The Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) program, funded by Proposition 99 Tobacco Tax funds, provides funding for programs in grades six through twelve through a competitive application process for tobacco-specific student instruction, reinforcement activities, special events, and intervention and cessation programs for students. The purpose of the TUPE program is to reduce youth tobacco use by helping young people make healthful tobacco-related decisions through tobacco-specific, research-validated educational instruction and activities that build knowledge as well as social skills and youth development assets. Collaboration with community-based tobacco control programs is an integral part of program planning.

The following programs and strategies are implemented through the EGUSD TUPE grant which is administered by the Youth Development Office. For more information on the TUPE program please contact the Youth Development Office at (916) 686-7568.

TUPE Media Projects

YDO staff works with 6th -12th grade teachers to design and develop anti-tobacco public service announcement videos and other forms of digital art for use as a tobacco prevention educational tool. Middle school teachers receive on-site training and support from PRO Youth and Families in the development of their PSAs. High school teachers receive on-site support from Uptown Studios. Completed PSAs and digital art are posted online for use as an educational tool within EGUSD school sites.

Anti-tobacco PSAs by EGUSD students

 SEVA 2016 – PSA 4-6 Honorable Mention – Don’t Waste Your Time on Smoking
 Student DV Feature: Bob the Stick Figure – Anti Tobacco PSA

• Project ALERT is a nationally recognized, 7th and 8th grade, substance abuse prevention program that gives students insight, understanding and actual skills for resisting substance abuse.
• Project ALERT is implemented on every middle school campus in Elk Grove Unified School District.
• The Tobacco Use Prevention Education program (TUPE) provides all curriculum materials and training for teachers implementing Project ALERT.

Project Aware

Project AWARE is a three year grant (2016-2019) awarded to Elk Grove Unified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to provide free Youth Mental Health First Aid training to district staff within seven target campuses and to Elk Grove youth-serving community members.

Project Aware Target Campuses:

Elk Grove High School
Laguna Creek High School
Monterey Trail High School
Valley High School
Calvine High School
Rio Cazedero High School
William Daylor High School

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Youth Mental Health First Aid USA is an eight hour public education program which introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. Mental Health First Aid uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect young people to professional, peer, social, and self-help care.

Why should I become a Youth Mental Health First Aid responder?

Youth Mental Health First Aid is a valuable resource that can make a difference in the lives of the one in five Americans living with mental illnesses and addictions, including those experiencing suicidal thoughts. This eight hour in-person training teaches people how to support someone who may be developing a mental illness or experiencing a crisis. In 2014, Mental Health First Aid partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide (AFSP) to expand more Mental Health First Aid training capacity through their local chapters.

Individuals trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid can help to:

• Break down the bias against people living with mental illnesses, addictions and suicidal thinking.
• Reach out to those who suffer in silence, reluctant to seek help.
• Let individuals struggling with mental illnesses and addictions know that support is available in their community.
• Provide community resources.

Make behavioral health care and treatment accessible to thousands in need.

Be the one to make a difference and sign up for a Youth Mental Health First Aid training today:

• Community Member Registration
• EGUSD Employee Registration

Helpful Resource Links

• Mental Health First Aid – Website sponsored by National Council for Behavioral Health
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255
• National Alliance on Mental Illness-Sacramento – Local crisis help
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention-Sacramento
• Elk Grove Unified Student Support Center’s Community Resource Guide 

Questions? Contact Us:

Ely Corona
Project AWARE Counselor
ecorona@egusd.net
(916) 686-7568 ext. 67209

Tami Silvera
Program Specialist
tsilvera@egusd.net
(916) 686-7568 ext. 67210

• Project SUCCESS, is a highly effective, school-based substance abuse prevention and early intervention program. Project SUCCESS works to prevent and reduce adolescent substance use and abuse.
• Project Implementors are at each Continuation High School to support Project SUCCESS. They conduct classroom lessons on substance abuse prevention, facilitate support groups for students using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, make referrals to community agencies, and implement a variety of other outreach activities on campus to promote substance use prevention and intervention services.

• Teen Intervene is a research-validated program designed to help young people make healthier choices surrounding tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse. Teen Intervene is a three session, individualized program. Identified students meet one on one with a trained TUPE Project Implementor at their school during school hours. Parents are invited to join an optional third session to address substance abuse as a family. During these sessions, YDO staff help students identify the reasons they use, examine the effects of their choice on their lives and learn to make healthier choices.
• Teen Intervene is designed for students that:
  • are experiencing mild to moderate problems at school or home associated with alcohol, tobacco and other drug use;
  • may have violated Education Code regarding use or possession of these substances on school property;
  • school staff are concerned about because they have seen telltale signs such as decline in academics, displaced behavior and attendance issues.

How Are Students Referred to Teen Intervene?

Any EGUSD staff, student or parent can refer a student by contacting the Youth Development Office at (916) 686-7568.

YDO staff is available to school staff, parents, and students for ongoing training and technical assistance in the area of substance abuse prevention/intervention and youth development. The YDO team maintains a resource library with books, videos and display materials available for check out. If you would like to schedule an educational presentation or learn more about any of the programs and services our team provides please contact the Youth Development Office at (916) 686-7568.

Helpful Resource Links:
 Tobacco Free Kids – Promotes public policy reducing smoking rates of minors.
 National Institute for Drug Abuse  – National Institute for Drug Abuse; Information and resources regarding drug abuse.
 MADD  – Mothers Against Drunk Driving; Resources to reduce drunk driving and help the victims.

EGUSD’s Teen Parent Program (TPP), funded by a grant from Kaiser Permanente, provides resources, education and case management support to pregnant and parenting students within the district.  The TPP program also hosts an annual Teen Parent Resource Fair.  This event brings together vendors from throughout Sacramento County that provide valuable resources and information to pregnant and parenting teens in the Elk Grove Unified School District.

Helpful Resource Links:
 WIC
 AFLP
 Medical Insurance

Video Links:
 Safe Sleep

All students have a right to a safe and healthy school environment.  Our schools work hard to promote mutual respect, tolerance and acceptance, and the Youth Development Office supports our schools in this effort.  The Sacramento County Bullying Prevention Project (BPP) provides grant funding to EGUSD through the Youth Development Office of Student Support and Health Services.  That grant supports a number of projects including:

• Youth Mental Health First Aid training courses that are available to all district employees
• “A Touch of Understanding” disability awareness  training for many elementary students
• Staff, parent and student bullying prevention presentations and workshops
• Second Step program implementation in all Transitional Kindergarten classrooms at 39 elementary schools
• Second Step and Steps to Respect program implementation K-6 at three elementary schools

All of our efforts aim to help create safe and healthy schools, so students can thrive and reach their greatest potential.

Anti-bullying PSAs created by EGUSD students

 EGUSD – Cyberbullying PSA – Student Perspective
 SEVA 2015 – PSA 7-8 – Decisions