VUSD is committed to a Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco-Free Learning Environment for All Students!

With the continuous rise in student-vaping, VUSD's Equity and Student Services Department is providing education and training for staff, students and parents this school year. The California Health Collaborative, a local non-profit organization focused on building healthy communities has partnered with VUSD and is leading the staff and parent training.

In 2019, VUSD officially launched its Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco-Free Initiative anchored by the following document in which outlines VUSD's prevention, intervention and safety/suppression efforts to address substance-use and abuse within Visalia Unified Schools. The initiative places an emphasis on student vaping!

VUSD Drug-Alcohol-Tobacco Free Initiative Doc. 2019-20.pdf

VUSD SUBSTANCE COUNSELING SERVICES

VUSD contracts with local substance-counseling providers to provide substance prevention and intervention services to VUSD students (4th - 12th grades). Students are referred by school administration or support staff and receive up to 12 individual and/or group counseling sessions aimed at reducing student substance-use. Students' progress is assessed by the substance counselors and may be referred to additional outside support agencies for further treatment as needed.

Rain Maker's Quest

VUSD VAPING

PREVENTION & INTERVENTION

PARENT & COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS

VUSD, in partnership with several local community partners, provides ongoing Parent/Community Vaping Presentations throughout the year.

These presentations help educate and equip VUSD parents and community members to better support and prevent students from engaging in substance-use.

STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

VUSD provides vaping prevention-education through a number of student assemblies across VUSD middle and high schools. Students are inspired by powerful, educational messages aimed at supporting VUSD students in stopping, reducing and/or never engaging in substance-use.

STAFF TRAININGS

VUSD, in partnership with the California Health Collaborative, provides Vaping Education and Training to VUSD secondary staff. Training will focus on strengthening the awareness of teachers and support around the effects of vaping, various vaping-related devices and paraphernalia and signs and symptoms of student-use on campus and in classrooms.

Learn more about

VUSD's Social Branding Campaign

The following strategies are intended to support the prevention of students from using, selling and/or being in possession of Vape-related substances and/or device equipment on campus:

Have teachers/staff regularly remind students that staff have been trained to effectively identify vape-use as well as vape-related equipment
Have teachers/staff regularly remind students of both health impacts and discipline consequences regarding the use, possession and sales of vape-related products and equipment
Consider placing signs around campus that cameras are installed in various locations on campus and can detect vaping-related activity
If possible, consider integrating vape-education curriculum into classroom/PE classes throughout each school year
Consider bringing in guest speakers (health experts or motivational) to speak to students on this issue
Consider posting up Anti-vaping posters/signs on campus in strategic places where they may not be damaged
Consider regularly hosting anti-vaping events and activities on campus (can be in connection with other school events/functions)

The following strategies are intended to support the intervention of students using, selling and/or in possession of Vape-related substances and/or device equipment on campus:

Consider enrolling student in Substance-counseling services through one of VUSD's contractual partners; Recovery Resources for High Schools and Creekside and Rain Maker's Quest for Sequoia HS and Champions Recovery for VTEC.
Consider as a condition of student- consequence after a substance infraction (post discipline restrictions), student become involved in some type of school-based extra-curricular activity
In addition to substance-counseling, consider enrolling student into other pro-social interventions or activities that may benefit student (i.e.; Campus Clubs, CAST, Second Step, Joven Noble, Xinatchli, etc.)