EASTERN REGION
Program Planning Committee

PURPOSE

Delta Sigma Theta’s mission is to "provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world". The Eastern Region Program Planning Committee aids chapters in executing Delta’s mission by providing guidance and support in the planning, execution and evaluation of National and Regional programs and initiatives in their service areas. In following the lead of the National Committee, the Eastern Region's Program Planning Committee has separate sub-committees that focus on Health & Wellness and Financial Fortitude.

Through its outreach and community building, the Eastern Region Program Planning Committee enhances chapter abilities to:

• Link chapter strategic priorities and program plans to community needs based on data
• Develop frameworks for planning chapter activities using robust planning tools
• Ascertain their programs’ impact by developing clear program outcomes, metrics and evaluation strategies
• Leverage program planning and the sharing of best practices from other chapters throughout the region

RESOURCES

The Committee’s outreach includes the dissemination of planning tools and templates that chapters may use at their discretion to execute the chapter programming responsibilities identified by Grand Chapter.
Planning Resources available to chapters:

• Program Planning Templates and Tools
• Region-Wide Conference Calls
• Recordings of Past Conference Calls & Presentations
• Programming Tip Sheets - (Delta Academy, Delta GEMS, EMBODI)

The Eastern Region Program Planning Committee is dedicated to helping chapters to more effectively plan, execute and evaluate their programs. If you would like the Regional Program Planning Committee to conduct a workshop for your chapter, please contact the Chair, Erin Duggins, at ProgPlan@easternregiondst.org

Erin Brown Duggins
Chair, Eastern Region Program Planning Committee

Priorities

• Primary Priority Areas: Obesity, Diabetes,
  Stroke (as precursors to Renal Failure)
• Secondary Priority Area: HIV/AIDS Health

Purpose

The Health & Wellness Committee is tasked with providing resources to help sustain the physical and mental health projects and initiatives of collegiate and alumnae chapters in the Eastern Region. To that end, the Health & Wellness Committee has designed a resource that will aid chapters in supporting community change and a commitment to living a healthier lifestyle.

In support of the goals of the Eastern Region Program Planning Committee, the Health & Wellness Committee will:

• Increase youth involvement/focus in physical and mental health by assisting chapters in executing the Tots to Teens: Total Health program and conducting forums for parents on child mental health and childhood obesity by 2011; and
• Increase the health of our communities by assisting chapters in implementing a Total Woman program on lifestyle change by 2010 and an activity on mental health by fall 2011.

Objectives

• Mental health resources
• Teenage lifestyle change resources
• Speakers and agency resource
• Total Woman activity templates
• Tots to Teens: Total Health activity templates

Resources

• Journey to Wellness Passport to Better Health
• Alzheimer's Warning Signs
• Keeping Your Mind Sharp: African American Brain Health
• African Americans and Clinical Research
• CDC Preventing Suicide Program Activities Guide
• Suicide Fact Sheet
• Suicide Data Sheet

Goal

The goal of the Economic Development Committee is to encourage and stimulate interest in chapter programs focused on Financial Fortitude, Homeownership and Entrepreneurship.

Financial Fortitude

Financial Fortitude is an education initiative designed to increase financial literacy in the African American community. The FDIC's Money Smart curriculum is designed to teach the financial building blocks needed to help the public make sound financial decisions with respect to budgeting, banking fundamentals, credit principles, savings /investing, insurance and protecting assets. The components of this initiative are to help make financial dreams come true through education and implementation. To implement this initiative during the next biennium, all chapters are asked to collaborate with businesses or nonprofit organizations to conduct workshops or seminars on personal finance topics such as debt management, budgeting, estate planning, retirement planning, etc.

Homeownership

The Delta Challenge: Delta Homeownership Initiative
The Delta Homeownership Challenge paves the way for sorors, family, friends and the African-American community to achieve the dream of homeownership. Each chapter is expected to dedicate the month of June as The Delta Challenge: National Homeownership Month. During this time, chapters will highlight the benefits of owning a home. Due to the current crisis in the mortgage industry, the focus for the current biennium will be education.

Delta H.O.M.E. (Home Ownership Maintenance and Education)
This program is designed to train the communities we serve on the three phases of Home Ownership – Purchase, Maintaining and Keeping your home. Information is available on any one or all three phases:

1. Buying your home - Outlining the homeownership purchase, mortgage, and closing process
2. Living in your home - Provides useful tips for the first year of homeownership success; living below your means; budgeting; refinancing do's and don'ts; estate planning; tax education and maintenance
3. Keeping your home - Provides information on how to avoid foreclosure

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is a financial wealth-building initiative that educates individuals within communities on techniques and resources available to enable them to start and operate successful businesses. Entrepreneurship improves the financial stability, provides economic empowerment, and enhances the overall quality of life. This initiative will provide resource tools from a variety of sources, including the United States Small Business Administration, on topics such as writing an effective business plan, choosing a business structure, financing options, government contracting, market research strategies, franchising, and public and private technical assistance programs for small businesses.

During the new biennium, chapters are asked to implement the entrepreneurship initiative by:

• Sponsoring or co-sponsoring workshops or forums, or develop various other community-based
  initiatives to encourage a dialogue regarding entrepreneurship
• Disseminating resource materials to empower potential business owners
• Encouraging sorors, family and friends to pursue small business start ups
• Supporting minority-owned businesses in their communities