Alcorn University News August 2015 Alcorn’s School of Nursing receives grant for Brave Reproductive Health Project Alcorn State University’s School of Nursing has plans to use its new grant to serve the community. Alcorn will receive a grant from NEO Philanthropy, Inc. in the amount of $254,000 from August 1, 2015 to July 31, 2017. The grant will be used to support the School of Nursing Brave Reproductive Health Project, which will provide age-appropriate gynecological exams and contraception to women in need via a mobile outreach unit. This includes full coverage for contraception, exam equipment, and pathology for 140 patients and partial coverage for the salary of the unit’s driver and for the unit’s fuel. Debra Spring, Alcorn’s dean of nursing, acknowledged the hard work of Dr. Yolanda Powell-Young for obtaining the grant. She is eager to begin the project and hopes to save young teenagers from unwanted pregnancies. “I think it is a wonderful opportunity for the School of Nursing to make an impact on the teenage pregnancy rate in Mississippi and the health of local communities,” said Spring. Data from the U.S Department of Health and Human Services indicate that Mississippi was ranked 2 out of 51 (50 states plus the District of Columbia) on 2011 final teen birth rates among females aged 15-19. Spring went on to comment on the importance of informing teenagers about sex and contraception. “Teenagers deserve to receive as much education as possible in order to make informed decisions related to the behaviors they may engage in.” SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.