Teachers and health professionals with the Generation With Promise (GWP) project attended a day-long workshop on the  Michigan Model to learn about the importance of tobacco prevention on Thursday, April 23 at the American Cancer Society in

Teachers received information on how to use the Tobacco Prevention Module called "The Power is Yours to be Tobacco Free" developed by the Michigan Department of Community Health and the Michigan Department of Education.  Mary Ann George, Vice President and Educational Consultant for Rivertown Consultants, Inc., the lead writer for the series, explained how to use the instructional materials. The manual includes six lessons with activities especially tailored to 7th-8th graders to reinforce the benefits of being tobacco-free.

During the session, participants viewed "The Totally Disgusting Gross Out Video" geared towards 7^th and 8^th graders, and offered their feedback on its effectiveness with their classes. The video showed the horrible consequences of smoking and chewing tobacco products. Many participants liked the information and thought it would have a huge impact on their middle school students. Some of the comments included:

"I can't wait to see their faces"

"It was eye-opening, disgusting"

"It should be incorporated into the curriculum …"

"It's great for kids who have not started smoking."

Another component of GWP involves providing materials that share the Michigan Nutrition Network (MNN) message with families and schools.  Training is offered to the "keeper" of the kit providing strategies for using the resources effectively to reach students and parents with MNN messages. 

During the afternoon portion of the session, teachers from more than 20 GWP schools loaded up armloads of information provided by GWP for nutrition display boards that will be part of each school's educational campaign on eating healthy and making good food choices. Attendees included health, science, and physical education instructors. Included in the kits were numerous posters, food pyramid banners, nutrition charts, bags filled with vegetable and fruit toys, decorative borders, and many books and manuals to help GWP students and staff learn the importance of healthy living.