Nomination forms are due to Margaret Bean by August 1, 2008!

Maggie Kline Award
The Maggie Kline Award was established in 1989 to honor Maggie Kline who coordinated the Continuing Education Program for Public Health Nurses in Georgia for several years. The Maggie Kline Award is specifically designed for a Public Health Nurse or a Public Health Nurse Specialist who fulfills the nursing role in service delivery to public health clients and families through application of the Basic Skills Assessment Course. Download nomination form

Barfield Award
The Barfield Award was initiated by the Nursing Section of the Georgia Public Health Association in 1983 to honor Dorothy Barfield, who served as the Chief Nurse at the State level. The purpose of this award is to recognize papers that promote public health by contributing to public health issues, programs, and philosophies. Download nomination form

Environmentalist of the Year Award
The Environmentalist of the Year Award is an Environmental Health Section Award to recognize outstanding achievement and service in the field of Environmental Health. Download nomination form

Mental Health Worker of the Year Award
The Mental Health Worker of the Year Award was established in 1984 to honor an individual who had exemplified outstanding contributions in the field of mental health, mental retardation, and substance abuse. This award is presented by the Behavioral Section. Download nomination form

Office Personnel Outstanding Service Award
The Office Personnel Outstanding Service Award was first given in 1989. This award is presented to a member of the Office Personnel Section who has demonstrated exceptional merit to enhance Public Health’s Administrative services, promote the office personnel section and serve the community. Download nomination form

Larry W. Miller Health Information Specialist of the Year
The Health Information Specialist of the Year started in 1998 and is presented to a member of the Information Systems and Health Assessment Section. The Health Information Specialist of the Year Award was established to recognize individuals for their professional contributions to managing, analyzing, producing and communicating health information. Download nomination form

Primary Health Care Leadership Award
The Primary Health Care Leadership Award was first awarded in 1998 and goes to a member of the Primary Health Care Section who has excelled in enhancing primary care systems to increase access to services. Download nomination form

Janet Stancliff Award
The Epidemiology Section of the Georgia Public Health Association voted in 1987 to establish an annual award to be presented to an individual who had contributed to the support of community epidemiologists throughout the state. In October 1993, this award was renamed in honor of Janet Stancliff, desk clerk, at the STD State Office who had very efficiently and effectively promoted the collection of critical data by epidemiologists statewide. In 1999, the award was expanded to include nominations of Communicable Disease Specialists and others who have made outstanding contributions to the control of communicable diseases in the State of Georgia. Download nomination form

Al Dohaney Award for Community Service
The Al Dohany award for Community Service is in honor of a Public Health Leader, Al Dohany, who was highly respected among his peers and who made great contributions to the promotion of public health through his work with family connection and community groups at the local level. This award is a Public Health Association Award and was established in 1999. This award is presented annually to an individual who has made a positive contribution to community health through collaboration with the community and its leaders. This contribution involves encouraging a collaborative approach with existing community entities that is essential to realizing the long term health outcomes of a community while recognizing the importance of communities and celebrating the diversity that makes a community vital. Download nomination form

Jules S. Terry Memorial Award
The Jules S. Terry Memorial Award was established by Dr. Terry to recognize an individual whose work has contributed to broaden the provision of health services to individuals. Dr. Terry’s request was that the award not have a relationship to position or discipline, but would be open to all. This award is presented as a cash award with recognition plaque and a cumulative plaque which hangs in the Division Director’s Office. The funds are managed through the Atlanta Community Foundation, with a Funds Manager appointed to serve as ExOfficio of the Annual Selection Committee which is specified within the resolution to establish the award. Download nomination form

Rosemarie B. Newman Nutrition Extra Mile Award
This award recognizes a public health employee for making significant contribution(s) in the delivery of nutrition services in the community. This award was established in 1999. Download nomination form

Georgia Dental Public Health Award of Merit
The Georgia Dental Public Health Award of Merit was initiated in 1989. The Award is presented to an individual or organization by the Oral Health Section, Georgia Public Health and the Medical Dental Section, Georgia Public Health Association for outstanding services and contributions to the Georgia Dental Public Health Program nationally, regionally, statewide, and/or locally. Download nomination form

Maternal and Child Health Community Service Award
The MCH Community Service Award was initiated by the Maternal and Child Health Section of the Georgia Public Health Association in 2003. The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual in the community who has made an exceptional contribution to the health and well-being of mothers and children in Georgia. Download nomination form

Kathy Miner Award
The Kathy Miner Award of the year is an award to recognize outstanding achievements in the area of Health and Education and Promotion. Download nomination form

Ruth B. Freeman Public Health Nursing Award for Population Health Practice
The Ruth B. Freeman Public Health Nursing Award honors a public health nurse who has provided excellence in population health practice in the state of Georgia. This award is made by GPHA in collaboration with the Office of Nursing, Division of Public Health. Download nomination form

Lillian D. Wald Public Health Nursing Award
The Lillian D. Wald Public Health Nursing Award honors a public health nurse who has provided exemplary public health nursing leadership in the state of Georgia. The purpose of this award recognizes demonstrated initiative and resourcefulness in developing efforts to improve the health of the public through political, legislative, professional or interdisciplinary collaboration. This award is made by GPHA in collaboration with the Office of Nursing, Division of Public Health. Download nomination form

The following summary outlines the situation and GPHA’s concerns:

Two House study committees and two audits of public health have concluded that Georgia’s public health agencies are in a state of crisis and are inadequately funded to protect the health of Georgians.

In 2007, more than 100 county boards of health passed a resolution noting that county health department responsibilities have increased since 9/11 but that state funding had decreased by 15%. Because of the crisis in public health, the resolutions called for restoration of the 15% cut in state funding.

Many county and district public health offices, and the state public health office, have had to downsize through attrition and/or layoffs. More layoffs are imminent if funding is not increased.

Recognizing the public health crisis, the Governor recommended a 10% increase ($7.16 million) in state Grant-in-aid funding to county boards of health in the initial 2009 budget.

House and Senate versions of the 2009 budget have been passed and are now in conference committee. Neither version includes the $7.16 million increase. The proposed flat funding does not cover the increased cost of doing business and will result in further erosion of services at the county health department level.

Both versions include large cuts to state and district public health budgets which would force layoffs to key public health staff such as nurses, communicable disease investigators, environmentalists, etc.

Public Health cuts are proportionally higher in the current budget versions than many other state agencies.

Additional funding to help with making public health nurse salaries competitive is in the House version.

Urgent Action Needed:

House and Senate budget conferees need to hear that administrative and program cuts will be devastating to public health agencies already in crisis. The Senate version has restored some of these cuts. Keeping the $1,375,000 restored by the Senate will lessen the loss of public health services.

Restoring half or more of the Governor’s original recommendation of $7.16 million in restored funding for county health departments will begin the process of addressing the study committee and audit findings that public health is inadequately funded to perform its mission.

Retaining funding for nurse salaries will address part of the public health crisis.

Contact information for the Senate conferees:

Senator Jack Hill
District 4
Capitol Phone Number 404.656.5038
Capitol Fax  Number 404.657.7094
jack.hill@senate.ga.gov

Senator Eric Johnson
District 1
Capitol Phone Number 404.656.5109
Capitol Fax Number 404.657.9727
eric.johnson@senate.ga.gov

Senator Tommie Williams (Mr.)
District 19
Capitol Phone Number 404.656.0089
Capitol Fax Number 404.463.5220
tommie.williams@senate.ga.gov
tommie@tommiewilliams.com

Contact information for the House conferees:

Representative Ben Harbin
District 118
Capitol Phone Number 404.463.2247
ben.harbin@house.ga.gov

Representative Mark Burkhalter
District 50
Capitol Phone Number 404.656.5072
mark.burkhalter@house.ga.gov

Representative Jerry Keen
District 179
Capitol Phone Number  404.656.5052
jerry.keen@house.ga.gov

Check back soon for more information and registration!