Georgia College has again received a grant to participate in the Georgia Young Adult Program of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). This year’s grant, for $9,359, was awarded by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety with federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“The GOHS grant allows the Wellness and Recreation Center to provide educational events and activities to our students to highlight the risks associated with drinking and driving, and educate students about lower risk drinking choices,” said Rachel Pope, senior health educator for the Georgia College Wellness and Recreation Center.
“Students who are turning 21 this year will receive a birthday card from us and a reminder to always drive or ride with someone sober,” Pope added. “This grant has provided support to encourage GCSU students to live healthier lives for the past 24 years.”
The GOHS Young Adult Program addresses young adult driver crashes, injuries and fatalities and partners with colleges and universities throughout the state. The program has proven to be successful using strategies such as peer education, providing educational speakers to schools and encouraging schools to develop creative, innovative techniques to reduce young adult crashes, injuries and fatalities in their communities.
“Part of the GOHS mission is to assist in the implementation of programs and campaigns designed to prevent crashes and eliminate traffic deaths on our roads,” said Allen Poole, director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety. “GOHS will continue to develop new partnerships and continue existing ones in order to create, refine and implement safety programs designed to help our state and nation reach our goal of zero traffic deaths.”
The young adult program at Georgia College coordinates events such as impaired driving prevention programs like Alcohol Awareness Trivia nights, administration of the National Collegiate Health Assessment and programmatic events surrounding National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week.
The grant year for this award runs through Sept. 30. For more information, contact GOHS at 404-656-6996, or visit gahighwaysafety.org.
-Courtesy of University Communications