“This is a snapshot of the kind of work that Emory Prevention Research is doing,” said April Hermstad, an organizer of the free, first-ever conference being held from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday at Albany’s Hilton Garden Inn.
With its partner since 2004, Southwest Georgia Cancer Coalition, the center focuses on community-based cancer prevention and the reduction of health disparities in a 33-county area in Southwest Georgia, with an eye to rural counties.
Study results, including interviews with Southwest Georgia pastors who brought a message of wellness into their sermons, will be presented during round-table discussions Tuesday afternoon.
Hermstad’s study, of the nutrition environments in rural communities, involved an examination of food stores in four counties — Brooks, Decatur, Sumter and Worth — to check the availability of fruits, vegetables and low-fat meats and compare it with residents’ dietary habits.
“We found, in general, there are a lot more convenience stores than grocery stores, and the selection is limited,” she said.
Another study presented Tuesday examines the “walkability” of rural communities, to see if people walk from place to place and whether things support or hinder walking.
Before the round table discussions, the center will present five $5,000 grants to Southwest Georgia organizations to implement tested health awareness programs.
The Berrien County Collaborative and Crisp County Community Council each are being awarded the grants to implement the “High 5 Low Fat” program, a culturally tailored dietary intervention program designed for black families, Hermstad said.
“The H5LF program would be a good fit and expansion of the Berrien County Parents as Teachers program because the curriculum aligns with the goal to help improve the health of our adolescent and teen moms during pregnancy and after the birth of their child,” Berrien coordinator Lauren Brady said in a statement.
Kathy Garwood, director of the Crisp council, said a recent report showing Crisp’s low ranking among Georgia counties for birth outcomes among minorities prompted the council’s grant application.
Also awarded $5,000 grants were the Cook County Commission for Children and Youth, to implement the “Treatwell 5-a-Day” program to encourage fruit and vegetable consumption, Southwest Georgia Medical Center Diabetes Management Center and SOWEGA Council on Aging.
“By implementing the ‘Little by Little’ intervention in our senior centers, we hope to motivate older adults to change one or two behaviors, therefore making a positive change in their health and well-being,” SOWEGA Wellness Coordinator Jami Harper said.
