Natchez — Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers, RSVP members, and other interested persons from Adams, Covington, and Wilkinson counties have recently been trained as Smart Aging: Healthy Futures Volunteers.

The training was hosted in Adams County with 20 attendees completing the training. This training provides volunteers with the knowledge to share health messages with seniors in their communities.

It is Part I training of the Master Health Education Volunteer Program developed by Mississippi State University Extension Service. The curriculum includes health message training on self-care, heart attack and stroke warning signs and symptoms, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer awareness as well as additional training on leadership skills.

The volunteers will be giving back to their community by donating service hours related to promoting health education and awareness among seniors over the next year. Partnerships with the American Heart and American Stroke Association and the American Cancer Society support the training. Mrs. Lorrie Davis, State Advocacy and Health Alliance Director, American Heart and American Stroke Association, presented material about the warning signs and symptoms of heart attack and strokes.

Extension Health Agent, LaToya Selmon, trained the volunteers about self-care and breast, colorectal and prostate cancer awareness. Ms. Marilyn Bailey, Extension Leadership Development Agent, taught goal setting and benefits of laughter. Extension Community Health Coordinator, Ann Sansing, facilitated the program and presented material about program logistics and presentation techniques. She also serves as the coordinator for the Smart Aging: Healthy Futures Volunteer program. Volunteers are vital to reaching out and sharing knowledge with others to ensure healthy futures.

This program is intended to do just that, whether in a group setting or one-on-one.

For more information about the program contact the Adams County Extension Service or Ann Sansing at asansing@ext.msstate.edu, phone: (662) 325-4043, or visit the website at http://msucares.com/health/health04mhev/index.html.