The Jackson County Health Advisory Council (JHAC) is a consortium of African-American churches in Jackson County, Florida. This group was established in 1988. This group has emphasized church-based health promotion activities facilitated by church health committees. The church health programs were developed in such a manner as to utilize family support systems, including older minorities. Examples of educational and health interventions include: direct health instruction to populations at risk, Church Health Sundays and Saturdays; culturally specific games; exercise to church music (gospelcise); blood pressure monitoring; and development of learning materials in the areas of nutrition, mental health, consumer health and drugs. Unpublished data indicates positive changes in health practices of participating church members. Program successes can be attributed to: Modification of developed program models to meet the cultural and social needs of target population; implementations of program activities following accepted church processes; church members collected data and used as a basis for establishing health priorities; the use of informal communication systems such as church bulletins, church announcements, posters, black radio talk shows, project newsletters, radio PSA's or announcements at agency meetings; the use of culturally acceptable oral and visual learning methods, in conjunction with other traditional instructional methods; program activities were carried out where people gather, rather than the sites of school, worksites, community or health care systems; African-American project staff provided "grass roots" direct project services; constantly revising and revisiting timelines and processes to meet environmental and social needs; identification and inclusion of the "real" community leaders in project activities; reinforcing community awareness activities where all members of the participating churches and the community took part; utilization of available community services and assisting in the development of new, needed services, I some case provided by local church members; and most importantly, dedicated volunteers and staff to make it all happen. Since those early days, these efforts have expanded by the incorporating the consortium of churches as the Council of Church-Based Health Programs, Inc. which serves as the Parent Organization of all local Health Advisory Councils in the state of Florida. The Council of Church-Based health Programs, Inc. will have a state-wide focus and work closely with the traditional state systems and networks while providing needed information and resources to communities across the states where local Health Advisory Council are located. Health Human Services Educational Community-Based School-Based Faith-Based Evaluation Board Training/Organization Graphics Conference Development Networking Internet Manuscript Development Manual Design/Publication Editorial/Proofing Cultural Specific Training · African-American · European American · Hispanic/Latino · Native American Juvenile Justice/Criminal Coalition/Partnership Development Educational Leadership/ Life Skills Training Intergenerational Program Development HPPI is committed to the development of youth through leadership, achievement and community empowerment. HPPI through its many efforts has included youth in the planning, decision making and execution of many programs and activities. HPPI is committed to working with local schools and school districts to enhance, enrich and cultivate the most positive sense of health and community that we possibly can. HPPI, through its many efforts has sponsored or co-sponsored poster and essay contests in schools dealing with prevention and health. We have found these types of initiatives to be most rewarding for children, parents, and the community at large. HPPI has a strong commitment to issues relative to cardiovascular health and wellness. Various strategies have been implemented in communities served by HPPI, that have shown considerable reductions in hypertension and other related illness. Exercise, wellness and walking programs are a strong core of the overall cardiovascular health regime. HPPI is concerned with the total health of the community and is committed to addressing all of the risk factors associated with cardiovascular problems. HPPI has produced several articles and manuals devoted to addressing this issue. Previous funding from the Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health. For more information on Cardiovascular Health and Wellness. HPPI has been involved with drug prevention and education since the late eighties through several funded projects from the PHS, DHHS, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention CSAP. In 1991 the Jackson County Health Advisory Council, group of African-American churches in Jackson County, Florida was funded to convene a two-day conference dealing with "The Role of the Church in Drug Prevention and Education". Also, in 1991 the Jackson County Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Partnership was instituted to deal with county-wide planning and coordination of drug prevention and educational services. This was a five-year initiative aimed at developing a sustainable coordinated system of dealing with the gaps in services relative to drug prevention and education. In 1995, the Northwest Florida Regional Drug Prevention Coalition was instituted and encompassed Jackson, Washington Holmes and Bay counties. This is a three-year initiative to be expanded to the Northwest Florida Region using the model from Jackson County.