KENNESAW, Ga. | Dec 20, 2021

Kennesaw State University's Health Promotion and Wellness department has received a nearly $20,000 grant to participate in the Georgia Young Adult Program of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety. This is the 15th consecutive year that the department in the Division of Student Affairs has received this grant award. 

The Georgia GOHS Young Adult Program uses strategies such as peer education, providing educational speakers to schools and encourages schools to develop creative, innovative techniques to reduce young adult crashes, injuries and fatalities in their communities. 

“With the increase in the number of persons killed in traffic crashes in Georgia and across the nation over the last year, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is working with partners like Kennesaw State University to implement programs designed to stop the risky driving behaviors that are contributing to a majority of our serious-injury and fatality crashes,” Allen Poole, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety said. “Many of the fatal traffic crashes on our roads are preventable, and we will continue to work with our educational and enforcement partners to develop programs and initiatives that are designed to get Georgia to our goal of zero traffic deaths.”

The GYAP program at KSU coordinates events and programming such as National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, Fall Festival and Safe Spring Break. Funding allows Peer Health OWLs to attend the 2022 GOHS Young Adult Conference; renewal of the Health Promotion and Wellness NASPA membership to provide discounts on Certified Peer Educator training manuals; and KSU’s participation in the 2022 American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment III to learn about students’ health habits and behaviors, including alcohol. 

Under the program, a 21st birthday card program will be offered to reduce risky drinking and behaviors often associated with these celebrations. The card will inform and encourage students to consider protective strategies such as planning a safe way to get home, eating a meal before going out, pacing drinks to no more than one drink per hour, designating a sober friend to keep everyone safe and intervening if necessary and to call 911 if someone needs help.

The grant award totals $19,066.77 and covers the period of Oct. 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2022.

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About GOHS

For more information on this grant program, contact GOHS at 404-656-6996, and for more information on GOHS and its other highway safety programs, visit www.gahighwaysafety.org.

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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.