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Cancer Prevention Resources for School

The Suffolk County Cancer Prevention and Health Promotion Coalition (CPHPC) has compiled this list of resources for school-aged programs and materials geared toward promoting healthy lifestyles and disease prevention. Though this list is not exhaustive of all available programs, it does represent resources that are either prepared, presented or used during presentations by CPHPC member organizations. For additional follow up, contact information is provided for each resource.

Cancer Prevention and Health Promotion Coalition Logo

Pre-K Resources

"Look Before You LEAP": Educational packet designed to educate families about environmental health threats. The tool kit bags focus on Lead poisoning, Endocrine disruptors, Air pollution and Pesticides. Packets contain a coloring activity book, a game, fact sheets etc. Prepared by the Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center and Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition with funding from New York State Department of Health. Limited supplies are available- contact the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition (HBCAC) for more information at www.friends@hbcac.org. No fee.

Cancer Prevention in Action – Sun Safety Policy Support: Cancer Prevention in Action (CPiA) supports schools and childcare programs in creating and adopting policy to promote suns safety and prevent skin cancer for its students and faculty. CPiA will support your school at no charge in policy development, offer education for students and parents, and provide sunscreen, shade structures, sun safety signage, or other materials to put your policy into action. Join us in taking action against skin cancer! Contact CPiA at Stony Brook Cancer Center at 631-444-4263 or coe@stonybrookmedicine.edu. No fee.


Elementary School Resources

EPA Sunwise Program from K – 8th grade. A school can sign up online and receive a free kit from the EPA. Many Suffolk County schools and agencies, including the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, have used the program for many years with great success. Contact: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise

Elementary School Presentations

Be Smart About Your Health is a series of three one-hour presentations designed by Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition to create an awareness of chemicals in our everyday environment, as well as more organic products and practices that can be substituted to reduce toxic exposure. Programs complement the Common Core Language Arts Standards using multimedia (video, text, online research) to explore an important health topic. All programs are presented virtually in a fun, interactive format, helping to create awareness without alarm.

  • Be Smart About Your Health, Grades 1&2 – Focuses on the importance of proper hand washing techniques to eliminate absorption of chemicals through the skin. This is a fun-filled presentation that helps children learn about the importance of maintaining and safeguarding personal health.
  • Be Smart About Your Health, Grades 3&4 – Informs students about the various chemicals that exist in their everyday environment, what are toxins and safer alternatives to these chemicals. Students are also taught about the chemical pathways into our bodies and how toxic chemicals can affect the environment and human health.
  • Be Smart About Your Health, Grades 5&6 – Introduces students to chemicals in personal care products and practices that are friendly for the environment and human health. Shown healthier alternatives, students are encouraged to share their newly learned consumer information with family members and participate in choosing non-toxic items for their household.

For information on booking a Be Smart About Your Health presentation, please call the Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition office at 631-893-4110, or email info@babylonbreastcancer.org.

Energy for Healthy Bodies & a Healthy World - Presentations offered by HealthyPlanet (Bob DiBenedetto). These presentations help students understand that the very same food and lifestyle choices that help us build strong, healthy bodies and prevent disease, are also the best for protecting our planet's resources and environment. Healthy people and a healthy planet go hand in hand. Contact HealthyPlanet for more information or to schedule a presentation. 631 421-5591 or email info@healthyplanetusa.org.

Take a Mindful Approach to Health (K-12): This HBCAC program builds capacity for environmental health literacy and advocacy among youth to encourage them to live healthier lifestyles through small daily changes. Topics discussed include personal care products, food, and plastics. Contact the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition for more information at friends@hbcac.org. No fee.

"The Sun Show" Video: Two separate videos have been produced by a dermatologist; one geared for ages 6 – 8 and the second geared toward 9–11 year-olds. Videos engage the students who can laugh in amusement yet get the message with lots of positive questions. “Teaching” brochure accompanies the DVD. Videos can be ordered at http://www.sunsafetyforkids.org/videos/order/. Cost is $40 for schools. (CCMAC)


Middle School and High School Resources

Conversations Worth Consideration Toolkit (some elementary, MS and HS): A toolkit designed for teachers to provide their students with an introduction to environmental health concepts. The toolkit encourages students to learn, invest, and inspire others. The program is composed of a video and a series of thoughtful and introspective activities that can be facilitated by a teacher. It can be adapted to google classroom or in person format. Though designed for a full week, it is flexible and can be used for one class period. The program provides opportunity for self-reflection and encourages students to advance our understanding of the environment and health to promote wellness in the community. Contact the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition (HBCAC) for more information at friends@hbcac.org. No fee.

Conversations worth Consideration Toolkit: HBCAC Conversations worth Consideration Toolkit.pdf

Quick video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M7IIIAyAzI

Google Classroom link: https://classroom.google.com/c/MjIzNzExOTEwNzU0?cjc=5itsxr5

CCMAC skin cancer awareness DVD designed for Middle and High Schools with a special emphasis on concerns regarding tanning beds. Contact the Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign at 516-352-4227 or cmbc1@optonline.net. www.ccmac.org

"The Sun Show" Video: Two separate videos have been produced by a dermatologist; one geared for ages 6–8 and the second geared toward 9–11 year-olds. Videos engage the students who can laugh in amusement yet get the message with lots of positive questions. “Teaching” brochure accompanies the DVD. Videos can be ordered on the web at http://www.sunsafetyforkids.org/videos/order/. Cost is $40 for schools. (CCMAC)

Cancer Prevention in Action – Sun Safety Policy Support: Cancer Prevention in Action (CPiA) supports schools and childcare programs in creating and adopting policy to promote suns safety and prevent skin cancer for its students and faculty. CPiA will support your school at no charge in policy development, offer education for students and parents, and provide sunscreen, shade structures, sun safety signage, or other materials to put your policy into action. Join us in taking action against skin cancer! Contact CPiA at Stony Brook Cancer Center at 631-444-4263 or coe@stonybrookmedicine.edu. No fee.

Middle School and High School Presentations and Programs

Sun Safety: Public Health Educators presenting inter-active safety lessons for youth at camps, libraries, and agencies. Sun safety lessons and incentives are included in these sessions (also include water safety and tick bite prevention). No fee. Call Suffolk County Office of Health Education 631-853-4017 and ask for Linda Bohman.

Vape Out! Peer Education Program: A full-day train-the-trainer program for middle or high school students. Using multi-media, role-play, applied improvisation and props, students are prepared with all of the up-to-date data on vaping/smoking and the skill-set necessary to teach their peers the necessary response skills of prevention and intervention. No fee. Contact: Suffolk County Office of Health Education 631-853-4017.

Smoking and Vaping Cessation Classes: Six one-hour classes, online and in-person in numerous locations. User-friendly approach for getting ready to change behaviors associated with vaping/smoking/addiction. All ages welcomed. Free classes. Low fee for cessation medications provided by Nurse Practitioner. Call Suffolk County Office of Health Education @ 631-853-4017 or www.suffolkcountyny.gov/health. Go to Preventive Medicine link for class schedule.

  • The Tobacco Prevention Toolkit: Theory-based and evidence-informed resources created by educators, parents, and researchers aimed at preventing middle and high school students’ use of tobacco and nicotine. Online course, handouts and resources for smoking and vaping prevention. Contact: https://med.stanford.edu/tobaccopreventiontoolkit.html

Breast Health Education: Free breast health programs presented by the Maurer Foundation that empower students with the knowledge to reduce their risk for breast cancer. Designed specifically for high school students, this forty-minute interactive workshop dispels common breast cancer myths and focuses on lifestyle changes for risk reduction. Our certified educators offer instruction in the most advanced and effective form of breast self-examination. Extremely lifelike silicone breast models provide a tactile learning experience, building essential skills in detecting tumors in their earliest stages. Our programs are offered in-person and virtually, and can be taught in English and Spanish. There is no presentation fee. Contact Eileen Pillitteri, Program Manager at 631-524-5151 or epillitteri@maurerfoundation.org.

Human Papilloma Virus and other Sexually Transmitted Infections: This PowerPoint presentation for Suffolk County High Schools provides facts about HPV transmission, behaviors that place people at risk, and testing, treatment and vaccination information. A basic overview of the most common infections and consequences if left untreated is discussed. No fee. Call Suffolk County Office of Health Education 631-853-4017.

Healthy People Healthy Planet Presentations: HealthyPlanet offers presentations that help students understand that the very same food and lifestyle choices that help us build strong, healthy bodies and prevent disease are also the best for protecting our planet's resources and environment. Healthy people and a healthy planet go hand in hand! Contact HealthyPlanet (Bob DiBenedetto) for more information or to schedule a presentation. 631 421-5591 or email info@healthyplanetusa.org

  • Our Food Choices, Our Environment and Our Health: What’s The Connection & Simple Solutions!
  • Our Changing Climate: The Signs, the Challenge and the Hope

Students & Scientists Environmental Research Scholarship Program (SSERSP): An internship program specially designed for young adults by the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition (HBCAC). The SSERSP internships are oriented for highly motivated, independent-minded students with academic strength in science and communication. Program focus is on health risks and the importance of environmental research related to the causation of all cancers and chronic diseases. The program is broken into three parts: learning the science, exploration through placements and projects, and sharing knowledge with the community. Student interns gain environmental health literacy, an understanding of policy, self-confidence, and real-world experience in leadership and teamwork. They build valuable skillsets, including critical thinking, communication strategies, social media marketing, and time management. Though projects can vary based on a student’s skills and interest, they all involve translation of science-based information into an easy-to-understand format in order to increase capacity in environmental health literacy and advocacy. Contact the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition for more information at friends@hbcac.org. No fee. http://www.preventionisthecure.org/student-program

Cancer Prevention in Action – HPV Vaccine Awareness for Parents: Cancer Prevention in Action (CPiA) is dedicated to promotion of HPV vaccination to reduce HPV-related cancers on Long Island. This presentation educates parents on the prevalence of HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection, and provides the facts on HPV vaccination, benefits of vaccination, and the importance of vaccinating during childhood. The CDC recommends HPV vaccination for boys and girls at ages 11-12, and can be given through age 26 if not vaccinated on time. This presentation is offered both in person and virtually, at no charge to schools or organizations. Join us in taking action against cancer! Contact CPiA at Stony Brook Cancer Center at 631-444-4263 or coe@stonybrookmedicine.edu. No fee.

Suffolk County Government

H. Lee Dennison Bldg

100 Veterans Memorial Hwy
P.O. Box 6100
Hauppauge, NY 11788

Riverhead County Center

County Road 51
Riverhead, NY 11901