• Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch - NC DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services)

• Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) 

• Onslow County Youth Services 

• Onslow County Schools

• Jacksonville Police Department

• Onslow County Sheriff's Department

What We Do

OCHD provides the Catch My Breath program, a youth tobacco prevention class created by the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) organization. This is a free, interactive evidence-based program to help kids and teens learn more about the harmful effects of vaping and best practices to aid in refusal strategies when offered a vape. Our trained staff deliver this four-session program in the community, each lasting 35–45 minutes, to help prevent tobacco use among youth in Onslow County.

Who We Serve

Youth in grades 5 through 12 in Onslow County.

How We Impact

Youth tobacco use is a major problem that can lead to continued tobacco use into adulthood and poor health outcomes. Increasing the amount of Catch My Breath trainings will strengthen tobacco prevention efforts, especially for youth in high-risk populations. 

OCHD engaged with numerous community partners to provide vaping education and to provide CATCH My Breath Train The Trainer Trainings. Participant numbers increased during the Fall school semester as the CATCH My Breath program was implemented in 6th grade gym classes at Northwoods Park Middle School and 8th grade gym classes at Swansboro Middle School.