Methods: (1) Developed joint partnership with the SC School Boards Association towards promoting adoption of a model tobacco-free policy in the state's 82 school districts. The SC School Boards Association, an advocacy and support group representing local school boards, establishes guidelines for policies for which school districts may comply. (2) Developed counter-marketing strategy which cultiviated competition among school districts to adopt the 100% tobacco-free model policy.

Results: During the last 6 months, ten of the 82 school districts in the state have adopted the model policy.

Conclusions: Effective partnerships and counter-marketing strategies have proven to be successful in instituting model tobacco-free policies within a tobacco growing state.