The Georgia Healthy Family Alliance (GHFA) awarded Community Health Grant Award applicants $35,000 in second cycle 2022 grants. Grant awards were made to GAFP member affiliated community organizations that support GHFA program priorities including underserved populations and projects that promote healthy practices. The application deadline for third cycle grants is July 9, 2022.
Visit www.georgiahealthyfamilyalliance.org/grants/ for more information or to download the application.
Second cycle 2022 Community Health Grant recipients are:
Shifa Clinic “Improving Access and Quality of Patient Care through a Free Clinic” Sana Rabbi, MD- Duluth $5,000
Shifa Clinic Duluth is a project of ICNA Relief USA, a 501(c) non-profit organization and as such many patients come from a variety of faith backgrounds and are first-generation immigrants or refugees. In 2021, Shifa Clinic Duluth served about 2,000 patients via in-person and telehealth visits for underinsured and uninsured patients. Clinic patients lack a primary care clinician and access to preventative services, and Shifa Clinic serves as the main point of contact for healthcare services.
Most of the patients seen at Shifa Clinic Duluth are adults with chronic conditions, including hypertension, heart disease and diabetes. Approximately 850 patients will be supported by this grant: around 100 patients for lab fees assistance, 100 for ECGs based on previous utilization data, 30 patients for glucose monitoring based on the number of kits proposed for funding, 20 patients for translation services and at least 300 for patient education.
Adult Disability Medical Healthcare “Get Fit on the Go!” Andrea Videlefsky, MD- Marietta $5,000
The Get Fit and Be Healthy program has been a hallmark health and wellness program offered by ADMH to individuals with developmental disabilities. This program provides an opportunity for individuals with developmental disabilities to actively engage in an education, fitness and healthy cooking program to develop lifelong habits for improving and maintaining health and wellness. This project takes the tools and strategies from previous grants to develop a creative and long-lasting outcome. Last year a cookbook/health manual was created incorporating health, fitness information and recipes learned in the program. In order to maintain interest in healthy lifestyles, ADMH will introduce the innovative concept of Get Fit on the GO! This program will encourage participants to maintain healthy lifestyles out in the community. Together, the participants guided by the team, will identify innovative healthy activities/educational workshops/ service projects in the community. These include:
- cooking healthy meals for a homeless shelter,
- cooking with community responders (fire/police officers) and emergency planning
- hiking with teen volunteers from a local high school
- bringing exercise/healthy cooking ideas to collaborating community-based programs
- participating in a grocery shopping trip and then cooking
Hearts & Hands Medical Clinic “Patient Lab Tests Project 2022,” Brian DeLoach, MD- Statesboro $5,000
The Hearts & Hands Clinic provides free medical and dental care to Bulloch County residents who are uninsured, ineligible for Medicaid and Medicare, and who live at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline. The clinic sees approximately 500 patients per year. Twenty-one percent of Bulloch County’s 82,442 residents lived below the poverty line in 2021; 17% of individuals under age 65 were uninsured (census.gov). Bulloch is a medically underserved county; the ratio of population to primary care physicians is 1,890:1 and population to other primary care clinicians is 970:1. In addition, 48.3% of the county’s population live in a rural area (countyhealthrankings.org, 2021). There is no public transportation system. The clinic is the only free healthcare facility in the county; the closest free clinics are an hour’s drive away.
Each new patient requires basic lab tests which are repeated on an annual basis. Many patients require follow up tests to determine their diagnosis and course of care. Because of this, lab fees comprise a considerable percentage of the clinic’s budget. This grant will support 100 new patients with four lab tests (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), Complete Blood Count (CBC), Lipid Panel, Hemoglobin (A1C) and 50 current diabetic patients with four lab tests performed annually (CMP, CBC, Lipid Panel, Hemoglobin A1C). The grant will also provide 50 current patients with hypertension with three lab tests performed annually (CMP, CBC, Lipid Panel) and specialized lab tests to 60 patients.
Cancer Navigators “Counseling, Nutrition & Transportation Project,” Lyndsay Claroni, DO- Rome, $5,000
Cancer Navigators serves as a complement to the medical expertise of cancer care providers in Floyd, Polk, Chattooga, Bartow, Gordon, Paulding, Whitfield, Murray and Walker counties by guiding those affected by cancer toward a better understanding of diagnosis and care while connecting them with needed resources and services – free of charge. CN’s Counseling Program supports the mental health of cancer patients by providing one-hour counseling sessions, with a licensed clinical social worker employed by CN, to patients who physicians have referred to CN specifically for counseling and who could not otherwise afford counseling. Many CN patients suffer from anxiety and lack a support system. There is not a per-patient limit to the number of sessions; the counselor evaluates each patient to determine his/her progress. CN hosts a weekly support group and patients who no longer require private counseling sessions are encouraged to attend.
In 2021, CN provided 3,560 services to 1,583 patients; most patients were female (70%) diagnosed with breast cancer and categorized as low-income, with 50% ages 40 – 64, 49% ages 65+, and 1% ages 20-39. Surveys of patient data indicate approximately 40% of Northwest Georgia cancer patients suffer financial insecurity related to the cost of cancer treatment, and over 90% of CN patients are classified as low income. This grant will provide 33 cancer patients each a one-hour counseling session, 25 cancer patients $100 in transportation assistance, and 34 patients a month’s supply of liquid nutrition
Group Prenatal Care in a Family Medicine Residency Clinic,” Monica Newton, DO- Gainesville $5,000
Group prenatal visits, like “Centering Pregnancy,” have been shown to decrease the rate of preterm and low weight babies, increase breastfeeding rates and improve prenatal visit attendance. The group prenatal care program at Northeast Georgia Medical Center will follow national models that bring together six to ten pregnant women at similar gestational ages to provide education, support, and skills training for a healthy birth and beyond. Each group will gather ten times: every four weeks in their second trimester and then every other week in the third trimester with one post-partum visit. NGMC FM residents have created an engaging educational curriculum that facilitates group discussion and learning at each visit. The group fosters an external support system for women that will last well beyond delivery.
This program will serve 24-40 pregnant women and their babies for the Northeast Georgia region each year. Some of the most vulnerable are those with low English fluency and those without insurance. The program will specifically target pregnant women from the Good News Free Clinic, Pro Salud (a indigent Hispanic partner clinic), the Family Medicine clinic, and the Hall County Health Department. Each group visit has three parts. It begins with the collecting and tracking personal health data to empower participants and expand knowledge base. Each participant will have individual private time with their physician for exams and questions. The session concludes in the group setting with healthy snacks, education, and skills training from experts on topics ranging from healthy prenatal nutrition to parental bonding. Mothers who attend the program will receive baby supplies and be invited back for a post-partum meeting. This project aims to overcome healthcare disparities by increasing breast feeding rates, while decreasing preterm births, low birth weights, and costly NICU stays.
“Community Outreach Resource and Empowerment (CORE) Project,” Alida Gertz, MD- Atlanta, $5,000
The Community Outreach Resource and Empowerment Program (C.O.R.E.) is an initiative of CORE Plus to help improve health and economic outcomes of some of DeKalb, Fulton and Clayton county’s most vulnerable citizens: low income families, seniors, veterans and the homeless. Homelessness in Atlanta has increased by 31 percent since the Covid-19 pandemic began. The CORE program, which is entering its second year, is addressing challenges such as job loss and food insecurities that are residual effects of the pandemic as well as other community challenges such as homelessness, under employment and the unique needs of homebound Senior citizens. Working hand-in-hand with a diverse and ever-growing group of like-minded community partners like Dr. Alida Gertz, CORE is providing hope and assistance to our most vulnerable citizens assisting them with toiletries, hygiene kits, PPE, clothing, bedding, food assistance, prescription assistance transportation and mental health services. CORE will serve 1,000 citizens with the requested funding.
Ujima Way “Camp Breakthrough 2022 For Those Experiencing Homelessness,” Antonio Williams, MD- Clayton County $5,000
Ujima Way is the only organization offering mobile outreach services to the homeless in Clayton County conducting street outreach five days a week throughout the year and providing hot meals and assistance to an average of 20 individuals per night. When examining the medical, mental health and substance abuse needs of clients during the 2021 Medical Monday’s initiative, the tremendous needs and gaps in services homeless individuals experience became apparent. Moreover, the barriers of insurance, fees, transportation, disparities, identification, and lack of funds prevent many from seeking or receiving the care and services they need. Ujima’s current caseload is comprised of multiple clients with a host of diseases and ailments such as, but not limited to, diabetes, various heart conditions, COPD, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, and various forms and stages of cancer. In regard to mental health, there are several diagnosed cases of Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, and PTSD.
Camp Breakthrough 2022 will bring Ujima Way partner service providers together to meet with and assess the various health, mental health, employment and housing needs and conditions of up to 20 homeless clients and develop coordinated and comprehensive strategies for providing needed care and services to transition them off of the streets and into safe and stable living arrangements.
These are just a few of the more than 100 community health projects GHFA has funded across Georgia since 2012.
To apply for a Community Health Grant, visit www.georgiahealthyfamilyalliance.org/grants/ to download a 2022 grant application or to view a list of previously funded community health grant projects.. The final deadline for 2022 is July 9.
Even if you do not have a community project that could benefit from a grant, please consider making a contribution so that the Alliance can continue to support these vital community projects. All donations are tax deductible. Alliance contributions can be made easily online at www.georgiahealthyfamilyalliance.org/donate/ or by contacting Alexis Klima at aklima@gafp.org or calling (800) 392-3841.