Programs and Services

The Mobile Health Unit (MHU) brings preventative healthcare services directly to underserved communities across Central Georgia. Services include cardiovascular risk assessments, diabetes and hypertension screenings, and health education, while providing hands-on clinical training opportunities for health sciences students at GCSU. The MHU is staffed by advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), RNs, and health science students in public health, nursing, and exercise science. Annually, we provide over 1,100+ hours of hands-on clinical experience to students and various healthcare services to Middle Georgia residents. 

The Center for Health & Social Issues provides comprehensive program evaluation services for state health initiatives, including technical assistance to public health districts and evaluation framework for research consortiums. Work includes developing data collection tools, quarterly reporting, and performance measurement systems to support evidence-based decision making and program improvement. We are currently involved and working with: 

Georgia Department of Public Health - Georgia Asthma Control Program (GACP) 

We worked with the GA Department of Public Health (DPH) to evaluate the extent to which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Asthma Control Program (NASP)’s EXHALE interventions have achieved intended program goals, what facilitated the successes, and what barriers were experienced.  

Results and Impact

The Center for Health & Social Issues provides evaluation and data support for the GACP, helping assess the reach, implementation, and outcomes of statewide asthma control initiatives. Project outputs have included a strategic plan, Individual Evaluation Plans (IEPs), quarterly Children’s Medical Services (CMS) reports, and evaluation of Asthma Self-Management Education (AS-ME) programming with annual reports. The Center has analyzed participant level data to examine asthma control, healthcare utilization, school and caregiver impacts, asthma knowledge, and self-management behaviors. Findings are used to identify areas for program improvement, strengthen data driven decision making, and inform strategies to improve asthma outcomes among children and families across Georgia. 

Georgia Department of Public Health - Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI) 

We developed and implemented a structured plan to provide technical assistance to 17 public health districts. Support included one-on-one sessions, districtwide workshops, and the development of resources (FAQs, user manual updates for their online reporting system) to improve data entry, reporting accuracy, and program implementation and fidelity. 

Results and Impact

Over the course of the Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI) evaluation partnership with the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), the Center for Health & Social Issues has strengthened statewide program monitoring, reporting, and evaluation capacity across participating health districts to support evidence-based chronic disease prevention. Key outputs include annual and quarterly evaluation reports, technical assistance plans, district specific progress monitoring forms, reporting guidance and technical assistance materials for the online statewide system used the health districts to document program planning, implementation, and outcomes, workplan reviews, evaluation workshops, data analysis, and statewide summaries of program implementation, reach, and outcomes. Together, these outputs support improved reporting quality, strengthen alignment between planning and implementation, and provide actionable information to guide continuous quality improvement across statewide HCI efforts.   

The Inclusive Cancer Care Research Equity (iCCaRE) Consortium Evaluation Core 

The Center for Health & Social Issues has joined the iCCaRE team to lead the planning and evaluation core to assess the impacts of a global prostate cancer research consortium. The planning and evaluation core of the iCCaRE Consortium plays a central role in monitoring consortium activities, fostering shared learning, and supporting continuous quality improvement. Our role is to develop and implement evaluation frameworks, tools, and reporting processes that track progress across cores and projects, while ensuring alignment with iCCaRE’s overarching mission to reduce prostate cancer disparities. Over the past year, significant strides have been made in advancing evaluation capacity and standardizing reporting across the consortium.  

Results and Impact

Key outputs to date from the partnership between the Center for Health & Social Issues and iCCaRE Consortium include development and testing of research instruments, publications and scientific presentations, community outreach, and prostate cancer education activities, clinical and community research initiatives, training and mentorship opportunities, and development of digital health tools and resources to support prostate cancer prevention, care, and survivorship. 

Research efforts focus on implementing evidence based interventions to address health disparities and promote healthy behaviors. Current projects include Food Service Guidelines (FSG) implementation across charitable food systems and institutions of higher education in Baldwin County, GA. As part of the US Cochrane network, the Center for Health & Social Issues conducted research addressing:  

1. Definitions of racial health equity 

2. Logic models and frameworks to centering racial health equity 

3. Interventions to reduce racial health inequities 

4. Interest holder engagement in evidence syntheses 

Food Service Guidelines (FSG) 

The CHSI is proud to have worked and developed Food Service Guidelines (FSG) for the North Central Health District to support Supporting Health Initiatives and Nurturing Equality (SHINE) program. CHSI implemented FSG across charitable food systems and institutions of higher education in Baldwin County, GA.  

Results and Impact

The CHSI partnered with the North Central Health District (NCHD) to support implementation of a CDC funded initiative focused on improving access to healthier food choices with a focus on charitable food systems and higher education settings. As part of this work, the CHSI developed and support the adoption of Health Eating Research (HER) Nutrition Guidelines, provided training on the HER Guidelines and Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP) tool, implemented nutrition ranking and recipe resources, and conducted food environment and vending assessments. The CHSI also developed behavioral design recommendations and vendor display materials, conducted a healthy vending consumer survey and taste-testing events, and supported efforts to increase the availability, visibility, and promotion of healthier food and beverage options in both local food pantries and on campus at Georgia College & State University. 

Racial Health Equity 

The Center for Health & Social Issues was part of the US Cochrane Network team award of approximately $1,000,000 to undertake research aimed at centering racial health equity in systematic reviews and other evidence synthesis products. Centering racial health equity implies concentrating or focusing attention on health equity in ways that bring attention to the perspectives or needs of groups that are typically marginalized. This resulted in the publication of a consensus building series in the prestigious Journal of Clinical Epidemiology which can be seen here: 

• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2024.111577 

• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2024.111574 

• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2024.111580 

• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2024.111583 

• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2024.111576 

• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2024.111575 

The Center for Health & Social Issues partners with local communities, government agencies, and community organizations to address social determinants of health and strengthen the places where people live, work, and thrive. Through collaborative initiatives, we help identify community needs, build local capacity, support neighborhood revitalization, and connect communities with resources and funding opportunities. 

Our community outreach efforts include co-convening community collaboratives, facilitating neighborhood revitalization projects, conducting community needs assessments, and supporting grant development and implementation. 

Community Initiatives 

CHSI has supported a range of community-based initiatives throughout Baldwin County, including: 

• Oconee Heights Mini Park - Supported the development and construction of a new neighborhood park, completed in 2025.  

• Annual Juneteenth Festival (Harrisburg) - Supporting community engagement and celebration through the annual festival.  

• Coopers Fall Festival & Neighborhood Park Redevelopment - Supporting community events and neighborhood revitalization efforts.  

Partnerships & Community Development 

CHSI partners with the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners (BOC) and other regional organizations to advance community revitalization and development efforts, including: 

Community HOME Investment Program (CHIP) Grant - 2024 

• $500,000 awarded through the BOC  

• Five home rehabilitation projects currently in progress  

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - 2024-2025 

• $2.5 million awarded through the BOC  

• $600,000 designated for housing initiatives  

• Five beneficiaries identified, with three projects completed and two planned  

 RAISE Grant - 2023-Present 

• $4.9 million in funding  

• Partnership between the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners, Middle Georgia Regional Commission, Georgia College & State University, and University of Georgia  

• Supporting the rehabilitation of Oconee Heights Road, including streets, streetlights, sewer infrastructure, and sidewalks  

Oconee Heights Mini Park - 2025 

• $100,000 in multi-donor support from T-Mobile, Georgia Power, GCSU, and the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners  

• Park construction completed in 2025  

Through these partnerships, the Center for Health & Social Issues works to transform community needs into meaningful, sustainable improvements that promote health, opportunity, and quality of life throughout Baldwin County.