25 LC 112 2681
House Resolution 90
By: Representatives Greene of the 154
th
, Yearta of the 152
nd
, Cheokas of the 151
st
, Taylor of
the 173
rd
, and Campbell of the 171
st
A RESOLUTION
Commending several churches for their work with Project Elevation; and for other purposes.
1
WHEREAS, Project Elevation is a faith-based community-driven health promotion and2
prevention program that serves the health care needs of rural communities in Southwest3
Georgia; and4
WHEREAS, a community health worker is a community-based front line public health5
worker who is a trusted member, or has an unusually close understanding, of the community6
served who builds relationships and capacity for health and well-being in underserved areas;7
and8
WHEREAS, this trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison, link, or9
intermediary between health and social services and the community, facilitate access to10
services, improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery, build individual11
and community capacity, and increase health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range12
of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and13
advocacy; and14
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WHEREAS, community health workers are a cross-sector workforce that connects
15
community members to health care and other social services, reducing barriers to health and16
well-being; and17
WHEREAS, Project Elevation has met the goals of improving health literacy, giving18
participants the power to take their health care decisions into their own hands and make19
informed decisions, assisting in navigating health care, and working to provide meaningful20
community-based participatory research; and21
WHEREAS, Project Elevation trained and enlisted 100 community health workers (identified22
as Health Champions), using 25 local churches from seven counties throughout Southwest23
Georgia; and24
WHEREAS, the program conducts monthly sessions held at each of the 25 churches; and25
WHEREAS, Project Elevation has screened 945 men for prostate cancer since 2022; and 26
WHEREAS, these screenings have resulted in identifying 7 percent of the respondents with27
an elevated PSA of 4.0 or above as well as several individuals who were diagnosed with28
prostate cancer; and29
WHEREAS, Project Elevation also served as a conduit to connect 32 percent of the30
participants with an elevated PSA to a primary care physician who did not have a provider31
prior to the diagnosis; and32
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WHEREAS, the examination of these participants provided important information on the
33
Social Determinants of Health for the participants with an elevated PSA, which helped34
address their risk factors; and35
WHEREAS, participants with an elevated PSA were also screened for colorectal and lung36
cancers; and 37
WHEREAS, Project Elevation has been instrumental in saving lives and having a positive38
impact on the health outcomes of men in its community; and 39
WHEREAS, Project Elevation provides health information, fresh fruits and vegetables from40
local community gardens, a large hen, and grooming services to each participant; and41
42
WHEREAS, Project Elevation was highlighted at the 2023 Georgia Cancer Summit.43
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that44
the members of this body commend Mt. Zion Baptist Church and its senior pastor, Rev. Dr.45
Pastor Daniel Simmons, for their vision to improve health status and health outcomes,46
advance efforts in health education, and promote health participation for men in Southwest47
Georgia.48
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body recognize the Albany49
Coalition of Churches, which includes faith houses in Dougherty, Mitchell, Sumter, Terrell,50
and Calhoun counties; Phoebe Putney Health Systems and its president and CEO, Scott51
Steiner, for their strong community support in providing clinical services; and the Morehouse52
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School of Medicine for its ongoing efforts to train community health workers in the Albany
53
community.54
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body honor the Samaritan Clinic55
for serving as a catchment clinic for those unable to secure services, Albany Cares for56
providing meals and other essential support to community members, and Grooming Gods for57
their commitment to offering grooming services as part of comprehensive health and58
wellness support for men participating in Project Elevation.59
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized60
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the61
public and the press.62
H. R. 90
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