News and Events
Okeechobee County SWAT Chapter: Growing. Learning. Teaching
September 16, 2024
SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) is Florida's statewide youth organization working to mobilize, educate and equip Florida youth to revolt against and de-glamorize Big Tobacco. SWAT is a united movement of empowered youth working towards a tobacco-free future. SWAT works to change the social norms associated with tobacco. This means we want to change the way people think about tobacco… making it less desirable, less acceptable, and less accessible.
SWAT Youth accomplish this by advocating for change in local policies that affect how tobacco is marketed, how it is sold, and where it can be used. SWAT members can typically expect to participate in a wide range of activities including community education and outreach, public speaking, collecting data, and media advocacy.
The Okeechobee County SWAT Chapter has been a driving force in tobacco prevention within their school district for many years. Currently there are 3 SWAT Clubs in Okeechobee County: Okeechobee High School, Yearling Middle School and Osceola Middle School. This year, the SWAT Chapter plans to add a community-based club to the mix, in hopes of reaching lower socio-economic populations, as they are more susceptible to tobacco use.
Over the long summer break, three Okeechobee County SWAT youth attended the Region 4 Statewide SWAT meeting in Labelle, Florida. Students learn about the basics of SWAT, public speaking tips, and ways to speak to elected officials. The youth enjoyed the diverse skills that they learned at the meeting and enjoyed that there were many times to interact with different youth.
For more information on local youth tobacco prevention efforts, visit www.swatflorida.com or contact Courtney Moyett, Okeechobee County's Tobacco Program Manager, at CMoyett@QuitDoc.com.
