KENNESAW, Ga. | Dec 19, 2017

Grant is the 11th award to the office of Health Promotion and Wellness

The office of Health Promotion and Wellness at Kennesaw State University recently received a $19,704 grant to participate in the GOHS Georgia Young Adult Program. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety addresses young adult driver crashes, injuries and fatalities and partners with colleges and universities throughout the state to implement the Georgia Young Adult Program.

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. The grant is the 11th award for Health Promotion and Wellness, which resides in the Division of Student Affairs.

“The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is committed to changing the tragic trend of young adult driver deaths in Georgia,” said GOHS Director Harris Blackwood. “We’re here to make changes, and I believe the students at Kennesaw State University can help us achieve the goal of lowering crash injury and fatality rates statewide. Who better to address the challenges and dangers facing young adults than their peers? I’m confident these students can convince their peers to be safer, more conscientious drivers.”

Kennesaw State University will coordinate events such as impaired driving prevention programs, including social norming promotion and distribution of the iDrinkSmarter app that will provide personalized information on the effects of blood alcohol concentration. TIPS University Training will also be provided to help students learn specific strategies and skills for intervening in alcohol-related situations that they may encounter. Programming often surrounds events such as National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week and Safe Spring Break. Programs involve collaborations with the campus Greek community, student athletes, residential student communities, campus police and counseling services.

The grant runs Oct. 1, 2017 through Sept. 30, 2018.

– Tiffany Capuano

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.