Washington, D.C., May 20, 2003 - Alma Morales Riojas, President and CEO of MANA, A National Latina Organization (MANA), announced that MANA has been awarded $310,000 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) of the Department of Health and Human Services. MANA was selected for this grant based on demonstrated ability to reach and serve the Hispanic community.

This is the third year that MANA has received this grant from SAMHSA for its National HERMANITAS® Program. This Community Disparities Grant is being used to perform a study of the effects of mentoring on the health attitudes and behaviors of Latina youth. The outcomes of this study will be available as a best practice model for using culturally relevant means to improve the negative health statistics of Latina youth. This grant focuses on six MANA sites: San Diego, CA; Detroit, MI; Orange County, CA; San Antonio, TX; Sonoma County-Salinas, CA; and Northern NM.

MANA's National HERMANITAS® Program provides education, training, leadership development, mentoring and peer support to Hispanic female adolescents between the ages of eleven and seventeen. The program is designed to improve the health practices and behaviors of Latinas, while also encouraging young Latinas to stay in school and to pursue high academic goals. MANA expands efforts to consider the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual needs of Latin youth by providing accurate information, nonjudgmental counseling, and skill building opportunities. The program aims to develop strong young Latinas who are active in their communities.

MANA looks forward to the third year of its participation in this research study and to the final report which will be submitted at the end of the grant year, which is April 30, 2004. MANA also commends SAMHSA and CSAP for their commitment to alleviating minority health disparities and for their support of MANA's community programs for Latinas.

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MANA, A National Latina Organization, is a nonprofit, advocacy organization headquartered in the nation's capital, Washington, D. C. With chapters across the country, it is the oldest National Latina membership organization in the United States. MANA, whose mission is to empower Latinas through leadership development, community service, and advocacy, envisions a national community of informed Latina activists working to improve the quality of life for all Hispanics. MANA also has the only national young Latina's mentoring program for girls 11 to 17, "HERMANITAS®" which brings over 100 girls to Washington DC to a summer institute that includes a briefing at the White House and a visit to the girls' Congressional representatives Information on MANA can be obtained at the web site: www.hermana.org or send an e-mail to hermana2@aol.com