Dear Youth Participant and Parent/Guardian,
My name is Emily Longmeyer-Wolf, and I serve as a Social Worker and The Lakeshore Tobacco Alliance Coalition Coordinator at Northeastern Wisconsin Area Health Education Center (NEWAHEC). In this role, I lead our local implementation of the WI Wins program, a statewide initiative focused on reducing youth access to tobacco and nicotine products by ensuring retailers comply with established laws and regulations.
We are currently recruiting youth to assist with tobacco compliance checks.
What Is WI Wins?
- WI Wins trains youth to serve as Youth Inspectors who, under the supervision of an adult, visit tobacco retailers and conduct compliance checks. These checks are legal, confidential, and safe, and they are conducted following strict protocols. Youth inspectors can be 16 or 17 years old.
- Each check involves two youth inspectors: One youth attempts to purchase a tobacco or vape product.
- The second youth observes the interaction and takes mental notes.
- Before heading out for checks, we conduct a brief training session to review the procedures and ensure everyone is comfortable and prepared.
Key Details:
- Pay: Youth are paid $10/hour, with payment issued in a lump-sum check after their assigned checks are completed.
- Meals: Lunch is provided on the day of the checks.
- Scheduling: Checks are typically done in 4–5-hour blocks on non-school days.
- Supervision: A trained adult is always present during every check to ensure safety, support, and is the designated driver of the inspectors.
- Counties & Check Requirements: We conduct checks in Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Door, and Kewaunee Counties. WI Wins requires that we check at least 60% of tobacco retailers in each county.