Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Program’s mission is to improve the health of South Georgians by improving general awareness of chronic disease and by establishing policies and environmental changes to support healthy lifestyles related to chronic disease prevention, such as increased physical activity and improved nutrition.

Health Promotion Coordinators serve as a resource person in health education to enhance community wellness activities that focus on disease prevention. The coordinators are available to provide health related education to civic, fraternal, and service organizations, local businesses, schools, and churches of Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Tift and Turner counties. As a resource person, Health Promotion coordinators:

• Plan, implement, and evaluate health education programs
• Maintain an inventory of community based wellness programs and outcomes
• Gather and update listing of health department based health initiatives and outcomes
• Maintain current listing of various health related literature and national, state, and local health related data and statistics

Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Program services are available to all adult residents age 18 years and over who reside, work, or play in Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Tift and Turner counties. Osteoporosis screenings are not available for women under 35 or men 45-50 years of age.

Available services include:

• Educational booths for health fairs or seminars related to chronic disease prevention and disease management (e.g., cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, physical activity, nutrition, etc.)
• Painless Osteoporosis screenings using a Bone Density Machine
• Health education presentations and material related to chronic disease prevention and disease management.
• Information on how to start walking programs
• Tobacco Use Prevention information and education

Helpful Links

• www.americanheart.org – American Heart Association
• www.apha.org – American Public Health Association
• www.g-pan.org – Georgia Coalition of Physical Activity & Nutrition
• www.georgiacancer.org – Georgia Cancer Coalition
• www.grpa.org – Georgia Recreation & Parks Association
• www.healthfinder.gov – Health Finder
• www.hhs.gov – Health & Human Services
• health.state.ga.us/healthtopics/lhg.asp – Live Healthy Georgia Campaign
• www.mchpolicy.org – Maternal & Child Health Policy & Research
• www.mypyramid.gov – Dietary Guidelines for Americans
• www.nationaldairycouncil.org – National Dairy Council
• www.nhlbi.nih.gov – National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute
• www.niddk.nih.gov – National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive Kidney Disease
• www.nof.org – National Osteoporosis Foundation
• www.nutrition.gov – Nutrition Information for Americans
• www.obesity.org – National Obesity Association
• dhr.state.ga.us/gasmokefreeair – Georgia Smokefree Air Act of 2005
• www.strokeassociation.org – Stroke Association
• https://vimeo.com/152069969 – Tobacco Free Schools Initiative PSA

Traci Gosier, Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Coordinator

Contact Information:
Phone:  229-245-8758