BAXLEY, GA. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today joined Southern Healthcare Collaboration leaders and local officials in Baxley to announce the Dr. Lee Southern Healthcare Collaboration Grant, which will support efforts to strengthen rural health care and expand access to quality care across South Georgia.

“Every Georgian deserves access to quality health care, no matter their ZIP code. As a pharmacist who spent more than 30 years serving patients in South Georgia, I know how critical our rural health care providers are to the communities they serve. This grant will strengthen our health care workforce, support local providers, and help ensure South Georgians can get the quality care they deserve close to home,” said Rep. Carter.

Southern Healthcare Collaboration, Inc says, "Through the Mind, Body and Soul Strategic Prevention Project, our organization promotes behavioral health, primary care, substance use prevention education, positive youth development, and community outreach services. In collaboration with our other Outreach and IMPACT projects, we are able to build meaningful partnerships with school systems, community organizations, Emergency Management Agencies (EMA), healthcare providers, public safety agencies, and other public service organizations. Together, these partnerships expand access to life-saving education, training, resources, and NARCAN, helping communities become better prepared to prevent and respond to substance use and behavioral health emergencies."

Rep. Carter at the grant announcement in Baxley