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Source: Tyler Pulse, Guam Department of Education

Figure 1. Provides the count of students who used/possessed/distributed a nicotine product or device in the school year, and an Office Discipline Referral was made to the school administrator to take action on the behavioral infraction. The count includes students who may have more than one nicotine offense.

Source: Tyler Pulse, Guam Department of Education

Figure 2. Provides nicotine use by school levels – elementary, middle, and high school. The count includes students who may have more than one nicotine offense.

BRIEF TOBACCO INTERVENTION PROGRAM

All schools are required to use the Brief Tobacco Intervention (BTI) when students are found in possession of/use of nicotine delivery products.  PULSE data for SY 17-18 shows a total of 1,257 students across the district were guilty of this offense and was the 4th highest behavioral offense committed by students.

Currently, Board Policy 430 and SOP 1200-018 prescribe a schedule of suspensions depending on the frequency of violations. Based on the work between GDOE and community partners (Department of Public Health and Social Services-DPHSS and the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center-GBHWC) the Department is able to provide Brief Tobacco Intervention (BTl) as a means to address the root cause of nicotine use/addiction while minimizing the number of days students are out of school. To this end, schools are empowered with the authority to leverage suspension days for participation in the program.

PL 34-01 (enacted on March 23, 2017), §6406 requires GDOE to provide an educational program on tobacco products to include smoking cessation for any students under 21 in violation of the law.  The Brief Tobacco Intervention (BTI) program has two modes of delivery; QuitCoach and Rally Coach. QuitCoach services are the same as the Rally Coach but provided in-person. This method is available to both secondary and elementary students. Rally Coach is an online digital platform designed for more engagement with secondary school aged students. 

The first two are the primary means of delivering services and are voluntary at this point.  However, if a student and parent refuse the services, they are asked to sign a Declination Letter and are provided with a handout on the dangers of nicotine use.  Below is a brief description of each service as well as the forms schools can use to put on their official letterhead.  

BTI QuitCoach:  

The Guam Department of Education’s QuitCoach BTI Program is open to all elementary and secondary schools and gives students the support and information needed to stop using tobacco and nicotine.  QuitCoach BTI is also a diversionary process that leverages suspension days so students do not miss instructional time in school. The QuitCoach BTI is versatile in how it is delivered.  Students may participate over the phone with a certified QuitCoach via the Tobacco Free Guam Program or face-to-face with a facilitator from one of GDOE’s community partners (e.g., Tobacco Coalition Action Team, GRMC, Take Care Insurance Wellness Program, Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, etc.). 

BTI Rally Coach:  

Rally Coach is an online digital platform designed for more engagement with secondary school-aged students. The Program offers an integrated mix of support tools and online resources to help students quit tobacco products. Details of the program and its availability are forthcoming.  This program is not available at this time but expected to be operational for SY 23-24.  

• Youth Support Program
• Youth Enrollment Flow September 2023

Brief Tobacco Intervention (BTI) Referral Procedures  

• BTI Program Memo UPDATE 7.25.23
• BTI Counseling Session Form
• BTI Student and Parent Agreement Form
• Tobacco Free Guam BTI Referral Form

BTI Declination Letter and Toolkit:  

Below are the electronic copies of the Declination Letter (on DSESCL Letterhead) and the BTI Toolkit Booklet for those families who refuse to participate in either BTI QuitCoach or the Second Chance Online Curriculum programs. The Declination Letter and BTI Toolkit Booklet are both used ONLY when the parent has declined to have their child participate in either BTI QuitCoach or the Second Chance Online Curriculum.   Hopefully, all administrators adjudicating tobacco/nicotine violations will offer the two choices and explain that they are the better choices to address possible addiction to nicotine.  

Public Law requires that we provide violators with an educational program.  Brief Tobacco Intervention (BTI) is the process by which this educational mandate is met.  As such, every parent who refuses to voluntarily complete either BTI QuitCoach or the Second Chance Online Curriculum must be informed that their child will be suspended and a copy of the signed declination form being placed in their child's discipline folder.  

To ensure compliance, SSSD personnel will be dispatched throughout the year to randomly check discipline folders of students who were found guilty of tobacco/nicotine violations who have suspension action codes in PowerSchool for compliance.  As a reminder, administrators leveraging suspension for participation in either BTIQuitCoach or the Second Chance Online Curriculum are to use the BTI_1 (1st action), BTI_2 (2nd action), BTI_3 (3rd or more violations) NOT suspension codes.  This is how we differentiate students participating in the BTI programs.

Brief Tobacco Intervention (BTI) Declination Letter/Tool Kit

• Declination of GDOE BTI Services
• Why Should I Stop Using Tobacco Booklet - GDOE

Link to:  

BTI Teacher/Presenter Resource Drive

The purpose of the BTI resources drive (see link below) is to provide a central location for the toolbox of resources that support BTI QuitCoaches as they work with elementary and secondary students regarding the facts about vaping and approaches to prevention. On behalf of GDOE partners the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center and the Department of Public Health and Social Services, educators, counselors, and administrators can now access a variety of BTI resources. If you are unable to locate a resource document, contact Nadine Cepeda at ntcepeda@gdoe.net. Thank you!