About Us

About GASOPHE

Promoting Health Education for Georgia

Georgia Society for Public Health Education (GASOPHE) is a professional organization for professional health educators and others in public or community health. GASOPHE is an official chapter of the Society for Public Health Education.

GASOPHE is unique from other professional development organizations because we focus only on health education as it applies to our communities including schools, places of worship, housing, and families. We specialize in bringing health educators together for a common cause: advancing the health education field while creating healthier environments for the residents of Georgia.

Purpose

The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) is a 501 (c)(3) professional organization founded in 1950 to provide global leadership to the profession of health education and health promotion and to promote the health of all people by: stimulating research on the theory and practice of health education; supporting high quality performance standards for the practice of health education and health promotion; advocating policy and legislation affecting health education and health promotion; and developing and promoting standards for professional preparation of health education professionals. SOPHE is the only independent professional organization devoted exclusively to health education and health promotion across all settings.

About

For more than 60 years, SOPHE has served as an independent professional association represented by a diverse membership of nearly 4,000 health education professionals and students throughout the United States and 25 international countries. The organization promotes healthy behaviors, healthy communities, and healthy environments through its membership, its network of local chapters, and its numerous partnerships with other organizations. SOPHE members work in elementary/secondary schools, universities, voluntary organizations, health care settings, worksites, and local/state/federal government agencies.

History

Founded in 1990, the Georgia Society for Public Health Education (GASOPHE) is a professional organization for professional health educators and others in public or community health. GASOPHE is an official chapter of the Society for Public Health Education.

GASOPHE used to be called Georgia for Public Health Education (GFPHE) until it became affiliated with the national organization SOPHE. GASOPHE continues to be an official chapter of the Society for Public Health Education and works collaboratively with the national organization on issues that are a priority here in Georgia.

2023

In March 2023, GASOPHE is the host chapter for SOPHE’s national conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

2022

In 2022, awarded $2,000 for your Sex Ed Week of Action event by SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change. GASOPHE partnered with GCAPP- Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential to implement grant activities.

2022

In 2022, GASOPHE’s Advocacy Chair attended SOPHE’s Advocacy Conference in Washington D.C.

2022

During the 2022 calendar year, GASOPHE partnered with the Global Health Corps to host a networking mixer for students and professionals on the beltline.

2021

In 2021, GASOPHE hosted advocacy training workshops for its members with SOPHE’s president, Dr. Amy Thompson.

2021

In the Fall of 2021, GASOPHE hosted a Virtual Mini-Summit: Bending the Arc Towards Equity in Health Education & Promotion. Individuals from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the City of Atlanta presented on the equity work their organizations are leading.

2021

GASOPHE hosted its first ever health equity summit virtually.

2018

GASOPHE hosted its second Summit at Kennesaw State University, which included 120 attendees and 18 sponsors. In 2018, GASOPHE was recognized by the Society of Public Health Education at the 69th Annual Conference with the 2017 Chapter of Excellence. GASOPHE was also awarded a mini-grant by the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation to promote tobacco prevention and smoke-free initiatives.

2017

GASOPHE established its first Advisory Board comprised of senior-level public health professionals throughout the state. GASOPHE partnered with the Georgia Department of Public Health to provide Chronic Disease University. GASOPHE adopted an advocacy and policy agenda focusing on tobacco prevention, asthma-friendly schools, promotion of physical activity, investing in public health and prevention, ensuring the right to health care, and addressing environmental health. GASOPHE was also awarded the Chapter of Excellence Award for its innovation and establishment of the Advisory Board.

2015

The board met for a follow-up strategic planning meeting and began to put plans into action. In October 2013, GASOPHE hosted its first Summit at Mercer University, which included 130 attendees and eight workshops.

2013

GASOPHE doubled its membership. Membership drives included students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and health education professionals. Recruitment and retention of leadership provided stability for GASOPHE to reach its membership goal of 200 members. In July 2014, the board held a strategic planning retreat in the North Georgia mountains to work through the next five years of planning.

2010

GASOPHE was awarded a five-year Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant for Diabetes Prevention in Jenkins County, a rural county in South Georgia. The grant focused on building capacity and support for healthy eating and physical activity in communities through sharing resources and community-led initiatives. Diabetes Prevention and Control programs were implemented in the community. Further efforts will support the sustainability of these programs and focus on environmental changes that support healthy eating.

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Make the Step to Become a GASOPHE Member

For questions about GASOPHE membership, please contact gasophe@gmail.com.
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