Interested high school student leaders applied and were selected to be trained as Teens Against Tobacco Use (TATU) presenters. TATU is a program that allows high school students to mentor younger students about the dangers of smoking and vaping. Research shows that peer-led programs are effective ways to reduce youth tobacco use and positively influence younger students. Selected trainers provide presentations to 6th grade science classes at each elementary school in Franklin. During the presentation, peer leaders facilitate a content section about decision making and refusal skills. High school presenters conduct a skit in which they demonstrate various refusal skills and the six grade students have to guess which skill was used. About 350 six grade students are reached at all five public elementary schools.
Three seniors led the training for new TATU presenters. In addition to presenting about tobacco/vape use and its health effects, student leaders also discussed good presentation and leadership skills. All students were able to demonstrate the actual content of the TATU presentation to each other. Nine students were trained.