Since 1997, The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi has been a national leader in tobacco prevention, developing interactive and educational training programs for youth and young adults that focus on long-term behavioral and cultural change.

Youth programs

Since inception, The Partnership has delivered anti-tobacco messaging through youth programs. Our original youth campaign, Reject All Tobacco (RAT) made a notable and proven impact on youth in Mississippi and enacted change agents across the state. Our most notable motif, Terrance the Rat spread messaging to counteract messaging and the cultural impact of Big Tobacco. Generation Free MS is a new movement that calls on youth to use their voice to reach their peers. This youth-led movement calls for creative messaging and interactive. This is messaging in a new way, and it meets youth where they are: SOCIAL MEDIA!

Currently, GENFREEMS is actively utilizing youth to spread and share messaging that is more expansive in nature. The GENFREEMS programs focus on:

  • Tobacco prevention, education and cessation

  • Vaping prevention, education and cessation

  • Mental health

  • Tobacco and marijuana education in under-represented communities

  • COVID-19

Current Programs

  • Generation Free MS Youth Ambassadors

  • Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health Youth Leadership Program