The Partnership for a Healthy Scott County
Scott County, Mississippi

The Partnership for a Healthy Scott County is a private nonprofit community development organization that was created to improve the quality of life for residents of the greater Scott, Newton, Leake, and Jasper Counties. The Partnership offers underage alcohol use prevention services and materials by collaborating and networking with middle school teachers, students, businesses, and community-based service providers.

The Too Smart To Start team focuses its efforts on 9- to 13-year-olds in area schools through the use of interactive classroom activities and Too Smart To Start materials and resources. In addition, Project Alert—a science-based drug prevention curriculum for middle school youth—teaches youth the skills and strategies needed to resist pro-drug pressures and establish anti-drug norms. Youth also are exposed to no-use messages through lesson plans, awards day programs, sports programs, and open houses.

To reach the parents and caregivers of its target group, the Too Smart To Start team developed and distributes paycheck stuffers, no-use stickers on pizza boxes, and educational packets that include information on the harms of underage alcohol use and communication methods that parents can use when talking with their children about underage alcohol use. Other dissemination channels used by the team include radio public service announcements, local print media, health fairs, and other community events.