353 Telfair Street
Augusta, GA 30901
Tel. (706)721-1040
Fax. (706)721-1048

 

 

Supported in part by project No. 2 H49 MC 00132-05-00 from the Healthy Start Initiative, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services.

  

Activities

The Dental Program
In an effort to promote proper dental care for children, the Augusta-Richmond County Community Partnership and the Richmond County Health Department have pooled resources. This pooling of resources has resulted in the purchase and maintenance of equipment, and the utilization of a dentist and a dental assistant to provide services in selected schools. The services include examinations, cleanings, fluoride treatments, and sealants, as well as referrals.

Children are required to have permission forms signed by a parent or guardian before any dental work is performed. This service is open to all students at each school.

This program has reduced the number of absences due to dental appointments, and has reduced the number of oral problems. The dental program has been in place since 1992, and the number of children participating increases every year. Approximately 1000 students are served annually.

Youth Programs
The Augusta-Richmond County Community Partnership has partnered with the Richmond County School System in the development, implementation and evaluation of after school and summer programs in Richmond County schools since its inception as the Family Connection in 1991. In addition, we assist school staff in identifying resources to support in-school and RCBOE-sponsored after school programs. Programs for 2002-2003 included a substance abuse prevention program at Barton Chapel Elementary School and a conflict resolution/anger management program for students identified by the Department of Juvenile Justice. In addition, the Partnership secured funding through the Children and Youth Coordinating Council to assist the Community Mental Health Center in its expansion of the Adolescent Substance Use/Abuse Treatment Program to families without resources (insurance or funds).

The Partnership also coordinates a Youth Council to provide support to the Partnership in identifying and addressing issues affecting the youth in our community. Education and leadership opportunities are also provided.

Perinatal Health Education Initiative
The Augusta-Richmond County Community Partnership formed a perinatal health education focus group, consisting of local (Augusta-Richmond County) representatives from major birthing hospitals, health departments, clinics, private providers, local health educators, and consumers. The initial meeting was held on July 12, 1999. The group meets on a regular basis to collaboratively assess the current gaps in perinatal educational services in Augusta-Richmond County, and create a series of action strategies that will be implemented to address those needs. As a result of several meetings, the group developed an initiative called "Partnering to Educate for Life" (PELI). The goal of this initiative is to strengthen and integrate existing family health education programs in Augusta-Richmond County to improve birth outcomes in the community. Click here to learn more about the (PELI) Initiative .

The group is currently looking at standardizing curricula for the various health education topics identified in its health education chart for perinatal health (you may want to put that chart in) so that no matter which community health educators provide workshops, all participants will receive the same core information. Consumers as well as perinatal health education providers are invited to join this group. For additional information or to join us, please contact Vikki Pruitt at (706) 721-4916 or vpruitt@arccp.org

Parent Support Group
The Augusta-Richmond County Community Partnership has formed a Parent Support Group, which meets on a monthly basis. These meetings give parents an opportunity to participate in health education and life skills workshops while learning how to raise healthy and happy children, and maintain a strong family. Parents meet in a casual and comfortable environment, where they can feel free to discuss issues, concerns, and success stories with each other. In addition, we solicit input from the parents regarding policies and programs that directly impact their lives.

Outreach
This activity improves access to services through recruitment and informational campaigns, which increase community awareness and knowledge of available services in the community. Outreach workers focus on specific populations or areas of concern and reach target populations through fliers, presentations, community events and referrals from other agencies. What makes this outreach unique, compared to other outreach services, is that the outreach workers canvass door-to-door (homes and businesses) in specific targeted areas of Richmond County. The outreach personnel also staff a "Warm Line" (721-1045), which is an information and referral community phone service, operating during business hours .

Case Management
 Case management is a goal oriented, collaborative process that improves access to care through assessment, planning, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of services required to meet a client's health and social wellbeing needs. The Partnership case management program focuses on family social concerns and supports the efforts of other community case managers in an effort to provide enhanced support to families through wrap-around services that maximize resources and reduce duplication of efforts. Our Case Managers complement other case management services in the community where there may be insufficient resources to address a family's concerns initially, in providing the follow-up necessary once the needs are identified, or in cases where an agency's mission and/or program guidelines limit the type or amount of services to be provided to a particular group.

Through the Richmond County Board of Education Title I Program, the Partnership provides follow-up services as needed to graduating Pre-K students and their families.

Case management services are currently funded through the following programs: Healthy Start Initiative (HRSA/MCHB), Family Support/Safe and Stable Families (DHR), the Richmond County Board of Education Title I Program, Barton Chapel Weed and Seed Initiative, Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Family Connection.