The Goodwater Equitable Neighborhoods Initiative (ENI) hosted their first annual Youth Health Fair at Central Coosa High School on Tuesday, November 14th during the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM. The event was a tremendous success with the attendance of over 750 participants, including K-12 students.. Also in attendance were the Goodwater ENI Community Liaison, Mr. Tracy Burton; three PhD Health Communications class students from The University of Alabama, Priyanka Ginwal, Theophilus Aperkor, and Samaneh Shirani Lapari, who attended on behalf of ENI; eight Goodwater ENI Advisory Group Members, 10 Goodwater ENI Youth Community Council Members (YCC), along with the YCC Facilitator, Coach Brett Thomas; two Coosa County Commissioners, and 15 total vendors. Goodwater ENI Community Liaison Tracy Burton said, "We received great hospitality from the school administration and the students were very well-behaved."
Thank you to the following vendors who provided services, free of charge: Robin Riggins with Accordia Health provided hearing screenings and blood pressure checks; Cinda Knight, also with Accordia Health provided blood glucose, BMI, and cholesterol checks; Carmen Holley from AltaPointe Health provided information on outpatient care and Nicole Simon, also with Alta Pointe Health provided information on mental health and counseling services; Joetta Maxwell and Joann Shealey provided healthy snacks as well as information on a healthy alternative to snacking; Roxanne Aldridge with Alabama Lion’s Sight Vision provided vision screenings for children and adults; Sue C. Jones with the Focus Program shared information on empowering students to be actively involved in reducing the incidences of risky behaviors among their peers; Tanita Crowell with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) shared information about immunizations for children and adults; Angela Swain, also with ADPH, shared information about both All Kids and All Babies insurance; Necia Jackson, also with ADPH, shared information about Covid-19 wraparound services provided for people who test positive for Covid; Erin Hackenmueller representing the University of Alabama Health Communications class brought PhD candidate students who education on the health issues from the health questionnaire; Chandy Gordon with the Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP!) shared information on how they strengthen community awareness through substance misuse education and prevention services to individuals, schools, industries, affected individuals and families residing in the State of Alabama; Alan Yates, with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services shared resources available to individuals with disabilities; Angela Poole with SAFE – Parents As Teachers provided information on services and resources available to parents to assist them in preparing their children for school; LaCheryl Tucker-Harkins with T-H Counseling and Consulting Agency, LLC provided information on counseling and consulting services for both youth and adults; Amberya Maye from Laurel Oaks Behavioral Health Center provided information on high quality, acute psychiatric hospitalization and longer-term intensive residential treatment for children and teens, ages 4 to 18; and Sharonna Hayes, Director of the Goodwater Youth Development Center shared information on how they help kids become their best selves on their paths to great futures focusing on six key areas, safe places; providing caring mentorship; meeting youth mental health needs; bridging the workforce readiness gap; championing diversity, equity and inclusion; and ensuring Youth Advocacy elevates issues impacting youth. Thank you to all the organizers and presenters, as well as PTO president Maressa Ware for providing pictures. We are looking forward to next year's Youth Health Fair.
