Tobacco Prevention & Education prides itself on promoting youth advocacy in tobacco prevention. Community Advocate Teens of Today (CATT) is a diverse volunteer public health youth coalition with the primary goal of engaging and encouraging youth to lead healthy lifestyles through education, outreach and policy change. Youth peer educators plan and implement tobacco prevention and education projects in their communities. Through Prop 99, the California Tobacco Tax, CATT is provided staff support and incentives.

To get involved with CATT, please call (408) 793-2744 or check us out on myspace.

CATT is a countywide youth advocacy program that works throughout different areas in Santa Clara County including chapters in San Jose, Sunnyvale and Mountain View. There is also a county wide chapter which is composed of members from the high school chapters and other youth advocates from Santa Clara County. Although recruitment is often done through high schools, most CATT activities and projects take place after school and off-campus community settings.

CATT peer educators expose Tobacco Industry’s manipulative marketing of tobacco products to at-risk populations such as youth, young adults, diverse communities (African American, Latino, Asian, LGBT, homeless/runaway) and working poor neighborhoods. CATT encourages tobacco users and non-users to think about how tobacco use negatively impacts her/his health, fellow community members and the local, state, national and global environments.

Outreach & Education: CATT collects community knowledge, opinions and attitudes regarding tobacco use, control laws and other health related issues impacting teenagers. Peers also provide quit tobacco resources and education. Educating and involving teens to prevent tobacco nicotine addiction is essential in preventing premature deaths of cancer and heart disease also saving millions in health care costs.

Community events: CATT provides tobacco prevention education and tobacco control policy information such as current city ordinances (smoke-free parks and Tobacco Retailer License) to Tobacco Control Section Priority Populations distinctly targeted by Tobacco Industry’s intense marketing efforts. Youth educators provide health education at following events: Cinco de Mayo, TET festivals, San Jose Pride, Juneteenth, San Jose City’s Christmas in the Park and Red Ribbon Week.

Policy Change: CATT, TPEP staff and city staff educate tobacco retail merchants about the current tobacco control laws and requirements.

Coalition members are currently educating policymaking bodies (city officials, youth advisory councils, community groups) about the benefits of adopting a Tobacco Retail License ordinance which supports consistence compliance and enforcement checks to stop illegal sales of tobacco products to minors.

CATT advocates have successfully contributed to the following adopted policies: smoke-free parks, smoke-free bars and restaurants and banning self-service tobacco displays (cigarettes, cigars, rolling papers must be stored BEHIND counters or locked up). Youth also support policy adoption efforts of smoke-free multi-unit housing (apartments or condos), banning electronic cigarettes and reducing the devastating impact that tobacco use in movies has on youth.

The Game was developed by CATT as an educational activity for 3rd graders. The life-size game board leads players through decision making and tobacco trivia questions. The Game is available for school assemblies, community events, etc. As many as 60 students can participate at one time. To bring it to your next event, please call (408) 793-2745. 

Presentations. TPEP staff members are also available to conduct tobacco education presentations for classrooms or community centers, please call (408) 793-2740.