Establish Community Partnerships

Research Your Community

 Community organizations that focus on youth tobacco prevention and cessation and mental health can be valuable partners in supporting schools and districts with tobacco-free policies and practices. 

Identify and prioritize potential partners by: 

1. Researching Existing Efforts and Stakeholders

Find Out:

1. • What individuals or agencies in the district are already working on:

     • School discipline.

     • Substance use prevention or intervention.

     • Health education.

     • Policy development or enforcement.

     • Communications.

     • Mental or behavioral health.

     • Nicotine cessation.

   • Who are the decision-makers, and who is responsible for day-to-day implementation?

   • Who is willing and able to support assessment, implementation, or improvement of tobacco-free policies and practices?

2. Mapping Current Collaboratives and Networks

Understand what already exists to avoid duplication and strengthens alignment. Identify existing structures you can build on, such as:

• • District Health Advisory Committees.

  • Tobacco prevention or public health coalitions.

  • Communities That Care.

  • 1451 Collaborative Management Programs.

  • Other youth, health, or prevention-focused collaboratives.

3. Defining the Community

    Reflect on:

• • How the school defines its community.

  • How the community defines itself.

  • Who the trusted community leaders are.

  • How the community currently engages with schools around health or substance use topics.

  • The history between the school and the community—and how that history shapes current relationships.

  • Shared values and goals related to youth health and well-being.

4. Identifying Community Needs and Strengths

    Use data and dialogue to answer:

• How can school and community data be used to identify shared needs, gaps, and priorities?

• How can school nicotine-free goals align with broader community concerns?

• What strengths and assets already exist in the community?

• How can schools and partners develop a prioritized list of needs and action steps?

5. Ensure Partners Reflect the Community

    Strong partnerships are inclusive and representative. Consider:

• Do potential partners reflect the diversity of the school and community?

• Will partners consider how individual backgrounds and lived experiences affect student needs?

• How will partners support the success of a wide range of students?

• How will data be used to understand and respond to diverse needs among students, staff, and families?

6. Clarify How You Will Collaborate

Clear roles and expectations help partnerships succeed. Before formalizing partnerships, help schools identify:

• What specific activities the school and community partners will do together.

• Whether partners will help assess, implement, or improve tobacco and nicotine policies or practices.

• What additional services, programs, or supports partners can provide to students and families outside of school.