Program Overview
The city of Milwaukee's "Tobacco-Free Sports" Program is a youth-led, adult-guided program of the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Department of Recreation and Community Services. Teens are trained as peer educators to present anti-tobacco education and prevention lessons to younger children who participate in Milwaukee Recreation's fall, winter, and spring sports teams. The program utilizes a three-pronged approach: tobacco control and prevention mini-sessions for parents and youth, a targeted media advocacy anti-tobacco event, and tobacco prevention trainings for sports program staff, including coaches and officials.

Participating Agencies & Organizations
Partners in this initiative include Milwaukee Recreation, the City of Milwaukee Health Department, the American Cancer Society (Midwest Division, East Region), the American Lung Association of Wisconsin, MPS Drug Free Schools Program, and the Wisconsin Division of Public Health-Southeast Region. The program began in September 2000 with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in-kind resources from the community partners. A part-time Smoke-Free Sports Coordinator facilitates the program, as well as trains and supervises the teen presenters. The coordinator and teen presenters are paid staff.

Student Recruitment & Training
Students are recruited to participate in the program through outreach efforts to local high school principals, guidance counselors, and athletic directors. The program coordinator interviews each teen student and selects individuals based on their skills, abilities, and interest in working with younger children. The teens are trained in tobacco control prevention through the use of the Teens Against Tobacco Use Program (T.A.T.U.).

Tobacco-Free Sports Themes & Sessions
Themes for the Tobbaco-Free Sports Program sessions include: Sports and Tobacco Don't Mix, What's in Tobacco?, Secondhand Smoke is Everywhere, Don't Let the Tobacco Industry Count You In, Sports and Spit Tobacco Don't Mix, and Hearing From You. Teen presenters are provided with lesson plans that address specific information for each topic, as well as interactive components and/or activities. Presentations are no longer than 15 minutes. Over a five-week period, sessions are conducted weekly, either prior to or immediately after team games.

Sports Program Staff Outreach
Education sessions and outreach efforts are conducted for coaches and athletic staff prior to each sport's season. Letters are sent describing the program and requesting staff support. Coaches distribute program information flyers to all parents encouraging participation. In addition, the program coordinator provides athletic staff with information on secondhand smoke, current youth smoking rates, and the dangers of tobacco use. Staff feedback is requested and utilized for program improvement.

Program Evaluation
Youth and teen presenters are provided with several opportunities to evaluate the program. After each series of lessons, youth participants complete a brief, written evaluation. Results have indicated a positive response from both parents and youth. In addition, teen presenters are asked to provide both formal and informal evaluation of lessons and program outreach, as well as assisting in the development and review of lessons and suggestions for program improvement.

For more information, please contact the following individuals: