Rural Health Works
- Project Title: Southeast Georgia Obesity Prevention Network
- Program Representative Interviewed: Ursula Spence, Director of Programs
- Location: Vidalia, GA
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Program Overview: The Southeast Georgia Obesity Prevention Network was created in response
to high rates of childhood obesity in the community, which includes Montgomery, Toombs, and Treutlen
Counties, and the surrounding rural areas, in Southeast Georgia. The Network developed a childhood obesity
prevention program to instill healthy behaviors in children from an early age and used a family-centric
approach to reinforce these healthy behaviors within the home.
The Network works with local pediatric health providers and school systems to identify children who may benefit from the program. Through a partnership with Mercer University, the program provides virtual in-home sessions with a behavioral therapist for children and their families. Families work with one consistent behavioral therapist over the course of 8-12 weeks and participate in activities such as motivational interviewing to improve healthy behaviors.