GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH (DPH)

HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION DEPARTMENT:

ADOLESCENT HEALTH AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (AHYD) PROGRAM

PREPARED BY: MILLIE L. BRADY

INTRODUCTION

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is

• the lead agency in preventing disease, injury and disability;

• promoting health and well-being;

• and preparing for and responding to disasters from a health perspective.

MISSION

To protect the lives of all Georgians

HISTORYDEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

• More than 30 years of consolidation with other departments.

• General Assembly restored DPH to its own state agency in 2011

• DPH functions through numerous divisions, sections, programs and offices

• DPH funds and collaborates with Georgia's 159 county health departments and 18 public health districts

HISTORYADOLESCENT HEALTH AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (AHYD) PROGRAM

•Located in the Department of Public Health

•Established as a result of the teenage pregnancy prevention initiative funded by the Georgia General Assembly beginning in FY1998.

MAIN FUNCTIONS

DPH’s main functions include:

• Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

• Maternal and Child Health

• Infectious Disease and Immunization

• Environmental Health

• Epidemiology

• Emergency Preparedness and Response

MAIN FUNCTIONS CONT…

• Emergency Medical Services

• Pharmacy

• Nursing

• Volunteer Health Care

• the Office of Health Equity

• Vital Records

• and the State Public Health Laboratory.

DEMOGRAPHICS AND STATISTICSGeorgia Department of Public Health (DPH)

• 159 county health departments

• 18 public health districts

East Central Public Health District (ECPHD)

• 13 counties with a geographical

• Area of 5,326 sq. miles and a population of 434,314

• Public health nurses comprise the single largest part of Georgia's public health workforce.

DEMOGRAPHICS AND STATISTICS CONT…

• Over 629 pregnancies a year occur among teenage girls.

• More than 12 new pregnancies occur every week.

• Over one-fourth (29%) of teen pregnancies occur among girls who have already been pregnant at least once before.

• 40% of teen mothers do not graduate from high school and only 2% graduate from college.

• Children of teen mothers are at a higher risk of: having chronic medical conditions, problems in school, ending up in foster care, becoming incarcerated or continuing the cycle of teen parenthood.

DEMOGRAPHICS AND STATISTICS CONT…• Nearly 80% of fathers of children born to teen mothers do not

marry the mother.

• Two-thirds of families begun by a young unmarried mother are poor.

• Teen pregnancy cost Richmond County taxpayers approximately 15 million dollars in 2004.

• The Richmond County teen pregnancy rate declined by 14.6% be- tween 2007 and 2008.

• Provide certain programs for residents who are underserved

• Principally working residents between the ages of 18 to 64

• Uninsured.

POLICY AND PROCEDURESCODE OF ETHICS

• Uphold the Constitution, laws, and legal regulations of the United States and the State.

• Never discriminate unfairly by extending special favors or privileges.

• Make no private promises of any kind.

• Never use confidential information in the performance of government duties as a means of making a profit.

• Expose corruption.

• Report instances of code of ethics violations.

POLICY AND PROCEDURESCODE OF ETHICS CONT…

• Promote fairness, equality, and impartiality in providing services to clients.

• Safeguard and protect the privacy and confidentiality of clients’ health information, in keeping with the public trust and mandates of law.

• Treat clients and co-workers with respect, compassion, and dignity.

• Commit to the fulfillment of the organizational mission, goals, and objectives.

• Engage in carrying out the mission in a professional manner.

STRUCTUREGovernor

Nathan Deal

James Howgate

Chief of Staff

Brenda Fitzgerald,

MD Commissione

rCarole

Jakeway Dir, District and County Ops

Yvette Daniels Dir,

Health Promotion

Rick Keheley Inspector General, Interim

Kate Pfirman Chief

Financial Officer

Janie Brodnax

Chief Operations

Officer

Sid Barrett General Counsel

Ryan Deal Dir,

Communications

Paul W. Ruth Chief

Information Officer

Pat O’Neal, MD Dir, Health

Protection

GOVERNANCE

Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., serves as the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and State Health Officer.

She has the final say on all rules and regulations that come from the District Directors, before they are officially finalized by the Governor.

DISTRICT DIRECTORS• C. Wade Sellers, M.D., M.P.H.- Northwest Health District, District 1-1

• David N. Westfall, M.D., M.P.H., C.P.E.- North Health District, District 2

• John (Jack) D. Kennedy, M.D., M.B.A.- Cobb & Douglas Health District, District 3-1

• Patrice A. Harris, M.D. M.A.- Fulton Health District, District 3-2

• Alpha Fowler Bryan, M.D.- Clayton Health District, District 3-3

• Lloyd M. Hofer, M.D., M.P.H.- Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale Health District, District 3-4

• S. Elizabeth Ford, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.A.P.- DeKalb Health District, District 3-5

• Olugbenga O. Obasanjo, M.D., Ph.D.- District 4 Public Health (LaGrange)

• Lawton C. Davis, M.D.- South Central Health District, District 5-1

DISTRICT DIRECTORS CONT…• David N. Harvey, M.D.- North Central Health District, District 5-2

• Ketty M. Gonzalez, M.D., M.S.- East Central Health District, District 6

• Beverley Townsend, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.A.F.P.- West Central Health District, District 7

• William R. Grow, M.D., F.A.C.P.- South Health District, District 8-1

• Jacqueline H. Grant, M.D., M.P.A., M.P.H.- Southwest Health District, District 8-2

• Diane Weems, M.D.- Coastal Health District, District 9-1

• Rosemarie Parks, M.D., M.P.H.- Southeast Health District, District 9-2

• Claude A. Burnett, M.D., M.A., M.P.H.- Northeast Health District, District 10

FUNDING

• DPH receives both federal and state funds

• DPH receives grants

• DPH holds fundraising events

• Anti-bullying event took place on September 18, 2013

• DPH receives donations

• Monetary

• Non-monetary

FUNDINGADOLESCENT HEALTH AND YOUTH

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

• administered through a Memorandum of Agreement between Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS).

• provided to support the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based programs.

RELATIONSHIPS TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS/AGENCIES

• Georgia Trauma Commission

• Brain and Spinal Injury Commission

• Hemophilia Advisory Board

STRENGTHS

• Cares about its clients.

• Determining what types of services and/or intervention a specific client needs is necessary and top priority.

• Program plans are developed on an individual basis

• providing the clients with financial services, counseling services, educational programs and services such as the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, drug and alcohol education, relapse prevention, and developing a strong support network.

TRENDS

• Warm months

• Clients may stay away from getting assistance

• More willing to survive on the streets or stay with friends or family members.

• Colder months

• clients want to get help

• cannot handle the cold weather

• do not have the right needs to survive on the streets.

• Clients are more likely to seek assistance in the months that are warmer.

• WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

• More short-term clients in April-September, not many clients in October-March.

CHALLENGES

• DPH clients may withdraw from programs at any time.

• Lack of funds

• Lack of program participants

MY ROLE AS AN INTERN

My role as an intern is to observe, listen, learn and gain experience through observing my supervisor, therapists, and/or counselors interact with clients during group, individual, and gender sessions. It is also my role to be assistance to my supervisor with any administrative duties.

REFERENCES

• Georgia Department of Public Health. (n.d.). About dph. Retrieved from http://dph.georgia.gov/office-inspector-general

• Georgia Department of Public Health: East Central Public Health District. (2013). Teen pregnancy prevention services. Retrieved from http://www.ecphd.com/common/content.asp?PAGE=684