The Planet Youth Practice Toolbox:
The School Domain

Here, you can explore tools and strategies focused on the school environment. Schools provide an ideal setting for health promotion and prevention efforts, where children and adolescents gather, form social connections, and learn from qualified staff. 
Health promotion and prevention work should always be based on evidence-based methods shown to be effective through scientific research. Key elements of successful prevention are a clear school policy, a supportive environment, and professional staff.
Learn how to strengthening the connection between home & school, and establishing smoke-free and vape-free class initiatives. You’ll also learn about the roles of school councils, class representatives, and parent associations in fostering a supportive and healthy school community.

Effective Prevention Methods in Schools:

According the Icelandic Directorate of Health, the following principles form the
foundation of effective school-based prevention for alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs:

Reference: The Icelandic Directorate of Health

To prevent harm, it's best to avoid using fear-based messages or one-sided information, as these methods often have minimal or even adverse effects on behavior. Research shows that, although fear tactics can be memorable, they generally don’t achieve the desired outcomes and may actually encourage risky behavior in some individuals.

Building the Bridge Between
Home & School

It Takes a Village to Raise a Child

The following examples highlight initiatives in Iceland to strengthen the connection between home and school. Our aim in sharing this is to showcase the work that NGOs have done in Iceland. The videos below are provided by Home and School (“Heimili og Skóli”):

Parent Associations

The Parents' Association plays a vital role in supporting school activities, enhancing student well-being, and fostering strong home-school connections. It is led by a board elected annually by the parent body, and all parents are automatic members. The association encourages parental involvement through initiatives and events, while class representatives serve as liaisons to facilitate communication and organize activities within individual classes.

Class Represenatives 

In each class, two class representatives are elected during a parent meeting held in the fall. Their role is to strengthen collaboration between parents, teachers, and students, act as a liaison between parents and the school, assist teachers with organizing parent involvement in school activities, and call parent meetings at least twice a year. Representatives also gather input from students to improve the class environment and support the overall school experience.

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School
Council

The School Council is a collaborative platform for the principal and the school community focused on school operations, policy-making, and plan implementation. Comprising nine members, including parents, teachers, students, and the principal, it addresses issues like the curriculum, student welfare, and management changes. The council meets at least once a month and hosts open meetings to enhance communication and collaboration within the school community.

The Parent Consensus

The Parental Consensus initiative unites parents to establish common guidelines and values for fostering a safe and nurturing environment for children. This initiative serves as a valuable tool for parents, providing a template that can be customized to fit their specific needs. By aligning their values and promoting responsible behavior, parents aim to strengthen the community and support the growth of their children.

Here are some examples of commitments:

  • Uphold outside-hours as stipulated by law and be attentive to your youth's sleep requirements
  • Take part in your youth's schoolwork, leisure activities, and sports, and cooperate with other parents
  • Establish a dialogue about schoolwork and the school day. Provide academic support and create a positive environment for completing homework
  • Be aware of bullying and inform the school and/or parents if you suspect that a teenager is a victim or perpetrator
  • Encourage open discussions about online interactions. Ensure that your youth feels comfortable sharing their experiences and any concerns they may have about their online relationships
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Download the Planet Youth
Parent Agreement Template!

Smoke-Free & Vape-Free Class

The European smoking prevention program called the Smoke-free Class Competition (SFC) aims to delay or prevent the onset of smoking in adolescents aged 11-14 years by motivating classes to remain smoke-free for a six-month period. Classes that successfully abstain from smoking participate in a lottery for prizes.

Iceland participates in the competition on a national level, with classes confirming their smoke-free status six times throughout the school year. The country consistently boasts the highest participation rate and the lowest dropout rate. Since the competition's inception and the implementation of targeted educational efforts, smoking among 12-16-year-olds in Iceland decreased by 43% between 1998 and 2002.

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Photo from the Icelandic Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Class. project. The goal of the 2019-2020 project, led by the Icelandic Directorate of Health, was to find new ways to combat tobacco and e-cigarettes. Students were tasked with writing stories about characters or creating new ones that will shape a tobacco- and e-cigarette-free future.

Actions- what can be done?

Example of Community-Developed Strategies to Reduce the Risk of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug (ATOD) Use Among Youth. More actions can be found in the Kristjansson, A. et al. (2020) paper. 

Involve Parents in School Life

Create regular opportunities for parents to engage in school activities and support their children’s education.

Strengthen Teacher-Student Connections

Encourage teachers to build supportive relationships with students, so they feel comfortable seeking help.

Support Anti-Bullying Programs

Implement programs that encourage respect and discourage bullying among students.

Promote Positive School Climate

Foster an inclusive environment that values each student’s well-being and success.