the gym an hour before the event started waiting for the doors to open.
The Tobacco Free Partnership (TFP) handed out 525 pencils promoting the Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) program and information about the dangers of second hand smoke to families that stopped by the table. SWAT also had a sign-up sheet at the table, and 43 youth signed up for more information about the SWAT clubs in the middle and high school.
Most parents that stopped by our table were receptive of the information they received about tobacco use and its consequences on the youth. However, it was disheartening to see some parents and youth stay away from the TFP/SWAT table with sneers, snickers and words of ignorant disproval. We still have some work to do with changing social norms amongst low-income families in DeSoto County.
Anyone interested in assisting in creating a healthier DeSotoCounty is encouraged to attend a Tobacco Free Partnership Meeting. The meetings are held the 3rd Tuesday of every month. More information is available by emailing the Partnership at info@tfp-desoto.org.
