HR 90: Several churches for their work with Project Elevation; commend

This resolution does not change any Georgia law. It is a formal statement from the Georgia House of Representatives recognizing the work of Project Elevation, a faith-based health program that trains community health workers, called Health Champions, through 25 local churches in seven Southwest Georgia counties. The resolution praises Mt. Zion Baptist Church and its pastor, the Albany Coalition of Churches, Phoebe Putney Health Systems, the Morehouse School of Medicine, the Samaritan Clinic, Albany Cares, and Grooming Gods for their roles in the program, which has screened hundreds of men for prostate cancer and connected many to primary care. It directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

• Formally commends Mt. Zion Baptist Church and Rev. Dr. Pastor Daniel Simmons for leadership on Project Elevation's health outreach in Southwest Georgia.
• Recognizes the Albany Coalition of Churches across five counties, Phoebe Putney Health Systems, and the Morehouse School of Medicine for supporting the program.
• Honors the Samaritan Clinic, Albany Cares, and Grooming Gods for providing clinical, food, and grooming support to program participants.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the public and press.

The resolution directly names and honors Mt. Zion Baptist Church, the Albany Coalition of Churches, Phoebe Putney Health Systems, the Morehouse School of Medicine, the Samaritan Clinic, Albany Cares, and Grooming Gods, all involved in the Project Elevation health program in Southwest Georgia.

The resolution carries no legal or funding effect but gives official state recognition to a community health effort that has screened hundreds of men for prostate cancer and connected many without a doctor to primary care, potentially raising public awareness of the program's work.

• Preamble sections describe Project Elevation's use of 25 churches in seven counties to train 100 community health workers called Health Champions.
• States the program has screened 945 men for prostate cancer since 2022, with 7 percent showing an elevated PSA level of 4.0 or above.
• Notes that 32 percent of participants with an elevated PSA were connected to a primary care physician they previously lacked.
• First resolving clause commends Mt. Zion Baptist Church and its pastor for the program's health education efforts.
• Second resolving clause recognizes the Albany Coalition of Churches, Phoebe Putney Health Systems, and the Morehouse School of Medicine.
• Third resolving clause honors the Samaritan Clinic, Albany Cares, and Grooming Gods for supporting services.
• Final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

1. 2025-01-28House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2025-01-28House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-01-28House Hopper (House)

• Gerald Greene (R, HD-154)Primary sponsor
• Bill Yearta (R, HD-152)
• Mike Cheokas (R, HD-151)
• Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)
• Joe Campbell (R, HD-171)

• community health
• prostate cancer screening
• faith-based programs
• Southwest Georgia
• public health workers