Research shows that placing youth in positions of leadership reinforces healthy decision-making, including the decision not to use tobacco products. The activities of the initiative include sponsoring youth leadership conferences and other activities that create opportunities for young people to influence their peers to choose a healthy lifestyle.

Our activities so far have included hosting two conferences, the development and production of "Welcome to Another Smokefree Place" decals and the coordination with the Tobacco Action Coalition to produce a smoking cessation website for youth.

We have also recently developed a 25-minute musical comedy revue entitled, "Hey Kids - It's Time to Butt-Out!" Youth ranging in age from 12 to 19 have performed the show all over Suffolk County. The script and soundtrack are available for schools and agencies to replicate.

On October 10, 2003 Eastern Suffolk BOCES sponsored a "Middle School Peer Mediator Recognition Day". In attendance were 175 Suffolk County students representing twelve schools from ten districts. The conference, which was held at Southaven Park, was created to recognize student leaders for their hard work and featured outdoor activities to help young people improve leadership skills, enhance problem-solving techniques and reinforce team-building. In addition, students had an opportunity to network with peer mediators from other districts in order to develop ideas that would enhance their existing peer mediation programs. Participating districts included Bay Shore, Brentwood, Copiague, Harborfields, Longwood, Riverhead, Sayville, South Huntington, Southold, and Westhampton Beach. View information regarding this year's conference.

A "Youth Empowerment and Recognition Day" was held on December 12, 2003 for high school students. Students from SADD clubs, Student Government organizations, Peer Leadership groups, Peer Mediation clubs and other leadership organizations were invited. The conference was held at St. Joseph's College and featured presenter and founder of 10 Seconds, Inc., Bobby Petrocelli as the keynote speaker. Mr. Petrocelli is a motivational speaker who shares with youth the power of their decisions and how to build a strong foundation for their lives. His coaching background and expertise with youth have made him one of the top communicators in his field. Other organizations participating in the day's conference and facilitating workshops for the students were: the Colette Coyne Foundation on sun damage and skin cancer prevention; Bias Help Long Island on prejudice reduction; VIBES (Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk) on date rape prevention; Sayville High School students speaking about suicide prevention; BOCES Brookhaven Technical and Academic Center youth speaking about Teens as Teachers, a tobacco prevention program; Tom Burger presenting on Sexual Harassment; and Northport High School youth on HIV/AIDS prevention. Additionally, Felicia Schneberg, New York State SADD Coordinator, spoke with advisors on developing and/or strengthening existing SADD clubs. View information regarding this year's conference.

In addition, we have been developing "Youth Tobacco Councils" in schools where teachers have been trained in HealthSmart or in districts that are otherwise open to participating in tobacco prevention programs. To date, we have been working to establish groups in Westhampton High School, Northport High School, Islip High School, Longwood Junior High School, Sachem North High School and the BOCES Brookhaven Technical and Academic Center. The purpose of these Councils is to develop a grassroots movement of youth who are interested in creating tobacco-free schools and communities. Tasks include posting of the "Welcome to Another Smokefree Place" decals in locker rooms, bathrooms and other places where teens typically smoke as well as cigarette butt clean-ups. Other plans include holding a mock trial where students pose as litigants recreating lawsuits against tobacco companies. This exercise can be videotaped and then shown to community organizations, businesses, PTA's, etc. for the purpose of getting the word out about the school health education initiative. It is hoped that spreading the word in the broader community will support the school's efforts in changing norms and reducing the acceptance of youth smoking.

As part of the School Health Education Initiative, Eastern Suffolk BOCES sponsors all of these events free of charge. For further information, please contact Martha Kahan.