Advocating for a
Healthier California
The California Youth Advocacy Network (CYAN) advocates with and for youth and young adults to create equitable, sustainable change to advance overall community health.
What's New
Youth Tobacco Prevention Digital Campaign
The California Youth Advocacy Network (CYAN) is proud to launch a new digital media campaign focused on youth tobacco prevention and supporting young adults in their quit smoking journey. This eight-post campaign was developed to help prevent tobacco use initiation and motivate quit attempts among youth and young adults across California.
Before launch, the campaign content was reviewed by youth and young adults from twelve diverse counties, ensuring cultural relevance and real impact. Each post highlights the positive physical and mental health benefits of quitting vaping or smoking—and staying tobacco-free for good.
Statewide Youth Advocacy Conference - Registration Open
July 14 - 17, 2025
Registration for the California Youth Advocacy Network’s (CYAN) 2025 Statewide Youth Advocacy Conference is open. This conference is designed to create a space for youth and adult partners to learn how to advocate for local policy and system change. This unique learning opportunity trains youth on current commercial smoke/tobacco-free policy initiatives and utilizes Live Action Roleplay activities for youth to practice new learned advocacy skills. This year’s event will be held in Santa Cruz County at the Happy Valley Conference Center on Monday, July 14 to Thursday, July 17, 2025.
Youth Quest Success
Youth Quest 2025 was a huge success thanks to the 402 youth and adult partners who attended this year’s event from 58 coalitions. Coalitions were successful in meeting with all 120 legislative officers through scheduled meetings and drop-by visits. This year’s theme, Put Big Tobacco on Mute, focused on silencing the influence of the tobacco industry through our phones, social media channels, and in our communities. Stay tuned for more information on the 2026 event.
Supporting engagement and advocacy.
youth
Empowering California’s youth to create tobacco-free environments. CYAN’s Youth Program supports the development of youth-adult partnerships in order to effectively advocate for social norm change in local communities.
college
Through training, education, and support, CYAN is partnering with student and public health advocates to eliminate tobacco and tobacco industry presence on California college and university campuses.
emerging tobacco
Youth and young adults are more likely to use new and emerging tobacco and nicotine products than any other age group population. In order to combat this reality, CYAN provides support and resources to organizations striving to prevent young people from tobacco use.
Resources
CYAN supports tobacco-free prevention and advocacy throughout the California. We provide resources such as program-specific educational materials, tools, and fact sheets as well as web-based trainings to increase knowledge and capacity of tobacco control advocates.
Educational Materials
CYAN’s educational materials are designed for youth and young adults. The goal of these materials is to increase awareness of the realities of new and emerging tobacco products, prevent tobacco use, and encourage quit attempt among young people.
Fact Sheets & tools
A variety of fact sheets, tools, and materials are available for youth, young adult, and tobacco control advocates working to limit tobacco in local communities. The resources range from informational fact sheets to tools to support community engagement and advocacy activities.
online Trainings
CYAN utilizes web-based technology to provide a range of training opportunities for individuals advocating for smoke/tobacco-free policies as well as those promoting quit attempts. Trainings are available for youth advocates, college students and staff, and military health professionals.