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

Salud es Vida Cervical Cancer Education

Updated/reviewed January 2024

• Need: To deliver information about cervical cancer to rural Hispanic women 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 2023

• 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.

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 Partnership 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.

Other Project Examples

Georgia Health Initiative's CDFI Investments

Updated/reviewed October 2023

• Need: Across Georgia, especially in rural areas, poor health outcomes and high poverty rates require strategic investments to reduce disparities and improve health across the state.
• Intervention: Georgia Health Initiative invests in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) working in Georgia to build a strong ecosystem of mission-driven community lenders focused on rural and low-income communities. The capital and capacity building provided by CDFIs support systemic change to reduce inequality and improve health across the state.
• Results: Since 2017, grants and Program Related Investments (PRIs) in CDFIs working in low-income, medically underserved rural communities have generated impact through stronger and growing Community Health Centers, expanded affordable housing, green energy loans and jobs, and growing small businesses owned by women and people of color.