Share Health Southeast Georgia received $20,000 from the Georgia Health Foundation in 2025 to develop a lay health worker program, specific to the unique needs of women in Evans and Tattnall Counties in rural southeast Georgia. The goal of the Women's Wellness Network (WWN) Lay Health Worker Program is to provide women with knowledge and information to assure quality, comprehensive, and equitable health education and support services they need to lead healthy lives. Lay health worker programs are evidence-based strategies that train and deploy trusted messengers in communities to address access barriers to health care and encourage lifestyle changes that result in improved health for residents. Renamed the Community Resource Worker program, Share Health piloted this training program on January 12.  Thirteen individuals enrolled in the program, representing Appling, Candler, Evans, Tattnall counties. The first session focused 

on roles and responsibilities of community health workers and ethics and confidentiality.  

Barbara Bruno facilitated the session. Using her 30+ years of experience in community outreach 

and advocacy, guest speaker Andrea Hinojosa, Executive Director of Southeast Georgia Communities Project, spoke to the group about confidentiality and the role of community outreach workers in facilitating access to services for the underserved.  The second session on January 26th engaged the group in a discussion of social determinants of health and local barriers to services.  It included a panel discussion with Johanna Gay (Outreach Manager, East Georgia Healthcare Center), Wendy West (Clinal Director, Good Health Ministries) and Lisa Rigdon (Executive Director, Candler County Family Connection/The Bridge). The third session on February 2nd provided and overview of chronic disease trends in local communities and statewide with an emphasis on diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension. This session was co-facilitated by Share Health Board Member and Candler/ Evans Family and Consumer Sciences Agent with UGA Extension, Ashleigh Geurin. The fourth session on February 9th provided an overview of Breast and Cervical Cancer data and resources this session was co-facilitated by Dr. Rebecca Spahos, Share Health Board Member and General Surgeon at Evans Memorial Hospital, and Kim Tatum with Tattnall County CARES. The fifth session on February 23rd was presented by Pineland BHDD. Sarah Refuss, Community Outreach Coordinator, and Jo-Anna Boutwell, Clinical Manager, shared an overview of trends in behavioral health, resources in local communities, and emphasized self-care for the CReW. The sixth and final session was facilitated by Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission - Area Agency on Aging. Lynn Joyner, Dementia Care Specialist / Caregiver Specialist, Eleanor Pye, Program Manager, and Dina McDonald, Dementia Team Lead, provided trainings on Dementia Friends and educated them on local senior services. The training concluded with a graduation ceremony of the CReW.

On June 8th , we hosted the quarterly CReW workshop focused on maternal and child health. This training brought together 10 community stakeholders dedicated to strengthening maternal and child health outcomes across our region. The day included an overview of maternal and child health statistics, barriers, and social determinants of health led by Terika Williams, Share Health’s Community Engagement Coordinator. Attendees also engaged in a presentation on Maternal and Child Health in rural South Georgia with an emphasis on East Georgia Healthcare Center’s (EGHC) services led by Charla Clifton, Mental Health Care Representative with EGHC. A comprehensive systems overview was provided by the Southeast Health District/Department of Public Health team, highlighting key programs and services including the DPH Home Visiting Program, Children 1st, Babies Can’t Wait Georgia’s Early Intervention Program, Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, Healthy Families, and the Children’s Medical Services Program. These presentations were led by Holly Mobley, Synita Mathis, Rhonda Hughes, LaToya Hamilton, Alexis Adams, and Michelle Garrett, each offering valuable insight into the continuum of services available to support maternal and child health. The day ended with South Georgia Healthy Start who provided an overview of services and discussed maternal mental health awareness and supports, presented by Lacey Everett and Kasey Rogers. Their presentation emphasized the importance of early intervention, community support, and improving access to care for mothers and families.

Share Health extends sincere gratitude to all of our community partners who contributed to the CReW trainings, for their expertise, collaboration, and continued commitment to serving families across Southeast Georgia. We look forward to continuing these collaborative efforts in the future!