Nearly 70 health policy and research initiatives are undertaken every year by the Andrew Young School’s Georgia Health Policy Center. Here are a few examples that foster improvements in health and well-being throughout the state:
- The Georgia Health Policy Center and partners have provided technical assistance to 115 elementary, middle and high schools through Georgia SHAPE, the state’s childhood obesity initiative, affecting about 95,000 children. The technical assistance provided through the program guides each participant to institute effective and sustainable physical activity and implements nutrition policy, systems, environmental changes and programs that are desirable for students, staff, administrators, parents and community partners.
- The Georgia Health Policy Center assists with evaluations for the Department of Community Health’s Medicaid demonstration program, Money Follows the Person. The program will help more than 2,700 Georgians with developmental and physical disabilities and others living in institutions return to their homes and communities.
- Georgia Health Policy Center researchers conduct health-impact assessments and have identified ways low-income housing tax credits can be used to support healthful affordable housing development. In Georgia, the 2015 Qualified Allocation Plan Health Impact Assessment found that steering affordable housing development toward areas identified as lower risk or higher opportunity could help up to 200 individuals per year live longer, healthier lives.
- Researchers work with the Georgia Apex Project to build infrastructure and increase access to mental health services for school-aged youth in 29 public schools throughout Georgia.
- In response to legislative requests for objective information on health policy, financing and coverage, the Georgia Health Policy Center offers a health policy certificate program for Georgia lawmakers. This eight-session program provides comprehensive training and information that enables officials to weigh the complex variables involved in making health-policy decisions that affect Georgians. Since 2008, more than 120 legislators and their staff have participated in this program
- The Georgia Health Policy Center oversees five groups responsible for implementing the state’s comprehensive cancer control plan. More than 80 stakeholders from around the state have participated in the work groups facilitated by the center.