Youth Vaping Prevention Program in New York City Public Schools

March 10, 2025  | By Eileen Kitrick

Middle and high school students are awarded for their creative expression in Youth Vaping Prevention PSA Contest

Early in 2023, CATCH Global Foundation (“CATCH”) launched a partnership with the New York Health Foundation and The New York Community Trust to expand its evidence-based youth vaping prevention program, CATCH My Breath, throughout New York City Public Schools.

Since the partnership launch, the team of experts behind CATCH My Breath have trained over 700 New York City educators through virtual professional development, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to support middle and high school students to lead vape-free, healthy lives. A shared goal of CATCH and its New York City partners has been to further empower students and encourage them to take an active role in advocating for themselves and their peers.

The collaboration and supportive nature of this partnership has led CATCH to work hand-in-hand with New York City Public Schools and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to also create a youth vaping prevention Student Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest. The contest, launched in October 2024, invites middle and high school students in New York City to channel their creativity and powerful voices in three distinct rounds throughout the 2024-2025 school year. Each contest round offers students different artistic mediums to explore, with cash prizes awarded to four winners from each the middle and high school grade levels.

“Creative projects like this contest provide students with a unique platform to express their voices and perspectives on important issues affecting their communities. It’s inspiring to see how these projects cultivate critical thinking, creativity, and advocacy skills. By participating, students not only learn about the impact of vaping but also become ambassadors of change, using their work to educate and influence others.” – Robert Warren, Health Teacher, District 28, Queens., JHS Robert A Van Wyck Middle School 217.

First round winners were selected by a panel of judges including: Valerie Foster, Youth Engagement Manager at Public Health Solutions: NYC Smoke-Free; Dr. Achala Talati, DO, MS, MPH, Director of Tobacco Policy and Program at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; Alex I. Parks, MS, CHES, Senior Vice President of Partnerships Development at Truth Initiative. View the inspiring work of these students as they express their vision of advocacy through a poster creation.