Do you know that over 35 percent of Illinois youth are still using tobacco?  Nearly 25 percent are current smokers. 

Despite everything we know about the dangers of tobacco, our kids are still lighting up and getting hooked!  What can we do?

The IAFP Foundation offers a program as part of the answer to this problem: Tar Wars.   

What is Tar Wars?

Tar Wars is a free, nationwide tobacco education program designed for fourth and fifth grade students.  The American Medical Association, the World Health Organization, and the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services for excellence in adolescent health education have recognized it as an outstanding tool for tobacco prevention.  

A family physician or other volunteer from your area can come to your school to make the presentation. Or you can teach the program using your own staff.   

Tar Wars is a good fit for schools. 

• The classroom lesson is a lively, interactive session focusing on why people smoke, the short-term consequences of tobacco use, and the truth about tobacco advertising. 
• The lesson is tailored to the fourth and fifth grade understanding and interests. 
• The curriculum is online, with no materials to purchase or training sessions to attend. 
• Teachers will only need to dedicate one day out of their lesson plans for Tar Wars.

The second component of the program is a poster contest.  Following the lesson, the children are encouraged to create posters focusing on the positive effects of avoiding tobacco.  The winning posters from all schools are judged in the state contest. The state winner wins an expenses-paid trip to the Tar Wars National Poster Contest in Washington , D.C.       

Currently over 300 schools in Illinois participate in Tar Wars!  To join us in the fight against youth tobacco use, fill out and return the enclosed participation form.  More information, including the free curriculum, is available on Tar Wars is available at www.tarwars.org. Or you can always contact me with any questions.  

Sincerely,
Ginnie Flynn  
Illinois Tar Wars Coordinator   

*Illinois 2005 Youth Tobacco Survey

 

School Participation Form

School Name:                                                                            
 Contact Person/Title: _______________________________    Address:                                                                                                                                                                                          Phone:  _______________     FAX: ____________________
 E-mail address: ____________________________    
County: ____________________  

Number of 5^th grade classes participating: _________  # of Students _______________  

Number of 4^th grade classes participating:  ________  # of Students _______________  

__________  We would like an IAFP Tar Wars presenter to come to our school  

Month(s) that we would prefer to have a presenter come to our school: _________________________  

__________  We will teach the program using our own staff/resources

Please return this form to:

Ginnie Flynn, Tar Wars Coordinator
Illinois Academy of Family Physicians Foundation
4756 Main Street
Lisle , IL 60532
Phone: 630-435-0257  FAX:  630-435-0433
E-mail:  gflynn@iafp.com