question why access 08

Question Why (?Y) Youth Empowerment

“Outdoor Public Places

to Tobacco-Free Schools and Spaces ”

Background

The ?Y Youth Empowerment Centers were created with funding from Robert Wood Johnson and are currently sustained with funding from the Health & Wellness Trust Fund

Three regional Centers begin full operation in North Carolina in 2001 Created a model from theory AND practice Focus on advocacy & social norm change Provide trainings and technical assistance

Vision Statement:Empowering ALL youth with Critical Awareness, Skills Building, and Opportunities through facilitating processes of connecting people and resources while leaving youth more prosperous and the community’s future much brighter.

?Y Youth Empowerment

How the Model Works:Foundations for Empowerment and Advocacy

Critical Awareness (Understanding) Skill Development (Ability Development) Opportunities (Taking Action)

Critical Awareness(Understanding)

Skill Development

(Developing Ability)

Opportunities

(Taking action)

Learn what is a Gold standard Tobacco Free School (TFS)

Policy.

Learn about the challenge of developing TFS policies in a historically tobacco-producing state.

Understand the use of a fresh grant approach Real Time Community Change (RTCC) to meet the challenge. Consider the results achieved by using RTCC.

At The End of The Day

We Hope You Take Away

Once Upon a Time in NC… Tobacco was King Tobacco built Duke University Tobacco was the foundation of

the economy People smoked in grocery

stores, daycares, schools… everywhere!

Public schools set their schedules around tobacco farming

Fast Forward

Public Policies in Non-Tobacco Producing States

Tobacco prevention funding is twice as high in non-tobacco producing states

Excise taxes are three times higher in non-tobacco producing states

The percentage of population covered by local or statewide ordinances is more than ten times greater in non-tobacco producing states.

Source: Anne Butzin, UNC Chapel Hill

NC Tobacco Production in 2006

NC Brief History in Prevention 1992 – creation of Project ASSIST through NCI

and CDC funding 1993 – NC legislation enacts “preemption” for

tobacco (AKA: Dirty Air Law…industry was actively working against change)

1998 – Tobacco Prevention & Control Branch is created and added to public health

2000 – only 5 out of 116 school districts are 100% tobacco-free

2007 – Senate Bill 1086 mandates Tobacco Free Schools in North Carolina

“100% Tobacco Free Schools”THE GOLD STANDARD

All students, staff, faculty, and visitors will not use any type of tobacco products at any time anywhere on campus (indoors or outside) including sporting events, school vehicles, and off-campus events.

I:/Tobacco/TPCB Programs/TFS Advancing Counties GREEN 1-21-04.ppt, 1-24-04

Columbus

Brunswick

PenderBladen

Sampson

Duplin

Onslow

Jones

LenoirWayne

Johnston

Carteret

Craven

Pamlico

BeaufortHyde

TyrrellDare

Gates

Hertford

Bertie

Martin

Pitt

Greene

Wilson

Nash

Warren

Halifax

Northampton

Edgecombe Washington

CurrituckCamden

Pasquotank

Perquimans

Chowan

New

Hanover

Tobacco Free School Districts 2003Eastern NC/ Question Why Service Area

School Districts with a 100% TFS Policy

Clinton City

Schools

Whiteville City Schools


Columbus

Brunswick

PenderBladen

Sampson

Duplin

Onslow

Jones

LenoirWayne

Johnston

Carteret

Craven

Pamlico

BeaufortHyde

TyrrellDare

Gates

Hertford

Bertie

Martin

Pitt

Greene

Wilson

Nash

Warren

Halifax

Northampton

Edgecombe

Clinton City Schools

Washington

CurrituckCamden

Pasquotank

Perquimans

Chowan

New

Hanover

Tobacco Free School Districts 2008Eastern NC/ Question Why East Service Area




Columbus

Brunswick

PenderBladen

Sampson

Duplin

Onslow

Jones

LenoirWayne

Johnston

Carteret

Craven

Pamlico

BeaufortHyde

TyrrellDare

Gates

Hertford

Bertie

Martin

Pitt

Greene

Wilson

Nash

Warren

Halifax

Northampton

Edgecombe

Clinton City Schools

Washington

CurrituckCamden

Pasquotank

Perquimans

Chowan

New

Hanover

Tobacco Free School Districts 2008Eastern NC/Question Why East Service Area



What are

YOUR CHALLENGES

in implementing

tobacco-free policies

?????

Why are we Here? To talk about an approach called Real

Time Community Change (RTCC) that works to bring about change even in tough circumstances,

Is a vehicle for Question Why’s Youth Empowerment Model in action, and

Acts as an Adult Empowerment Model as well.

What is RTCC?

A fresh and tested approach to bring economic and social improvements to communities. It happens in real time. And it considers sparkplug citizens -- grubstaked with small grants from an investor agency -- to be the critical resource for small changes that soon add up.

Evidence of Success

Why is RTCC Successful?

Sparkplug Citizens Investor Organizations

Sparkplug Characteristics

EnergyBias to ActResult FocusPersonal Responsibility Belief in Common GoodInclined to Teams

Funder vs. Investor

Believes fairness means intense interaction with applicants..

Clearly distinguishes among investment in programs, innovations and organizational growth.

Funds direct services, capacity-building, technology, etc. using the same approach.

Believes fairness means distance from proposers.

Answers 3 questions of all opportunities.1. What am I buying?2. What are the chances I’ll get it?3. Is this the best use of my money?

Uses multiple criteria, including need, work plan, quality of proposal, evaluation design, etc. to select. May assign points for proposal sections.

Invites submissions and selects from those applying.

Seeks to uncover all promising opportunities.

May use widespread participation in selection.. Always uses very small teams or individuals to make investment decisions

Considers grant decisions the high point of their work.

Considers the initial investment the starting point of their work..

Monitors for grant compliance. Asks: How can I help? (And means it!)

How does RTCC Work? Set investor agenda Select sparkplugs and recruit teams Prepare for workshop Hold workshop

Teams develop maps Specify quantifiable results Implement in “real time” meaning 6 months for adults and 2

months for youth. On-going investor support

Coaches, Mid-Point convening Reconvene to review results Continue investment up to 3 rounds Support other investment

Changing Social Norms and Policies through Real Time Community Change

Results!

Investor Question #1What did Question Why buy?

Since Fall 2004People are better off 5 tobacco free school districts

covering 58,820 students 2 tobacco free restaurant policies

Question Why Expanded its reach to: 51 new youth advocates 15 new partnerships with agencies 200 individual partners 12 tobacco-dependent communities

that had never had funding before

Investor Question #2What were the chances sparkplugs would deliver the results they promised? It depends on…

Sparkplug – energy and drive is key to success Strength of map – is their plan realistic and

doable? Makeup of team – team dynamics and dynamics

within larger groups have a huge effect Synergy and energy of team – a team with energy

and commitment will be way more successful than a team with “titles”

With youth teams – the adult support is critiical

Investor Question #3Was this the best use of our money?

Invested $53,500 worth of grants in tobacco prevention efforts through 8 counties in Eastern North Carolina. This compares to one grant of $200,000 in one county over 3 years to accomplish the same results.

Four RTCC teams were able to achieve results and establish an infrastructure that attracted “big money” and full-time staff in places that had none!

Allows for having a stake in the community; we developed citizen advocates, recruited volunteers… that equals a wise use of money!

High Expectations for Return on Investment

1 TFS policy passed 390 total volunteers 15,865 total hours worked on 6-

month project 262 youth volunteers 9,018 youth volunteer hours on

project

8 counts earned media Leveraging Funds:

T-shirts Copies Printing Laminating Pressure washer

donated Meeting space

An example of ROI from 3 adult teams in 2006

RTCC Adult Results in April 2006:

Four Teams from Oct ‘05 – April ‘06

Focus on Youth: Mellow Mushroom

The Real Deal Cost, Time, and Our Investment

One full-time staff dedicated to managing One consultant Numerous “coaches” – payment & training Travel expenses Meals for meetings/workshops Actual “grant” investments to teams

Investor’s On-going Challenges People

Recruiting the right people for the teams, both adults and youth.

Finding a sparkplug among the team members Adult leaders take-over…not understanding “youth

empowerment” as we do Finding really good “coaches”

Cultural “Fear Factor” of promoting tobacco-free places due to

deep roots and cultural ties to tobacco farming School systems cultures

Data and administration Collecting receipts Collecting ROI information

Holding the teams to a high level of accountability regarding results

It’s always a fun ride!

Thanks for your time…

question why access 08

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