Newsworthy: Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services

The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS) is proud to once again partner with the Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) to launch the 2025 PROM Campaign. PROM, which stands for “Please Return On Monday,” is now in its eighth year of raising awareness about the importance of safe driving decisions during the high school prom season. This impactful campaign focuses on educating teens about seatbelt usage, impaired and distracted driving, and the life-altering consequences of risky behavior behind the wheel. Knowledge and prevention are power, safety is key.

Throughout the campaign, MHP Public Affairs Officers (PAO), MDRS speakers, and MDRS client speakers will visit schools statewide to deliver impactful assembly programs. These sessions combine real-life scenarios with personal stories to show students how a single decision can change lives forever.

PAOs address the devastating consequences of car crashes, emphasizing the heartbreaking reality that too many young lives are lost due to poor decisions. Their goal is to prevent these tragedies by helping students understand the risks of reckless behavior and encouraging them to make safer choices.

MDRS representatives complement these efforts by sharing how life can be permanently altered by surviving a crash, as many survivors faced life-changing outcomes after choosing to drink and drive, text while driving, neglect to wear a seatbelt, or are affected by someone else’s decisions to do so. They explain how survivors often require long-term support, such as modified homes, personal care assistance, or employment services, all which MDRS services can provide or assist with. These discussions remind students that surviving a crash doesn’t mean escaping its consequences.

MDRS client speakers bring powerful, firsthand stories to these assemblies. David Hale and Richard Stafford share their experiences of driving drunk without wearing a seatbelt, which resulted in life-altering consequences. Mercetia Jenkins and Olivia Gilmore speak about their crashes as passengers who failed to buckle up. Robyn Thomas recounts the moment she looked down at her phone to read a text message, leading to crashing into a tree. Dwight Owens, who was struck by a drunk driver while simply driving to work, reminds students that even responsible drivers can be impacted by others’ poor choices. These courageous speakers share their stories to encourage students to think twice before making risky decisions and to always prioritize safety.

Since its launch in 2018, the PROM Campaign has grown exponentially. In just its second year, the campaign reached 9,936 students across 36 schools in Mississippi. Although the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 temporarily shifted in-person events to virtual formats, PROM adapted and reached 3,651 students via electronic media in 2021, with an additional 7,500 views through Facebook Live. By 2022, as schools reopened, the campaign reached 11,600 students, and in 2023, it set a record, engaging over 12,700 students across 66 schools.

The 2024 campaign continued this upward trend, impacting over 13,100 students at 63 schools statewide. Building on this remarkable success, the 2025 PROM Campaign is already gearing up for another impactful year, with 18 presentations scheduled so far and more on the horizon.

Together, MDRS and MHP are committed to empowering Mississippi’s youth to make safe choices, ensuring that every student returns on Monday. To schedule a PROM presentation, please contact the MDRS Office of Communication by emailing PROM@mdrs.ms.gov or calling 1-800-443-1000.

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