The South Georgia Farmworker Project began in 1996 as a collaboration between the Emory Physician Assistant Program, Southwest Georgia Area Health Education Center (SOWEGA AHEC), and community partners in Brooks, Lowndes, Thomas, and Echols counties in south Georgia. In 1998, SOWEGA AHEC brought together the PA Program and partners in Decatur County, and the Project expanded to two weeks.
In listing partners and others who have helped, one runs the risk of neglecting to list everyone. Please view this list as a work in progress, and if your organization should be on the list, please tell us!
SOWEGA AHEC - Based in Albany, GA, SOWEGA AHEC is part of a statewide system of Area Health Education Centers in Georgia, and serves a multitude of counties in southwest Georgia. Their mission is to increase access to primary care services in rural underserved areas in Southwest Georgia through the recruitment, training, and retention of primary care health professionals.
The Georgia Farmworkers Clinic, Lake Park, GA - Started in response to the need for on-going services to farmworkers, this innovative clinic is currently open two days/week, with evening hours adjusted to increase access for farmworkers. They are the primary community partner for the Valdosta-based week of the Project. The clinic is located on land between two large packing sheds in rural Echols county, and near a trailer park utilized by many of the migrant workers in the area. Outreach staff from the Clinic continue to play a vital role in the Project, and were instrumental in helping develop the original outreach methods utilized by the SGFHP. They continue to provide Project guidance and liaison with growers in the community. Staff from Airport Medical Clinic, the organization running the GFC, have been very supportive of the Project.
Decatur County Health Department - The primary community partner for the Decatur county week of the Project, the DCHD provides on-going services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the community, in addition to other residents needing primary care services. The DCHD now has two mobile coaches (converted donated ambulances) so services can be taken to distant migrant camps. They offer evening and Saturday clinic hours during peak seasons to better accommodate farmworkers, and have a staff of dedicated interpreters and outreach workers.
The Ellenton Clinic - The Ellenton Clinic is a free standing clinic serving Farmworkers in Brooks, Colquitt, Cook and Tift counties. They provide a wide array of services, and are open full-time during the week with extended evening hours to accommodate farmworkers' schedules. They have been of great assistance to this Project through their ability to follow referrals from our northern Brooks county sites, and in their assistance in planning and interpreter recruiting for the same sites.
Brooks County Health Department - Support for the Brooks County Health Department was instrumental in the early years of the Project, as they assisted in supplies, tents, and other logistics for the young Project.
Southern Pine Migrant Education Agency (SPMEA) - SPMEA coordinates educational services for the children of migrant farmworkers in 20 south Georgia counties, and has assisted the Project in access to migrant children in school programs in the Valdosta and Bainbridge areas.
Archbold Medical Center - A regional medical center system, based in Thomasville, GA, Archbold has kindly donated the use of a large mobile coach for the Project's use every year. Their participation in this donation, and in support through smaller regional hospitals, has been greatly appreciated. Archbold Medical Center has also provided support to the SGFHP through its rural health outreach project (Southwest Georgia Multicultural Health Initiative) which targets Limited-English-Proficient populations in southwest Georgia.
Central Congregational Church UCC - Central UCC (Atlanta), has participated through involvement of its mid/senior high youth group and adult sponsors now for five years. Youth collect and organize clothing donations, and participate during the Decatur county week with clothing distribution and critical functions at the migrant summer school site in Attapulgus, GA.
Valdosta State University - VSU has had faculty and students participate as interpreters in the Valdosta-based project for a number of years. Their linguistic dedication is appreciated! In addition, student and faculty from the Masters of Social Work (Division of Social Work) joined the Project in June 2006. We look forward to having them back with the Project again. For more information about their students' participation, please see this reflection.
Telamon Corporation - Telamon provides training and educational programs for farmworkers. A number of their employees have assisted the Project in planning, and as volunteer interpreters.
South Georgia Medical Center (SGMC) - We appreciate the support of SGMC through their donations of supplies and arranging for the wonderful event tent to provide shelter from both the sun and the rain.
Valdosta Amigos - Amigos is an advocacy organization for Latino/Hispanic issues in Valdosta. Many of the interpreters for the SGFHP (Valdosta area project) are members of Amigos, and Amigos has helped the SGFHP build connections to various organizations in the Valdosta area.
Many churches and faith communities have supported the Project through feeding and welcoming the team of volunteers, and in providing volunteers for registration and other types of logistic support. A partial list of these wonderful churches :
St John the Evangelist / San Jose Mission, Valdosta
Morven Baptist Church, Morven
Airport Church of Christ, Valdosta
Forrest Park Church of Christ, Valdosta
The Echols County Ministerial Association and its member churches
Bethel Church of God
Sardis Baptist Church
Statenville Baptist Church
Statenville Methodist Church
Wright's Chapel United Methodist Church
The Potter's House - Casa Del Alfrero
First Methodist Church, Bainbridge
Bowen Baptist Association, Bainbridge
Salvation Army, Bainbridge
We express our appreciation to the growers of Echols, Brooks, Lowndes, and Decatur counties, who have allowed our large group onto their farms, and access to workers in their farms, camps and packing sheds. We appreciate their openness and concern for their workers. We appreciate the businesses that have also welcomed our team, notably Katie's Store in Lake Park, GA.
Finally, we express our appreciation to the farmworkers themselves. We recognize your contribution to the economy of Georgia, and to our lives. You teach us about life, as we provide the care we can for you. Thank you for allowing us to provide what we can for you.
If you would like to contribute time or products to the outreach Project, please let us know.