Helping Oklahoma Kids Grow Up Healthy
Sponsored by the TSET Healthy Youth Initiative, led by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET)
Parents across Oklahoma share a common hope: that their children grow up healthy, confident and ready for whatever the future holds. But today’s kids and teens are navigating a world filled with complicated health messages. Vapes and nicotine products are heavily marketed, sugary drinks are easy to grab and screen time often replaces physical activity. In the middle of all of it, young people are forming habits that can last a lifetime.
The TSET Healthy Youth Initiative was created to support families during these formative years. Led by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), the initiative focuses on helping Oklahoma youth build healthier lifestyles through reduced tobacco use, improved nutrition and increased physical activity. More than a single campaign, the TSET Healthy Youth Initiative is a statewide effort designed to give young people practical tools and supportive environments that make healthy choices feel realistic and achievable.
Support for Real-Life Challenges
One important part of that work is ensuring teens have access to support when they need it. For adolescents who already use tobacco or nicotine products, My Life, My Quit™ provides free, confidential coaching designed specifically for ages 13-17. Through live text or web chat, teens can connect with trained coaches who understand the pressures they face and offer personalized guidance. By meeting young people where they are, the TSET Healthy Youth Initiative reinforces that asking for help is a positive step forward.
Youth Leading the Way
A defining feature of the TSET Healthy Youth Initiative is its belief that young people themselves can lead change. Programs like Youth Action for Health Leadership (YAHL) empower teens to develop leadership skills while working on projects that improve nutrition, active living and tobacco policies in their communities. Student participants gain hands-on experience creating measurable impact, all while earning community service hours and building confidence in their ability to shape a healthier Oklahoma.
Small Changes That Add Up
Schools and community spaces play a critical role in shaping daily habits, which is why the TSET Healthy Youth Initiative partners with educators and youth-serving organizations across Oklahoma. The Elevate Student Health initiative through YAHL gives schools resources to strengthen physical activity and nutrition policies, including access to healthy food options and clean, safe drinking water throughout the day. Free, research-backed materials are also available to educators, healthcare providers and community leaders who want to promote tobacco prevention and healthy lifestyles in the youth they serve.
YAHL also works on the CounterAct Tobacco initiative, working to move the power away from Big Tobacco and into Oklahomans’ hands through comprehensive retail licensing. CounterAct Tobacco is working to eliminate youth purchase, use and possession laws, overturn tobacco preemption and regulate e-cigarette, vape and nicotine-only retailers like current policies for traditional cigarettes.
Investing in Oklahoma’s Future
By combining prevention, support and youth leadership, the TSET Healthy Youth Initiative takes a long-term approach to public health. Habits formed during childhood and adolescence often carry into adulthood, influencing risks for chronic disease and overall quality of life. When young people are equipped with knowledge, supportive environments and opportunities to lead, they are better positioned to make informed decisions that benefit them for years to come.
The TSET Healthy Youth Initiative represents a statewide commitment to investing in the next generation. By surrounding Oklahoma youth with resources that promote tobacco prevention, balanced nutrition and active living, the TSET Healthy Youth Initiative is helping build a foundation for healthier families and communities. For parents, educators and community members, it offers reassurance that meaningful support is in place and that healthier futures are possible, one informed choice at a time.
