Emory Prevention Research Center Grants $20,000 to Promote Healthier Eating and Physical Activity in Southwest Georgia Community Organizations

Atlanta, GA – September 9, 2008 – The Emory Prevention Research Center (EPRC), along with local partners, including the Southwest Georgia Cancer Coalition, awarded $20,000 in grants tovarious community organizations in Nashville, Sparks, Cordele, Valdosta, and Albany. Thesegrants enable the organizations to carry out prevention programs to improve health through better nutrition and physical activity. The recipients are Berrien County Collaborative; Cook County Commission for Children and Youth; Crisp County Community Council, Inc.; SouthGeorgia Medical Center Diabetes Management Center; and SOWEGA Council on Aging.

Each recipient organization will receive up to $4,000 and staff assistance from the EmoryPrevention Research Center. The nutrition programs that they will implement include Parents as Teachers (PAT) High 5 Low Fat; Treatwell 5-a-Day Program (for worksites); and Little by Little.The physical activity program chosen is the Patient-centered Assessment and Counseling forExercise (PACE) Program. These programs have all been tested and found to be effective.

The Berrien County Collaborative will implement the Parents as Teachers High 5 Low-FatProgram. ―The High 5 Low-Fat program would be a good fit and expansion of the BerrienCounty Collaborative Parents As Teachers Program because the curriculum aligns with the goalto help improve the health of our adolescent and teen moms during pregnancy and after thebirth of their child,‖ said Program Coordinator Lauren Brady.

The Emory Prevention Research Center is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention. The EPRC focuses on cancer prevention in Southwest Georgia by promotinghealthy eating and exercise. To learn more about the Emory Prevention Research Center and the grants awarded, visit www.sph.emory.edu/EPRC or contact April Hermstad by phone at404-712-9537 or by email at ahermst@sph.emory.edu.