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.

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.