Empowering NYC youth to be vape free.

CATCH Global Foundation is excited to announce a pivotal partnership with New York City Public Schools to address the vaping epidemic among New York City youth through CATCH’s evidence-based vaping prevention program, CATCH My Breath.

In collaboration with the New York City Department of Education and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, CATCH Global Foundation will provide free vaping prevention training and resources to public school educators serving middle and high school students during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years.

This initiative will additionally engage middle and high school students across New York City in youth empowerment and service learning opportunities via a citywide public service announcement (PSA) contest in the 2024-25 school year.

Thanks to support from the New York Health Foundation, CATCH My Breath is pleased to offer up to 210 educators access to the following in the coming (2023-24) school year:

• Live CATCH My Breath program implementation training, allowing educators to implement CATCH My Breath with fidelity;
• Live, in-person training on how to utilize CATCH My Breath’s customized parent resources allowing educators to host parent outreach events at their school campuses;
• Access to a quarterly vaping prevention newsletter designed specifically for educators participating in the NYC cohort;
• Access to quarterly Communities of Practice events, giving educators the opportunity to learn best practices and navigate questions with their peers and a CMB expert;
• Resources to engage students in the NYC Youth Vaping Prevention Public Service Announcement contest, open to all middle and high school students across the city in the 2024-25 school year.

Despite the numerous health consequences, vaping and e-cigarettes continue to gain traction among youth in New York City. In 2019, one in six high school students reported using e-cigarettes. Nearly five times as many high school students in New York City use e-cigarettes than smoke cigarettes. In 2018, one in 15 middle school students reported using e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are particularly harmful for youth because those who use them are more likely to start smoking cigarettes, and additionally, nicotine impacts youth brain development.