The Georgia Healthy Family Alliance (GHFA) is currently seeking applications for the second cycle of the 2024 Community Health Grant Awards program. Grant awards of up to $5,000 are made to GAFP member affiliated community organizations that support program priorities including underserved populations and community projects that promote healthy practices. Current GAFP members including medical students, residents and active/ life members are eligible to apply. The application deadline for second cycle 2024 awards is May 14. Second cycle grant awards will be announced in June 2024.

Over the last twelve years, the Community Health Grant Program has given over $720,000 in grants back to GAFP members, residency programs, FMIG groups and their communities including Adult Disability Medical Healthcare’s (ADMH) “Get Fit and Be Healthy” project pictured at left and led by GAFP member Dr. Andrea Videlefsky.    

Visit www.georgiahealthyfamilyalliance.org/grants/ to download the 2024 grant application or view a list of previously funded grant projects.

Even if you do not have a community project that could benefit from a grant, please consider contributing so that the Alliance can continue to support these vital projects. All donations are tax deductible. Alliance contributions can be made easily online at www.georgiahealthyfamilyalliance.org/donate or via the QR code below.

Camp Blown Away is a six-night, five-day residential camp for youth aged 6-14 with an asthma diagnosis. The camp includes traditional camp activities such as s’mores, swimming, climbing, and making friends, while campers also learn more about their asthma diagnosis. Camp Blown Away will take place June 2-7 at Camp Will-A-Way in Winder, Georgia. The only cost associated with the camp is a $50 deposit which is returned when the camper arrives for check-in. Please email TK Humphries at tk@camptwinlakes.org to register (while spaces remain). Registration can also be completed through the QR code on the flyer. Camp Blown Away registration is filling up fast and ends April 30. Please share this information with your patients who may qualify! 

If you know of any summer programs that may be interested in including Tar Wars in their summer programming, please email the name of the program and, if possible, a contact person to Tar Wars State Manager Lauren Shamblin at lshamblin@gafp.org.

Tar Wars and Camp Blown Away are funded in part by a grant from the W.G. Raoul Foundation. The Foundation was established to address lung-related diseases in the State of Georgia and is particularly interested in pediatric asthma programs.

The Georgia Healthy Family Alliance (GHFA) awarded Community Health Grant Award applicants $50,000 in first cycle 2024 grants. Grant awards were made to GAFP member-sponsored community groups that support GHFA program priorities including underserved populations and programs that promote healthy practices. The application deadline for second cycle grants is May 14, 2024. Visit  www.georgiahealthyfamilyalliance.org/grants/  for more information or to apply. First cycle 2024 Community Health Grant recipients are:

Emory School of Medicine “Emory Farmworker Project”
Thien-Kim Le, MD -South Georgia
$5,000

The Emory Farmworker Project began in 1996 with a small group of Emory physician assistant students interested in rural medicine and providing care to the underserved community of migrant farmworkers in South Georgia. Today, the project provides free medical care to 2000+ migrant farmworkers and their families each year. This population faces many barriers to access care, including their income, work schedule and conditions, and lack of transportation. Volunteer staffconsistently sees hundreds of patients with musculoskeletal complaints each year. GHFA funds will allow for expansion of musculoskeletal treatments with 300 additional patients receiving treatment through the purchase of diclofenac gel, braces, splints and sleeves.

MercyMed Columbus “Expanding Access To Affordable Primary Healthcare in West Georgia”
Sarah Barr, MD -Columbus
$5,000

MercyMed of Columbus requests support for Mission Columbus clinic, which ensures primary care access for a severely underserved neighborhood in Columbus, Georgia. Residents living near the Mission Columbus clinic face significant healthcare barriers that have impacted the quality and length of their lives. Sadly, clinic neighbors live an average of 11 years less than Columbus residents living just a few miles away. Since adding staff and completing a major renovation in April 2023, MercyMed has been able to provide 47% more primary care visits at Mission Columbus, ensuring greater healthcare access and improved health for more underserved neighbors. Georgia Healthy Family Alliance grant support will be used to provide up to 5,800 primary care visits for 3,220 children and adults at Mission Columbus clinic during the project period.

Grace Village Medical Clinic “Refugee Clinic”
Scott Keller, DO – Dekalb County
$5,000

Grace Village Medical Clinic serves a low-income, uninsured refugee and immigrant population whose conditions can lead to severe outcomes if left unmanaged. Refugees are given only eight months of Medicaid after which most are uninsured with limited income. Grace Village patients comprise 54 nationalities, 150 ethnic groups and speak 47 languages.  The clinic sees 1500-2000 new refugees per year and many are in ill health.  Grace Village Medical Clinic provides free Doctors, Nurse Practitioners, Physicians Assistants, Nurses, Physical Therapists and Behavioral Therapists.  The clinic also provides free prescription and over-the-counter medications and free laboratory testing. GHFA funding will be used to purchase needed medications including Albuterol inhalers, OTC diclofenac gel and others.

MHUMC/HCA Family Medicine Clinic “Prolotherapy Injections Access for Chronic Musculoskeletal Conditions in the Underserved”
Sydney Koenig, MD -Savannah
$5,000

MHUMC/HCA Clinic patients have limited options available for the treatment of osteoarthritis and overuse musculoskeletal conditions due to insurance barriers regarding approvals for therapy, medications, and injections such as viscosupplementation. In addition, for patients with morbid obesity, surgical options for osteoarthritis are limited due to concerns with implant failures.  Dextrose prolotherapy is a novel injectable therapy that has been studied in both intra-articular and extra-articular applications and demonstrated success for osteoarthritis and overuse tendonopathies. The clinic has approved the use of dextrose prolotherapy; however, since this injection is not covered by insurance, patients have an out-of-pocket cost for the procedure. GHFA grant funds will help offset costs for this injectable therapy for patients thereby improving their pain, function, and quality of life when other options have failed or are not available.

Augusta University, “Free Dermatology Student Clinic Support and Expansion”
Michael Arnold, Medical Student – Augusta
$5,000

The Free Dermatology Clinic is a medical student-organized dermatology clinic that operates as a part of the Asociación Latina de Servicios del CSRA (ALAS) clinics serving those who are underinsured, uninsured, and living 200% below the poverty level. The clinic operates under the guidance of experienced volunteer dermatologists and pharmacists who supervise and mentor participating medical students, physician assistant students, and other medically qualified volunteers to provide the highest quality care to those who would not normally be able to access it. Grant funding will be used for equipment to appropriately evaluate patients including molescopes, surgical supplies for biopsies, and other bedside procedures. Funds would also be allocated to provide financial assistance to cover the costs of any necessary patient labs and prescriptions.

Floyd Foundation, “Youth Mental Health Initiative for Floyd County Public Elementary & Middle Schools”
James Collins, MD – Rome
$5,000

Floyd Healthcare Foundation recognizes the importance of mental wellness for both youth and adults and is launching a mental health initiative in local school systems, providing Positive Action curriculum to all elementary and middle schools in Rome City and Floyd County public schools, over 7,000 students, during the 2024-2025 school year. Positive Action is taught at every level of learning: cognitive, affective, and behavioral and brings the power of positiveness to participants so potential is reached and barriers are removed. Additionally, Positive Action provides youth the vocabulary and an understanding to communicate their emotions. The curriculum is also helpful to educators in teaching and discussing mental health and recognizing the need for interventions and clinical support. (It is different from the PBIS system.) GHFA funds will be used to purchase140 lessons for elementary grades with posters, music, activity sheets/booklets and other hands-on materials for facilitators.

“Improving Access To Primary Health Care With Medical Interpretation Services”
Andrew Kim, MD – Clarkston
$5,000

Over half of Clarkston residents were born outside the United States and one-quarter have limited English proficiency. This cultural and linguistic diversity creates significant healthcare access barriers – leading to low utilization of preventive services, unmanaged acute conditions, low medication and treatment plan adherence, and unmanaged chronic conditions. Ethne Clinic’s medical interpretation service ensures all Clarkston-area residents can receive high-quality primary care in their preferred language. Increased patient numbers and a higher percentage of patients with limited English proficiency have significantly increased usage of Ethne’s medical interpretation service. From September through November 2023, Ethne provided an average of 6,000 interpretation minutes per month – up from the 3,031 per month average in the prior year. GHFA funds will provide an estimated 5,600 medical interpretation calls (totaling 67,000 minutes) in more than 40 languages during the project period.

“Mercer University School Medicine Food Pantry”
Alice House, MD -Columbus
$5,000

The Mercer University School of Medicine Food Pantry began in January 2024. It is a stop-gap measure for students, faculty, and staff who need to supplement their food supply while waiting for their subsequent financial aid reimbursement or paycheck (whichever the case) on all Mercer School of Medicine campuses. The food pantry is also available to serve constituents when they cannot shop for food due to lack of time or are at school late at night without food. Due to the limited internal budget for this project, funding is needed to cover additional food items, cabinets to store the food, and staff to maintain the pantry on each Mercer campus.

Our House Integrated “Whole-Health Services for Underserved Children and Adults”
Beverly Taylor, MD -Atlanta
$5,000

Our House Health is the community healthcare programming of Our House Inc., an Atlanta homeless services nonprofit. Our House Health provides essential physical and mental healthcare services for around 2,500 medically underserved patients annually, most of whom are experiencing homelessness. Our House advances patients’ health and wellbeing by addressing the social drivers of health with care coordination, integrating with other Our House’s programs and connecting patients with permanent medical homes for long-term access to care.

GHFA funding will support the cost of prescriptions, transportation assistance for patients who lack access to reliable transportation to access the clinic, lab service fees to complete needed laboratory work for patients, and language interpretation services to provide necessary on-site language interpretation for patients.

“Harvesting Hope: Addressing Mental Health Disparities Among SE Georgia’s Migrant Farmworker Community”
Susana Alfonso MD – Southeast Georgia
$5,000

The “Harvesting Hope” project, spearheaded by the Emory Department of Family and Preventive Medicine Behavioral Medicine Program, endeavors to address mental health disparities among Southeast Georgia’s migrant farmworker community. Migrant farmworkers in Southeast Georgia confront significant psychosocial stressors and mental health/substance use issues, compounded by limited access to resources. Based on assessments from 2023, an estimated 35% of migrant farmworkers who presented for physical health conditions also needed targeted mental health interventions. Despite Emory University’s sponsorship, the program relies entirely on self-funding, primarily through donations.

This GHFA grant is pivotal for enhancing mental health services for migrant farmworkers, specifically allocating funds for Behavioral Medicine trainee and translator participation. The grant will support continuing education, mental health translator training, curriculum development and the dissemination of project information.

The Georgia Healthy Family Alliance (GHFA) is currently seeking applications for the second cycle of the 2024 Community Health Grant Awards program. Grant awards of up to $5,000 are made to GAFP member-affiliated community organizations that support program priorities including underserved populations and community projects that promote healthy practices. Current GAFP members including medical students, residents and active/ life members are eligible to apply. The application deadline for the second cycle 2024 awards is May 14th. Second-cycle grant awards will be announced in June 2024.

Over the last twelve years, the Community Health Grant Program has given over $720,000 in grants back to GAFP members, residency programs, FMIG groups and their communities including Adult Disability Medical Healthcare’s (ADMH) “Get Fit and Be Healthy” project (pictured)  and led by GAFP member Dr. Andrea Videlefsky.   

Visit www.georgiahealthyfamilyalliance.org/grants to download the 2024 grant application or view a list of previously funded grant projects.

Even if you do not have a community project that could benefit from a grant, please consider contributing so that the Alliance can continue to support these vital projects. All donations are tax-deductible. Alliance contributions can be made easily online at www.georgiahealthyfamilyalliance.org/donate  or via the QR code.

(L-R) Principal Nathan Gerrells, Dr. Shaina Alleyne, Lauren Shamblin, Dr. Michael Carpenter

On Tuesday, February 27, presenters visited Lumpkin County Middle School to present Tar Wars. It was a resounding success! Presenters included Dr. Michael Carpenter, Dr. Shaina Alleyne, and Tar Wars Statewide Manager Lauren Shamblin. More than 300 6th-grade students were educated through Tar Wars in this event. All three presenters commented that the students were attentive, engaged, and asked many relevant questions to increase their knowledge of vaping and tobacco use. While Tar Wars’ main focus area is elementary school students, this specially designed presentation for middle school helps them understand the dangers of tobacco use, how their brain can be sabotaged by addiction, and ends with cessation resources that students can use themselves or share with others in their lives. As we continue to spread Tar Wars across the state, hopefully, more students will have the opportunity to hear from these presenters and others!

Remember that if you are interested in bringing Tar Wars to your community, the first step is to reach out to Statewide Manager Lauren Shamblin at lshamblin@gafp.org. The more students who see Tar Wars, the closer we are to a healthier Georgia!

Millions of America’s youth are being harmed by the pervasive use of flavored vape products that have flooded the market in recent years. The 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey stated that nearly 90 percent of youth who use e-cigarettes or vapes are utilizing a flavored version; mostly fruity/sweet flavors, but minty and menthol varieties are also being used. This is a huge issue, as vaping has been linked to many detrimental health effects. Problems such as nicotine addiction, mental health problems, lung damage, and heart disease have all been found in young people after the use of vaping products.

Since flavored tobacco products have a proven track record of enticing young users, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids has started a petition to urge the FDA to take action against these products. The petition specifically targets flavored e-cigarettes, flavored cigars, and menthol cigarettes. To add your name to the supporters of this petition, visit https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/get-involved/fda-flavor-petition-2022. You can also sign up to receive emails from Tobacco-Free Kids to learn more about how you can support their work.

If you want to do more to help Georgia’s youth learn the dangers of vaping, sign up to be a Tar Wars presenter! Email the Statewide Tar Wars Manager, Lauren Shamblin, at lshamblin@gafp.org to get started today.

Long-time Georgia Academy members have played an instrumental role in advancing our mission to advance family medicine and support our patients in communities across the state.  As current leaders of the GAFP’s Foundation (Georgia Healthy Family Alliance), we are reaching out to share an opportunity that can further amplify the impact of GAFP members who qualify while optimizing their tax benefits.

You may already be familiar with the IRA Charitable Rollover, a provision that allows donors like you to contribute directly from your IRA to qualified nonprofits, such as the Georgia Healthy Family Alliance. However, we wanted to bring to your attention a specific aspect of this opportunity that can significantly benefit both our organization and your financial planning strategy.

Upon reaching the age of 73, the IRS mandates that retirees begin taking minimum distributions from their IRAs annually. These distributions are typically subject to income taxes, thereby reducing the overall value of your retirement savings. However, through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), you can roll over funds of up to $100,000 from your IRA directly to our foundation without incurring taxes on those funds.

By leveraging this provision, you can not only fulfill your required minimum distribution but also make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families across Georgia. Your support will enable us to continue our vital work, including awarding grants to community health projects addressing critical issues such as diabetes, obesity, women’s health, and youth smoking cessation through programs like Tar Wars.

In light of the ongoing challenges posed by health disparities and emerging public health threats, your generosity has never been more essential. Together, we can advance our shared vision of healthier communities and brighter futures for all Georgians.

Should you wish to explore this opportunity further or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Executive Director, Fay Fulton, at 404-321-7445 or ffulton@gafp.org.   Additionally, you may contact Robert Nix of Peachtree Wealth Strategies, who manages all of our stock donation transfers, at 404-218-5739 or rnix@peachtreews.com.

We understand the importance of informed decision-making, so we encourage you to consult with your tax advisor to determine the best course of action for your individual circumstances.

Thank you for your steadfast commitment to our cause. Together, we can make a profound and lasting impact on the health and well-being of communities throughout Georgia.

Mitzi B. Rubin, MD, FAAFP – Marietta                                             
President    
Georgia Healthy Family Alliance  

Patrick J. (“PJ) Lynn, MD – Rome                       
Vice President
Georgia Healthy Family Alliance

Are you looking for a way to give back to your community? Have you been on the fence about training for Tar Wars? Did you do Tar Wars in the past and are considering getting back into the swing of it? Now is the time to jump in headfirst! We have upcoming presentation opportunities in Dawson County and in Savannah that will need presenters. Presenting Tar Wars is easy, fun, and gives you the opportunity to interact with students in your local community in a way that you may not usually get to.

To be eligible to present Tar Wars, you will need to go through a short training session. This can be scheduled with our Statewide Tar Wars Manager Lauren Shamblin at https://calendly.com/tarwars, or through email at lshamblin@gafp.org. Please consider jumping in and making a difference through Tar Wars!

Kaneisha Smith works for the Northwest Georgia Regional Cancer Coalition, and one of her responsibilities is presenting Tar Wars to Northwest Georgia! Kaneisha sat down with Lauren Shamblin, Statewide Manager for the Tar Wars program, to share her experiences.

Tell us a little about yourself!

Hi! I’m Kaneisha Smith and I currently work for the Northwest GA Regional Cancer Coalition. I was born and raised in Rome, Georgia. My educational background is in psychology with degrees from UGA and Capella University. In my free time, I run a dog treat business called Mr. Pickles Dog Bakery. When I’m not doing that, I enjoy spending time walking in nature, baking, or reading webcomics.

What has been your experience with Tar Wars? 

I have heard the Tar Wars presentation delivered to a group of children a few times, but I’m very new to teaching it myself. Most of the presentations I’ve given have been with elementary-aged children, and they LOVE asking questions to learn more. Much of their curiosity stems from what others may have told them, or what they’ve seen. I feel like I’m making a difference in their education by teaching them the truth about tobacco.

Do you have a good memory or interesting experience you can share? 

After one presentation, a girl with asthma asked me how cigarettes can impact breathing. Since I struggle with asthma as well, I connected with her on the importance of using her inhaler and used my Tar Wars knowledge to educate her on how cigarettes could further impact her ability to breathe.

What would you say to someone who is considering becoming a Tar Wars volunteer presenter? 

Unfortunately, most children have family members using cigarettes or vapes. However, being able to provide these children with information on the dangers of such products helps them to be able to make healthier decisions. Volunteering to deliver Tar Wars is a great way to help educate the youth with facts from a reliable source, especially since they are probably unaware of the actual dangers of tobacco.

Good news! In 2023, the GAFP’s Foundation (Georgia Healthy Family Alliance) received an unprecedented amount of donations to support our Immediate Needs Grants – targeting underserved and/or rural communities.

No one knows better than our members the needs that would give an immediate boost to your community.  We have been challenged to give out up to 50 ($50,000) Immediate Needs Grants before the end of March.

We invite you to apply for a grant (OR have someone apply for it – with your permission as the “member-sponsor”).  It takes less than 15 minutes to apply, and the money is sent out within 3-5 business days.

Recent grants have supported:

• Re-tooling of a home for a medically fragile child
• Transportation Assistance
• Food Assistance
• Prescription Assistance for the Elderly
• Domestic Violence Shelter Needs (formula/diapers)
• Medical Supplies for Schools
• Backpacks for weekend meals for Title I schools

The Immediate Needs Grant application can be submitted electronically by clicking here: https://form.jotform.com/232705001403135. In addition, you can also scan the QR code below to complete the application. Questions? Contact Kara Sinkule – ksinkule@gafp.org or call 404-321-7445.

Tar Wars is off to a great start this year, with presentations having already taken place at Lakeview Academy in Gainesville! The presenters and school counselor reported that Tar Wars was a hit with the students. Students were engaged in the presentation, had a great time, and said that they learned more about smoking and vaping than they knew previously. Thanks to our presenters Dr. Maria Munoz-Bramhall and Samantha Summers for covering this event and making it a hit!

This is just the beginning! Upcoming are presentations scheduled in Lumpkin, Bibb, and Savannah-Chatham. As Tar Wars continues to grow and spread across the state, we will need more support from volunteers willing to be trained in presenting. Please email Lauren Shamblin, our Statewide Tar Wars Manager, at lshamblin@gafp.org or set up a meeting through Calendly (https://calendly.com/tarwars) and you too can make a difference through Tar Wars!

In 1988, the American Academy of Family Physicians launched Tar Wars, a comprehensive tobacco education program that teaches students the dangers of utilizing tobacco products. Since that time, hundreds of thousands of students nationally have gone through Tar Wars and been impacted by its message.

Tar Wars has recently gotten a facelift, with a new emphasis on the impact that vaping can have. The newly improved program is interactive, engaging, and based on facts that help students understand the material in a novel way. In 2021, Governor Kemp signed House Bill 287 which requires tobacco and vaping education in all Georgia public schools. Tar Wars is the leading way that this information is passed on to students.

To help celebrate Tar Wars and engage more schools in the program, timers are being sent to schools in Georgia with the tagline “It’s Time for Tar Wars!” We hope that this interactive element will help principals and counselors remember Tar Wars and sign up their schools for a presentation!

Are you interested in being a part of Tar Wars history? Sign up to be a presenter! Email Lauren Shamblin at lshamblin@gafp.org to schedule a training or get more information about how you can make an impact in your community through Tar Wars.