Migrant Health, Homeless & Special Projects
- Georgia Farmworker Health Program (GFHP):
The Georgia Farmworker Health Program (GFHP) was created to improve the general health status of Georgia's migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFWs) and their families by:
- Providing cost effective, culturally appropriate primary healthcare
- Arranging for other levels of healthcare through collaboration and advocacy
- Working collaboratively with local organizations and groups
GFHP provides primary healthcare services for 21 rural counties at six sites:
| Site | Designated Affiliate/Locale | Counties Served |
| Bainbridge, Decatur County | Decatur County Health Dept. | Decatur, Grady, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas |
| Pearson, Atkinson County | South Central Primary Care Clinic | Atkinson, Coffee |
| Ellaville, Schley County | Ellaville Primary Medical Clinic | Crisp, Macon, Schley, Sumter, Taylor |
| Ellenton, Colquitt County | Ellenton Clinic | Brooks, Colquitt, Cook, Tift |
| Reidsville, Tattnall County | East Georgia Healthcare Center | Candler, Tattnall, Toombs |
| Lake Park, Lowndes County | Migrant Farmworker Clinic, LLC | Echols, Lowndes |
- Healthcare for the Homeless Program (HCHP)
The Healthcare for the Homeless Program (HCHP) provides primary healthcare services in Atlanta and Savannah, at such sites as shelters and soup kitchens. Services include:
- Treatment for minor illnesses/injuries
- Physical assessments/health screenings
- Evaluation of mental health status
- Referral for services not available on site
- Education on preventive healthcare practices
HCHP provides primary healthcare services at the following project sites in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia:
Atlanta St. Joseph’s Mercy Care Services, Inc. Mercy Clinic (downtown) St. Luke’s Mobile Unit Savannah J.C. Lewis Health Center Union Mission
Rural Enrichment and Access Program for Health (REAP) (GaREAP.mercer.edu)
REAP is supported through a unique public/private partnership with:
- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (www.rwjf.org) through the Southern Rural Access Program (www.srap.org)
- The Georgia Department of Community Health’s Office of Rural Health Services
- Mercer University School of Medicine (medicine.mercer.edu)
REAP draws upon the expertise of community leaders to identify local needs and craft plans to increase access to healthcare at multiple levels -- locally, regionally, and statewide for:
- Rural Health Leaders Pipeline – training health professionals to serve in rural Georgia
- Recruitment and Retention -- improving rural health recruitment and retention in Georgia
- Network Development --encouraging creative collaborative relationships among service providers and strengthening regional health systems
- Revolving Loan -- developing a community-driven strategic plan for healthcare delivery in rural Georgia communities
Georgia Statewide Area Health Education Centers Network (AHEC) (www.mcg.edu/AHEC)
Since 1992, the Georgia Statewide AHEC has represented a partnership of health providers, health professions students, educators, state agencies and communities joined together to provide educational support to health professionals throughout Georgia.
AHEC’s mission is to create and sustain community-driven, regional programs promoting healthcare access for medically underserved Georgians by improving the quality, diversity, education, supply, distribution and retention of healthcare professionals through six centers:
- Blue Ridge, Rome (www.blueridgeahec.rome.ga.us)
- Foothills, Gainesville (www.mcg.edu/ahec/fthills)
- Magnolia Coastlands, Statesboro (www.mcg.edu/ahec/mcah)
- SOWEGA, Albany (www.sowega-ahec.org)
- SPCC-Atlanta, Atlanta (www.atlantaahec.org)
- Three Rivers, Columbus (www.threeriversahec.org)
Networks for Rural Health
The Networks for Rural Health, funded by the Georgia Department of Community Health and directed by the Georgia Health Policy Center (www.gsu.edu/~wwwghp), is designed to help rural providers and community leaders build healthcare systems which:
- Are clinically relevant
- Are financially viable
- Improve healthcare of rural residents
- Provide access to the uninsured
- Improve overall health status
Program accomplishments can be divided into three main areas:
- Community health system development process
- Rural healthcare delivery system
- Population effects/improvements