To advance that goal, we provide leadership and support to communities to help them meet the needs of their schoolchildren for health services and health education. We follow a coordinated approach among families, health care workers, the media, religious and community organizations, and young people themselves.
In many communities, schools offer a variety of recreational facilities — from playgrounds to gymnasiums — where safe places to play and exercise might not otherwise exist.
Joint use agreements create a partnership between schools and residents in a community to share spaces such as playgrounds, athletic fields, pools, and gymnasiums outside of school hours. They can also be used to make community facilities available to schools.
Joint use lets costs and responsibilities be shared, while increasing the opportunities for physical activity for everyone involved.
Physical Activity Resources
Jodi Rankin | jodi.rankin@msdh.state.ms.us
Bureau Director, R.N., M.S.N., N.C.S.N.,
Community and School Health, Mississippi State Department of Health
Phone: 601- 576-7781, Fax: 601-576-7444
Tiffani Grant | tiffani.grant@msdh.state.ms.us
Program Manager, M.S., R.D., L.D.
Community and School Health, Mississippi State Department of Health
Phone: 601-576-7781, Fax: 601-576-7444
Candice Green | candice.green@msdh.state.ms.us
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance
Mississippi State Department of Health
Phone: 601- 576-7781, Fax: 601-576-7444
Amanda Williams | alwilliams@mde.k12.ms.us
CSHP Director
Office of Healthy Schools, Mississippi Department of Education
Phone: 601-359-1813, Fax: 601-576-1417
Mary Ann Simpkins | msimpkins@mde.k12.ms.us
Physical Activity, Nutrition and Tobacco Coordinator
Office of Healthy Schools, Mississippi Department of Education
Phone: 601-359-1814, Fax: 601-576-1417
Shalonda Matthews | scmatthews@mde.k12.ms.us
HIV Education Specialist
Office of Healthy Schools, Mississippi Department of Education
Phone: 601-359-1737, Fax: 601-576-1417
Stephanie Robinson | snrobinson@mde.k12.ms.us
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Coordinator
Office of Healthy Schools, Mississippi Department of Education
Phone: 601-359-1737, Fax: 601-576-1417
Community & School Health Program
Mississippi State Department of Health
P.O. Box 1700
Jackson, MS 39215-1700
Phone: 601-576-7781
