By Staff
TOBACCO EDUCATION Melanie Corley, left, Partnership Youth Programs director, Lugertha Young and Gloria Osby of Bethel Baptist Church, and April Wise, Partnership Community/Youth Partnership director, display a $2,000 check presented to the church as part of The Partnership's Faith-Based Initiative. Nearly 100 organizations were selected to receive grants to conduct programs that provide tobacco education to area youth, including Refuge Christian Fellowship Church and Mount Carmel Baptist Church. Submitted photo
special to The Star
June 21, 2003
Mt. Bethel Baptist and Refuge Christian Fellowship churches in Meridian and Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Toomsuba are among nearly 100 organizations selected by The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi for its Faith-Based Initiative.
Each organization received a $2,000 grant to conduct programs that provide tobacco education to area youth. A portion of the grant monies was distributed during a training session in Jackson earlier this month.
Age-appropriate program materials, replete with educational activities and community service projects, were also distributed during the training session.
In addition to tobacco education lessons, program materials incorporate scriptures and lessons regarding self-esteem, communication skills, conflict resolution and good decision making.
Grant recipients are required to conduct tobacco prevention activities as part of a summer program and to continue working with youth on a monthly basis throughout the year. They will also become members of The Partnership's coalition in their area.
Program materials with scripture references are available to any faith-based organization. The Partnership also offers program materials that do not include scriptures.
The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi is a public/private, nonprofit organization of more than 800 statewide governmental and non-governmental agencies, as well as community groups.