Pilot Planning Grant

Report summarizing key findings of focus groups assessing Georgians' attitudes and opinions regarding the development of a plan for providing affordable insurance coverage statewide

Using Systems Thinking in State Health Policymaking: An Educational Initiative

In response to limited examples of opportunities for state policymakers to learn about and productively discuss the difficult, adaptive challenges of our health system, the Georgia Health Policy Center developed an educational initiative that applies systems thinking to health policymaking. We created the Legislative Health Policy Certificate Program – an in-depth, multi-session series for law-makers and their staff – concentrating on building systems thinking competen-cies and health content knowledge by applying a range of systems thinking tools: behavior over time graphs, stock and flow maps, and a system dynamics-based learning lab (a simulatable model of childhood obesity). Legislators were taught to approach policy issues from the big picture, consider changing dynamics, and explore higher-leverage interventions to address Georgia’s most intractable health challenges. Our aim was to determine how we could improve the policymaking process by providing a systems thinking-focused educational program for legislators. Over 3 years, the training program resulted in policy-makers’ who are able to think more broadly about difficult health issues. The program has yielded valuable insights into the design and delivery of policy-maker education that could be applied to various disciplines outside the legislative process

Report of Data Analyses to the Georgia Commission on the Efficacy of the CON Program

A highlight of presentations and discussions during the Philanthropic Symposium on School Health held October 16, 2000 in Atlanta, GA.Community and Public Healt

Addressing Childhood Obesity in Georgia: Past, Present, and Future

Background: The Trust for America\u27s Health ranks Georgia 17th (16.5%) in the nation for childhood obesity prevalence among youth aged 10-17 years. Georgia has a long history of addressing childhood obesity at the state, regional, and local levels. This report outlines the historical efforts in childhood obesity in Georgia from the mid-1990’s to the present, summarizes current childhood obesity prevention and management strategies, and provides childhood obesity-related data relevant to the current strategies. Methods: Childhood obesity-related efforts in Georgia from 1996 to the present are documented, along with how these efforts led to the creation of Georgia Shape. The Georgia Shape Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative, created by Governor Nathan Deal in 2012, established a statewide, 10-year plan of action to address childhood obesity. It convenes more than 125 governmental, philanthropic, academic and business community partners quarterly to work towards reducing the incidence of childhood obesity and overweight in Georgia. Evidence supporting the Georgia Shape objectives is described, along with current program and policy efforts that may allow achievement of its goal of having 69% of Georgia’s children in a healthy weight range by the year 2023. Results: Georgia\u27s obesity rate for low-income, 2- to 4-year old children has decreased. Over the 2013-2015 school years, there has been no increase in BMI at the population level among school age children and youth, and the percentage of boys and girls with increased aerobic capacity has improved. Future efforts should focus on middle and high school students; engaging and educating parents of young children; and state policies that support safe, daily physical activity and access to healthy, local food. Conclusions: A long history of childhood obesity activities in Georgia has led to a strategic plan of action, with contributions from many stakeholders. These efforts aim to reduce the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in Georgia over 10 years

Report of CON Data Analyses

The Center conducted both a qualitative and quantitative assessment of 35 primary care organizations that target their health care services to uninsured and underinsured populations. The primary scope of this assessment is an inventory of safety net providers in the target counties and the scope and volume of services they provide

One percent of Medicaid Members Generate Twenty-three Percent of Expenditures

An argument for case management is presented which offers a strategy to reduce Medicaid expenditures without denying essential care to those in need