North Central Health District

Hancock Health Improvement Partnership Receives Second Round of Funding from Healthcare Georgia Foundation

Posted July 31, 2018 by Michael Hokanson

Hancock Health Improvement Partnership (HHIP) has received a second round of funding from Healthcare Georgia Foundation (Foundation) through The Two Georgias Initiative. HHIP’s leading organization, North Central Health District (NCHD), was one of 11 organization to receive $100,000 of the $1.1 million awarded through The Two Georgia Initiative.

In a statement from the Foundation, Gary Nelson, PhD, Foundation President said, “The Two Georigas Initiative grant awards enhance opportunities for Georgia’s rural communities to create the conditions that reverse unfair and avoidable differences in health.”

HHIP is a group of citizens, businesses, organizations and other partners working together to improve Hancock County. The partnership was established to identify the county’s health and healthcare issues related to health and health outcomes. The additional funds provided by The Two Georgias Initiative will help implement HHIP’s Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) by funding community activities that will help support the CHIP’s goals and promote health equity across the county.

“I am extremely happy that we have received additional funding for the next phase of HHIP,” said Annie Ingram, Vice-Chair of HHIP and Chair of the Hancock Board of Education. “We have had a year to plan, and I’m ready to put the plan into action. I hope this is the beginning of changing the health conditions and attitudes about health throughout our community.”

Over the past year, HHIP has been working with leaders, residents and organizations throughout Hancock County to discover priority areas based on the needs of the community. Once the partnership identified the healthcare and opportunity gaps facing Hancock County and developed their CHIP, workgroups were created to tackle the three recognized priority areas: economic development, healthy environments and literacy. A full copy of the partnership’s CHIP will soon be available for public review and comment on the HHIP webpage, NCHD52.org/HHIP.

“We’re looking forward to putting our health improvement plan into action during our second year of work,” said Julia Vinton, HHIP Coordinator and Health Educator with NCHD. “Everyone in the partnership is eager to provide opportunities for our community to learn about what’s involved in getting healthy and staying healthy. We want Hancock County to be excited about what we’re doing and for every individual to feel empowered to work toward a healthy lifestyle, a healthy family and a healthy community.”

As HHIP begins implementing their CHIP over the next year, the group plans to focus on increasing access to books and literacy resources, providing physical activity events, offering nutrition education and promoting community gardens across Hancock County.

The partnership has expanded over the past year to include more individuals that can provide input and shape the future of health in Hancock County. Beginning with only seven members, the partnership has built contacts during its initial year and as a result has grown to 40 members. Any individual, group or organization interested in improving Hancock County is encouraged to join HHIP. For more information about the partnership, visit NCHD52.org/HHIP, call 478-550-2483, email HancockHIP@gmail.com or contact the group through their Facebook page, @HancockHIP.

 

About the Hancock Health Improvement Partnership

The Hancock County Health Improvement Partnership is funded by a grant from Healthcare Georgia Foundation. Created in 1999 as an independent private foundation, the Foundation’s mission is to advance the health of all Georgians and to expand access to affordable, quality healthcare for underserved individuals and communities.

About Healthcare Georgia Foundation

Healthcare Georgia Foundation is a statewide, private independent foundation located in Atlanta, GA that was established in 1999. Through strategic grantmaking, the Foundation supports organizations that drive positive change, promotes programs that improve health and healthcare among underserved individuals and communities, and connects people, partners and resources across Georgia.