The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) recognize the importance of the role that youth play in creating lasting, positive changes concerning tobacco prevention and control.

 

To this end, the Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University designs the Say What! Texas Tobacco-Free Conference to be the most engaging, fun, and effective experience in helping youth and adults find their passion for tobacco prevention.

The Say What! Conference offers a variety of opportunities for all youth groups working on tobacco prevention related issues, tobacco-free policies, and other projects that may be occurring in the school or community.

 

The 2024 Say What! Texas Tobacco-Free Conference will be held Sunday, July 21- Tuesday, July 23 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Austin Hotel in Austin, Texas. Registration and further details about the Say What! Conference will be available February 2024.

 

Here’s a look at what the 2023 Say What! Conference included.

 

Both youth and adult participants attended a variety of breakout sessions from Say What! Teen Ambassadors, Say What! youth groups, and experts from diverse fields discussing a range of topics such as:

 

o The evolution of e-cigarettes and vapes and their health effects

o Addiction to nicotine products and other drugs including marijuana

o Using social media to further your advocacy efforts

o Perfecting your public speaking

o Networking and teambuilding

 

Youth groups also completed a specialized project to address tobacco use in their school or community. Sponsors and other adult participants attended specialized sessions that focused on youth-adult partnerships, positive youth development, and burnout prevention.

 

Questions about the Say What! Conference can be directed to staff at TxSayWhat@txstate.edu.