January 31, 2007
Dear Salem High Parents:
This letter is to tell you about our new and updated Smoking Cessation Program for your child. This program has been developed with the support of the Read Family Foundation. The North Shore Medical Center and Salem High School have combined their talents, personnel, and energies to create a new, innovative approach to helping our teens to discontinue the use of Tobacco.
The program is an 8 week course, held in school, comprised of the following components: self-monitoring, developing stress management skills, positive self talk and an incentive program.
Ellen Bennett is a Certified Respiratory Therapist and a Tobacco Treatment Specialist at the Heart and Wellness Center at Salem Hospital. She has over 26 years of experience working with patients. She does all the inpatient work as well as community smoking programs.
The 8-week adult smoking cessation program that Ellen runs at Salem Hospital has an average quit rate of 64%, well above the 30% quit rate that is considered the national benchmark. Perhaps Ellen’s most important qualification is that she has had a great deal of experience working with children at NSCH and being a mother of 5.
Ellen will run the program, assisted by staff members from Salem High who will be collaboratively involved.
If your child has expressed a desire to quit smoking or has questions about our program, or if you as a parent have questions about our program and want assistance with smoking cessation, we would invite you to call us at the Heart & Wellness Center, (978) 741-4151.
Sncerely, Sincerely,
Sandy Skinner R.N, M.A. Ellen Bennett CRT, TTS
Administrative Director
Wellness and Integrative Medicine.
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