Since 1998, The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi has developed Community/Youth Partnerships (C/YPs) throughout the state. These coalitions implement Partnership programs at the grassroots level. Alliances with three existing organizations extend our outreach to communities statewide. Each plays a tremendous role in the educational and cessation components of The Partnership’s mission. Please choose from the above links to learn more about these important programs.
The Partnership has empowered local community coalitions, known as Community/Youth Partnerships (C/YPs). Each C/YP, taking support and direction from The Partnership, customizes our tobacco prevention and cessation programs to fit the individual needs of each community.
While individual C/YPs set their own customized program, agenda and event schedule, The Partnership established certain guidelines:
- C/YPs must include at least 25 percent youth in their membership to ensure that children are represented in each coalition’s efforts;
- C/YPs must represent the diversity of their community in racial, ethnic and geographic orientation to encourage integration of groups that in other venues are often kept separate;
- C/YPs must work in the areas of increasing youth-led activities, engaging local policy makers, and establishing or increasing community health education and tobacco cessation programs, as well as community awareness programs.
- C/YP program directors must attend quarterly training seminars to learn the latest tobacco education program information from Partnership team members and work together to implement programs in their individual communities.
The programs conducted by local Partnerships are as varied as their locations and demographics, and have proven successful as C/YPs continue to reach youth and adults through awareness activities and comprehensive prevention efforts.
C/YPs continue to grow in organizational maturity and many are beginning to address other risky behavioral issues in their communities. They are making long-term, effective changes at the grassroots level.
