Written by: Nelly Eziashi, MBA, PMP
Since 1993, the Farmworker Family Health Program (FWFHP) has transformed farmworker health through collaborations with health clinics, public health districts, Georgia universities, and corporate partners like Philips. Now in its 31st year and housed at Emory University's School of Nursing since 2001, the program has served over 17,000 individuals. The speaker presented highlights of FWFHP’s journey, showcasing its partnerships and innovative healthcare services delivered directly in the fields, camps, and schools, making a lasting impact on farmworker families.
Presentation Overview 
The Farmworker Family Health Program (FWFHP) is an inter-professional collaboration that has addressed the healthcare needs of over 15,000 migrant farmworkers and their families since its inception in 1993. Based in Georgia, the program operates in collaboration with local clinics, farmers, and churches to provide healthcare services during the peak migrant season each summer. Students from university clinical programs also participate, gaining invaluable experience. Services include preventative and episodic care, sliding-scale medications, and health education, with electronic maintenance of patient records continuing year-round.
Originally started at Georgia State University’s School of Nursing, the program moved to Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing in 2001. Over its 29-year history, the FWFHP has become a key initiative in addressing critical healthcare needs while simultaneously enhancing student education through hands-on training. Each year, it serves over 600 individuals, making a significant impact on Georgia’s migrant farmworker communities.
Takeaways
Effective project management has enabled the FWFHP to improve patient outcomes, make data-driven decisions, and sustain and scale the program for over 31 years.
- FWFHP Life Cycle Summary:
- Initiation [Jan/Feb]: Define scope and establish Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs).
- Planning [Jan – June]: Meet with stakeholders, gather supplies, and build the schedule.
- Execution [June]: Set up, deliver services, and collect data.
- Monitoring & Controlling: Manage the schedule, monitor weather, and hold daily retrospectives.
Closing: Complete evaluations, debrief, and generate reports.
- The project management knowledge areas for this program can be summarized as follows:
- Integration: Managed through resource allocation and status meetings to keep everything aligned.
- Scope: Driven by the program’s mission statement, ensuring all activities align with core objectives.
- Time: Timelines are dictated by partnerships, particularly with farmers and community stakeholders.
- Cost: Costs are shared across stakeholders but present challenges due to funding limitations.
- Quality: Ensured through continuous quality improvement (QI) initiatives.
- Human Resources: Focused on team advocacy to support both staff and participants.
- Communications: Leveraged tools like GroupMe, whiteboards, team meetings, and Google Drive for collaboration.
- Risk Management: Includes standard operating procedures (SOPs), COVID-19 evaluations, safety huddles, and hotel rooming arrangements.
Procurement: Involves working with community and corporate partners, along with donors, to acquire necessary resources. - Stakeholder Management: Collaborates with school districts and local farms to ensure stakeholder needs are met.
Next Event
Join us at the next PMI Atlanta 3rd Annual Special Interest Forums Joint Open House! “Project Management and Beyond 2.0 – A Peek Into The Future” on Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Panel Discussion Topics: Skills Development, Resume Review, the Impact of AI, and DEIAB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging)
Register at www.pmiatlanta.org/events/event-calendar
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