Does your district have concerns about vaping policies, practices or procedures? Then, consider working with Project ECHO to engage in a year-long process to learn more about vaping education and best practices for cessation.   

In 2019, the Kansas State Board of Education asked that a task force be formed to assist schools in dealing with e-cigarette/vaping use by students. The E-Cigarette/Vaping Task Force determined the need for a vaping-focused Project ECHO and produced various educational materials, including a comprehensive plan for tobacco-free schools and disciplinary measure recommendations for vaping.   

The first step to enrolling in the Kansas Vaping ECHO for Education program for the 2023-2024 school year is completing an application, which will take about 10 minutes. The application will ask information about your school, participants in the program and what issues your school is facing. The application requires signatures from the primary contact completing the application, the school principal and district superintendent. Selected schools will be notified initially in March and then on a rolling basis until August.   

Orientation will take place Aug. 16 and a summit will take place Aug. 30. The sessions will be:   

• ECHO Part 1: Sept. 13.   
• ECHO Part 2: Sept. 27.   
• ECHO Part 3: Oct. 11   
• ECHO Part 4: Oct. 25   
• ECHO Part 5: Nov. 8   
• School team presentations: Dec. 6.   
• Debriefing: April 17 or 24, 2024.  

  
Benefits for participating schools:   

• Participate in a groundbreaking approach to address vaping in schools.   
• Create a school-centered team approach to address vaping in schools.   
• Engage in a network of stakeholders committed to reducing vaping in schools.   
• Increase confidence in schools’ ability to address vaping/tobacco treatment needs of students.   
• Develop participants’ skills to provide support and referrals for vaping/tobacco treatment.   
• Use telementoring to access expert advice concerning prevention and vaping/tobacco treatment.   
• Participate in a future cohort.