NEWS RELEASE
April 1, 1999

Haveman Announces Campus Mentoring Grants

Michigan Department of Community Health Director James K. Haveman, Jr., today announced $433,000 in funding for comprehensive mentoring programs at Universities statewide to emphasize an alcohol and drug-free approach to campus life. The mentoring program will include alcohol and drug-free activities for freshman students.

"The purpose of this project is to assist incoming freshmen that would like to make the transition from high school to college without using alcohol," said Haveman. "In light of the tragic alcohol related deaths of college students and the recent senseless destructive behavior on college campuses, it is clear that programs like this are needed more than ever."

"This truly is a collaborative effort as the state is working in partnership with these Universities to change behaviors and educate students about the dangers associated with alcohol," said Haveman.

• Central Michigan University will receive $30,000
• Eastern Michigan University will receive $36,000
• Ferris State University will receive $29,000
• Grand Valley State University will receive $29,000
• Lake Superior State University will receive $14,000
• Michigan State University will receive $71,000
• Michigan Technological University will receive $18,000
• Northern Michigan University will receive $21,000
• Oakland University will receive $24,000
• Saginaw Valley State University will receive $26,000
• University of Michigan-Dearborn will receive $9,000
• University of Michigan-Flint will receive $9,000
• Western Michigan University is expected to receive $36,000, but specifics on their mentoring program application are not yet finalized.
• Prevention Network, Inc., will receive $81,000 to coordinate the campus mentoring program, promote the program to high school students and their parents, recruit mentors and   provide support for all Universities in making this program successful.

"Our outreach to high school students is so important in order to hit the ground running with these programs this fall when the new freshman class comes to campus," said Office of Drug Control Policy Director Darnell Jackson.

All Universities attended a workshop on these innovative grants in March. Applications were reviewed to ensure they met the criteria for the program and grant awards were determined based on the quality of the application and current freshman census on each campus.

In addition to the mentoring grants, the Department recently began a $150,000 advertising campaign aimed at educating college students on the dangers of binge-drinking. The campaign will run in student newspapers and on radio stations in college communities. The Department will also fund a $50,000 initiative to train University Health Professionals to recognize and deal with binge drinking problems on campus and will work closely with the Universities, Michigan State Police, Local Law Enforcement and the Liquor Control Commission to stop underage drinking and excessive drinking.

Former State Representative Jim McBryde, who now serves as Special Assistant for Drug Policy at the Department of Community Health, will work with University Alcohol Teams statewide to curb student drinking.

The Department has also included valuable alcohol and binge drinking information on its web page. The web address is http://www.mdch.state.mi.us/ads/binge.htm.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Geralyn Lasher
April 1, 1999 (517) 241-2112