Second Chance

Second Chance is a web-based, interactive, and self-directed alternative-to-suspension education program for youth who have violated a tobacco policy at school or tobacco law in the community. The program may also be helpful for youth who may be experimenting with tobacco or other nicotine products, but have not violated policy or law.

Second Chance is free for all Colorado schools and organizations. See a demonstration of the website and get information on how to get started here. Schools and organizations outside of Colorado can purchase a subscription to Second Chance by submitting a quote request using this form.

Tobacco and nicotine use by youth is a significant health issue in Colorado. 2017 Healthy Kids Colorado Data indicate that 33% of Colorado youth regularly use a tobacco product – cigarettes, chew, e-cigarettes, hookah, and cigars. E-cigarettes are the second most tried substance among Colorado youth. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Colorado’s high school and middle school students are using e-cigarettes, or vaping nicotine products, at twice the national average.

Schools, youth-serving organizations, and juvenile justice systems can use the program as a part of a comprehensive education and prevention strategy for tobacco and other nicotine product use. Second Chance provides a non-punitive structure to disciplinary responses  without adding additional burden to busy staff. Second Chance Program Administrators have the ability to:

• Receive individualized support with setting up and using the program to consistently and effectively enforce expectations while supporting students who may be addicted to nicotine
• Enroll students in the Second Chance program
• Assign student usernames and passwords
• Track student progress in the program
• Analyze aggregate student demographics
• Review aggregate pre- and post-survey results

Many schools and districts across the United States have used punitive disciplinary policies, such as suspensions and expulsions, to discourage student misconduct. However, research has shown that traditional, exclusionary discipline leads to:

• Increased student misconduct
• Negative school climate
• Decreased student academic achievement
• Increased dropout rates
• Increased juvenile incarceration rates

Additionally, data indicates that punitive discipline practices are disproportionately used against marginalized student populations like students of color and students with disabilities. The alternative? Implementing restorative practices, such as educational alternative-to-suspension programs like Second Chance.

New research is beginning to demonstrate that well-implemented use of restorative practices leads to:

• Improved student academic achievement
• Improved student mental health
• Decreased student misconduct
• Reductions in office referrals and classroom removals
• Reduced suspension and expulsion rates
• Decreased disciplinary disparities
• Improved school and classroom climates, including relationships between students and teachers and student feelings of connectedness to school.

As your school or district explores alternative-to-suspension programs and resources to support a transition towards restorative justice policies, consider the positive impact Second Chance has in the lives of students and administrators alike by exploring the program’s annual Evaluation Impact Report.

Program content was recently updated to specifically address vaping, e-cigarettes, and marijuana. Information in the program is presented in three major sections: Community, School, and Home. The following information is included in each section:

• Community: tobacco and other nicotine products; myths & facts; big tobacco tactics; tobacco laws and policies
• School: laws & schools; teen opinions & norms; hooked on nicotine; influences
• Home: costs of smoking, vaping, and chewing; communication and refusal skills; prevention and cessation strategies

Students must complete a pre- and post-survey, as well as a brief quiz after each of the three sections in order to complete the program. The length of time needed to complete the program will vary with each student and may range from 2 to 2.5 hours. Students may complete the program over multiple visits and do not have to complete the program in one sitting.

Second Chance was developed with funding from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s State Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership (STEPP). Amendment 35 voter-approved tobacco tax funds were used to finance program development. Collaborators and funders are noted on the individual web pages and/or documents.

Though originally developed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, schools and districts in 16+ states have implemented Second Chance as an alternative-to-suspension.