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Gaining Partner Support
Many people and organizations can help you get the N-O-T program started. Some can provide resources, funding, or incentives for teens to participate. Others can give general support or encourage teens to join the program. Listed below are ways that partners or supporters can help make N-O-T a success:
To bring N-O-T to your school or community, solicit support from —
- Staff members at schools or community agencies.
- School board members.
- Parents.
- Parent Teacher Association.
- Community-based organizations.
- Local office of the American Lung Association.
To provide resources for implementing and promoting N-O-T, solicit support from —
- Staff members of schools or community agencies.
- Private or public entities that fund public health programs.
- Community-based organizations.
- Local office of the American Lung Association.
To promote N-O-T or recruit participants, solicit support from —
- Staff members of schools or community agencies.
- Parents.
- Parent Teacher Association.
- Friends of potential participants and teen leaders.
- News media (newspaper or radio).
To get partners excited about N-O-T —
- Highlight the program’s strengths and distinct characteristics.
- Share N-O-T success stories (i.e., stories about N-O-T participants who, for example, reduced or quit smoking, improved their grades, or attended school more consistently).
- Use the promotional materials available on this Web site. Ensure that you use the materials that are most appropriate for each audience.
To engage key partners
N-O-T has different benefits for each type of partner. Here are some talking points about benefits:
Benefits of Program for School Administrators, Faculty, Staff
- Improves students’ attendance and academic performance. Facilitators and teens report that participating in N-O-T has positive effects on grades and school attendance. Some facilitators and participating teens have reported more involvement in other school activities.
- Fewer smoking violations at school because students stop or reduce their smoking.
- Positive recognition for schools with N-O-T success stories.
View an example of a letter (Word doc) you could send to school administrators to gain their support.
View a PowerPoint presentation (PDF) you could use to gain school administrators’ support. The presentation highlights the benefits of the N-O-T program.
Benefits of Program for Community Members and Organizations
- Promotes a smoke-free environment.
- Reaches high-risk teens.
- Encourages community partnerships to promote good health among teens.
- Supports a culture that includes a healthier lifestyle.
View an example of a letter (Word doc) you could send to community-based organizations to gain their support.
Benefits of Program for Teens
- Improves their health when they reduce or stop smoking.
- Improves their quality of life if they follow the program’s guidelines for increasing their physical activity, managing their stress better, improving their diet, and obtaining and maintaining social support.
- Helps them form a relationship with an adult role model and with other teens in the group.
- Improves their performance in school through better attendance and increased motivation.
Benefits of Program for Parents
- Promotes a healthier lifestyle for their teens.
- Teaches teens important life lessons such as how to deal with stress or social rejection.
- Encourages parents to quit or reduce smoking while their teens are doing so.
Facing Resistance from School Administrators
School administrators may resist the N-O-T program because school hours are already filled with curriculum requirements. To gain their support, make sure they know the benefits of the program for students, facilitators, administrators, and the school as a whole. In particular, let administrators know the following key points:
- Although students in the N-O-T program will miss some class time, the results of participating in the program outweigh the cost of missing class: many teens who participate in N O T increase their commitment to school and improve their overall self-confidence, which leads to better school attendance and performance.
- Having a nationally recognized stop-smoking program for students can generate local recognition for the school.
- The N-O-T program can lower the number of violations against the school’s smoking policies.
