First, let’s make sure we understand what the SWAT Movement is all about.

To Empower and Unite Youth to Resist and Expose Big Tobacco’s Lies while Changing Current Attitudes about Tobacco.

To raise awareness about tobacco industry marketing practices that target youth as replacement smokers.

To provide youth with opportunities for “real-life” learning experiences through mentoring, training, community assessment, and grassroots activism.

As adopted by SWAT leadership SWAT is not against the tobacco user. We are against the tobacco industry.

As adopted by SWAT leadership Empower us by helping us learn how to make decisions. Don’t make all of the decisions for us.

As adopted by SWAT leadership Recognize our need for teens to educate other teens on the influences of the tobacco industry.

As adopted by SWAT leadership Give us resources for our members so we can mobilize against tobacco and bring awareness to our communities.

As adopted by SWAT leadership Encourage us to be innovative and help us to become activists through empowerment, knowledge, and skill building.

As adopted by SWAT leadership Be positive mentors.

As adopted by SWAT leadership Help us create partnerships among communities, schools, youth organizations, health organizations, and government.

As adopted by SWAT leadership Recognize our cultural diversity and maintain respect for our cultural traditions.

As adopted by SWAT leadership Recognize individual and community rights to make their own decisions within the framework of the program.

As adopted by SWAT leadership Recognize the need and be prepared to help us move as conditions change.

Youth Empowerment is the process by which SWAT youth become active participants in the planning and implementation of activities within their state and local communities.

Visible characteristics of youth empowerment include changes in attitudes and beliefs, as well as an increase of knowledge, skills and confidence to encourage change among others.

- SWAT Headquarters (OTCP) SWAT Teams Adult Partners CX Coordinators (County) SWAT Regional Coordinators Empower youth to expose Big Tobacco CX SWAT Staff

A team is a group of people with a commitment to one another, to the team, to a common goal, and to a common vision.

Advantages and Disadvantages to Working in a Team oMore people means more ideas. oTeamwork is more efficient so you can accomplish more. oEach person has a role in a team. oGood teams can build good leaders. oTeam decision- making takes longer. oTeams may have members who don’t always pull their weight. oIndividuals could lose focus if there isn’t enough recognition.

 Has at least 2 youth, 6 th grade through 12th, and an adult partner.  Meets regularly.  Develops and follows a plan of action.  Designs and conducts activities that follow the SWAT mission.  Submits Brag Sheet to Regional Coordinator or County Coordinator. See the AP Handbook for a complete description.

 Be trained in SQUADS.  Be available to work with youth at a time that is convenient for the youth.  Have the ability to educate, encourage, assist and model responsible ways to make changes for a healthier community.  Have the basic belief that young people have creative strategies and are capable of making a positive impact on their community. See the AP Handbook for a complete description.

 Members should start by hashing out a vision in line with the SWAT mission.  Make sure the concept of a team is absolutely clear.  Hash out regularly scheduled meeting times.  Establish team leadership.

The following, are tools to help your team and SWAT teams around the state.

 Contains information about the SWAT mission, operating principles, history and overview & youth empowerment.  Lists trainings and tools available to Adult Partners and SWAT youth.

 Details counter marketing, youth recruitment strategies, activism and SWAT activist interventions.  Summarizes the Master Settlement Agreement and the Smokeless Tobacco MSA.

 Several options of monthly activities.  Instructions provided for each.  Developed based on Best Practices.  Little or no cost at all.

 Guide was designed to unify efforts across the state.  Guide was designed to correspond with nationally recognized tobacco prevention holidays.

 Submitted to County Coordinators or Regional Coordinator.  Aids in reporting local SWAT activities.  Aids in assessing local team and/or Adult Partner training and/or resource needs.

The Rule of 3’s - An Action Plan is needed when: 1.The job has more than 3 steps 2.More than 3 people are needed 3.Planning occurs longer than 3 weeks

 Internal tobacco industry document quotes and other tobacco facts.  Tools such as downloadable training materials, resources, and videos.

 News and latest happenings.  Updates on SWAT events.  Contact Information for SWAT Regional Coordinators along with a map of the regions.

 Involve members in joint planning for tasks that are doable and requires teamwork to accomplish.  Plan, Plan, Plan. Give yourself plenty of time. Written action plans are especially helpful.  Assign a task with a deadline to each person on the team.  The more a member is involved, the more ownership they will have.

 Members like to do more than just talk.  Make sure the team is clear on the outcome and goals they want to achieve with their activities.  Membership tends to decline if the team doesn’t meet very often or do many activities.

 It’s important to utilize the tobacco industry documents because it exposes the industry in their own words.  Sometimes you have to ask yourself, “how does this activity fit the mission?”  When in need ask for help!

Helpful Links kickbuttsday.org tobaccofreekids.org throughwithchew.com bucktobacco.org smokefreemovies.ucsf.edu/