Texas Tobacco-Free Conference

July 23 – 26, 2023

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.

2023 Conference Details

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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.

 

Both youth and adult participants will be able to attend 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 advocacy voice

   o Networking and teambuilding

   o How to work with your school and community to help combat the youth vaping epidemic

 

Youth groups will also choose a project planning track to help create and plan a tobacco prevention project for their school or community.

 

Sponsors and other adult participants will be able to attend specialized sessions that focus on youth-adult partnerships, positive youth development, and burnout prevention. Sponsors and adult participants who are brand new to Say What! will also be able to attend an info session to learn more about the Say What! program, resources offered, and the best way to get involved in the movement.

Agenda overview

Map

Day 1 - Sunday

Conference Check-In & Games

Dinner
Opening Session & Activities

 

 

Breakfast
Morning Session & Breakouts
Lunch
Afternoon Session & Breakouts
Dinner
Evening Games & Activities

 


 Breakfast
Morning Breakouts
 Lunch
Afternoon Breakouts
Dinner
Costume Contest, Dance Party & Movie

 


Breakfast
Closing Session
Conference Ends

2-6pm

6-7pm
7-10:30pm

 

 

8-9am
9am-12pm
12-1pm
1-5pm
6:30-7:30pm
7:30-10pm

 


8-9am
9am-12pm
12-1pm
1-5pm
6:30-7:30pm
7:30-10pm

 


8-9am
9-11am
11am

Day 2 - Monday

Day 3 - Tuesday

Day 4- Wednesday

Dates & Venue

Sunday, July 23rd - Wednesday, July 26th

 

 

DoubleTree by Hilton Austin

6505 N IH 35

Austin, TX 78752

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Registration for youth groups to attend the Say What! Conference is $500 per person and includes conference fees, lodging and all meals and snacks, access to hotel amenities, parking, a conference t-shirt, and conference materials and supplies.

 

Each participant from a youth group must complete a registration form and submit a signed copy of the Emergency Contacts and Medical Release Form. Registration closes May 31, 2022.

Conference Registration

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Group scholarships to attend conference for free are available for school and community-based youth groups. Scholarships cover the costs associated with conference registration, lodging and all meals and snacks, access to hotel amenities, parking, and conference t-shirts, materials, and supplies.

 

Only the Lead Adult Sponsor for the group should submit an application. To apply for a scholarship, the following requirements must be met:

 

   • Must be a youth group with both youth and adults

   • Youth must be going into 6th-12th grade

   • Everyone must reside in Texas

 

Applications are due by April 14, 2023. Notifications will be emailed by May 15, 2023.

Conference Scholarships

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Applications to nominate a youth group to receive a 2023 Youth Group Member Award are now open! Recipient groups of the member award will receive a scholarship for 4 youth and 1 adult to attend the Say What! Conference for free.

 

Recipients may also be invited to present a breakout session at the conference. Awards will be distributed during the closing session on Wednesday, July 26th.

Application Requirements:

   1) The youth group being nominated must be a registered Say What! Member Group.

   2) The following questions must be answered in the application form:

             a. Background information about the youth group and what they are currently doing in their
                 school and/or community

             b. Any major accomplishments the group has achieved in tobacco prevention

             c. Why you are nominating the group

   3) Providing any links to videos, pictures, news articles or media coverage is optional but highly
       recommended.

 

Applications are due May 14th and notifications will be made no later than May 19th.

SaY What! Youth Group Member Awards

Cancellation & Replacement Policies

If you need to cancel your registration, contact staff at TxSayWhat@txstate.edu or at 512-245-7652.

 

A $50 processing fee will be applied for any cancellations after June 30, 2023, and no refunds will be processed after
July 14, 2023.

 

Same gender substitutions will be accepted at any time; however, different gender substitutions must be made by
Friday, June 16, 2023.

 

If a group has any no-shows without same gender substitutions, the group will be billed $100 per no-show.

If you have any questions, contact us at

877-304-2727 or TxSayWhat@txstate.edu

SAYWHAT! | Live Tobacco-free

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Say What! EST. 2011

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Phone

Toll Free: 877.304.2727

Local: 512.245.8082

Mailing Address

Texas School Safety Center

ATTN: Say What Program

Texas State University

601 University Drive

San Marcos, TX 78666

Say What! was created and designed by young people from across Texas and connects students interested in eliminating tobacco from their schools and communities. The Say What! movement is funded by the Texas Department of State Health Services through a contract with the Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University.