Georgia Models and Innovations

These stories feature model programs and successful rural projects that can serve as a source of ideas. Some of the projects or programs may no longer be active. Read about the criteria and evidence-base for programs included.

Effective Examples

Strong African American Families-Teen Program
Updated/reviewed May 2023

• Need: There is a lack of interventions that addresses teenager behavioral problems, particularly for rural African American adolescents.
• Intervention: Rural, locally trained leaders administered five 2-hour meetings for teenagers and their primary caregivers. Trainings focused on reducing risks that prevent positive development, specifically sexual risk-taking that can lead to HIV and other STIs.
• Results: Teens reported reduced conduct problems, depressive symptoms, and substance abuse. Families were strengthened, and SAAF-T reduced unprotected intercourse and increased condom efficacy.

Perinatal Health Partners Southeast Georgia
Updated/reviewed February 2023

• Need: In 12 rural southeast Georgia counties, high-risk pregnant individuals potentially face adverse birth outcomes, including maternal or infant mortality, low birthweight, very low birthweight, or other medical or developmental problems.
• Intervention: An in-home nursing case management program for high-risk pregnant individuals in order to maximize pregnancy outcomes for mothers and their newborns.
• Results: Mothers carry their babies longer and the babies are larger when born, leading to improved health outcomes.

Salud es Vida Cervical Cancer Education
Updated/reviewed January 2023

• Need: Hispanic women have the highest incidence rates of cervical cancer among any ethnicity in the United States.
• Intervention: The development of a lay health worker (promotora) curriculum that provided information on cervical cancer, HPV, and the HPV vaccine to Hispanic farmworker women living in rural southern Georgia and South Carolina.
• Results: Significant increases in post-test scores relating to cervical cancer knowledge and increases in positive self-efficacy among promotoras.

Meadows Diabetes Education Program
Updated/reviewed September 2022

• Need: To provide diabetes care and education services to those in rural southeast Georgia.
• Intervention: Diabetes outreach screening, education, and clinical care services were provided to participants in Toombs, Tattnall, and Montgomery counties.
• Results: Patients successfully learned self-management skills to lower their blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure.

Other Project Examples

Healthcare Georgia Foundation's CDFI Investments
Added December 2019

• Need: In rural Georgia, poor health outcomes and high poverty rates require innovative approaches.
• Intervention: As the only statewide private foundation in Georgia with the sole focus of improving health, Healthcare Georgia Foundation supports Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to do the same.
• Results: With a program related investment from the Foundation, 2 statewide CDFIs and 1 national CDFI are providing low-interest loans and other support to rural healthcare efforts.