LIBERTY- Sullivan 180 is holding a training for individuals to become facilitators of the evidence-based CATCH My Breath youth vaping prevention program. The training taking place on Wednesday, July 17th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Liberty is open to school staff, youth organization leaders, community volunteers, high school students, parents, or anyone wanting to learn more about youth vaping trends and may be interested in leading the CATCH My Breath program for youth and parents in Sullivan County.
A peer-reviewed study of the CATCH My Breath youth vaping prevention program found that if implemented, students were half as likely to experiment with e-cigarettes compared to schools that did not implement the program. Almost 75 percent of Sullivan County students who completed the program said that they learned valuable information and 10 students who currently vape said that CATCH My Breath made them consider quitting their e-cigarette/vape use. CATCH My Breath is also recognized by SAMHSA (The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) as the only recommended school-level youth vaping program.
After completing the CATCH My Breath Facilitator training, one new facilitator said that CATCH My Breath was a “good program with a wealth of knowledge to help prevent our kids from vaping”. A nurse from Liberty School District said they “would recommend the training for the information but also for the collaboration/networking with others in the community”
Adults trained will gain free access to the complete curriculum to guide young people, grades 5 through 12, through the program which is known to reduce the chances of youth starting a lifelong addiction to nicotine. Educators will receive CTLEs for completing this training thanks to an agreement with Sullivan BOCES. Partnering organizations including Tobacco Free Action Communities Reality Check Program and the American Lung Association will be presenting resources available to schools and opportunities for students to get involved in a youth-led movement against big tobacco.
To register for this training or to learn more about upcoming facilitator trainings, email trainings@sullivan180.org.
