For Immediate Release:                         July 18, 2006

Partnership for a Drug-Free Community has been awarded a grant for $27,457 by the Alabama Department of Public Health to continue the Youth Tobacco Prevention & Control Program.

 Joy Rhodes Watkins, regional coordinator for the Department of Public Health, will attend the Partnership’s quarterly luncheon meeting on Thursday, July 20^th, 2006, 11:30am to 1:00pm, at the Holiday Inn Select on Williams Ave. to present the check.  Janet Craig will continue to coordinate the program for Partnership.

The grant allows Partnership to continue its efforts with the Youth Empowerment Program to bring environmental changes regarding second-hand smoke in the community and to focus on the dangers associated with it.  YEP will continue its’ outreach to the teen community in an effort to emphasize the dangers of smoking-period. Alabama continues to have a higher percentage of teen use of tobacco than the national average.

The Surgeon General, Richard Carmona, has again brought to the nation’s attention the dangers of second hand smoke.  On June 27^th, he called for a ban on cigarettes, cigars and pipes from all public places, saying there is no risk-free level of exposure to second-hand smoke. Both the cities of Huntsville and Athens have undertaken ordinances that afford patrons and employees smoke-free restaurants.  The grant will allow efforts to pursue similar protections in the City of Madison and all Madison County communities.

 Over the next month, Ms. Craig will begin recruiting teens from across the county to join the Youth Empowerment Program.  YEP teaches teens to positively advocate for change their community.  Anyone between the ages of 11 and 18 is eligible to participate and welcome to volunteer. Ms. Craig and Ms. Watkins will be available at the board meeting to discuss the grant and second-hand smoke issues.  For more information, contact Janet Craig at the Partnership for a Drug-Free Community office at 256.539.7339 or by email at craigjl@hiwaay.net.

Also, read more about our other programs:

Kelly Bear to the Rescue | At-Risk Tutorial Program | Smoke, Choke and Eventually Croak | Think, Don't Drink! | Too Good for Drugs and Violence | Marijuana: Myths & Facts | Youth Empowerment Program | Community Resource Center | Speakers Bureau | Red Ribbon Rally

And read more about...
volunteer opportunities, and corporate/individual giving...

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