CHART
Collaboration for Healthcare Access in Rural Tennessee
Contact: Dr. Jennifer Mabry, Associate Professor / jmabry@tntech.edu
The CHART program was initiated by Whitson-Hester School of Nursing Associate Professor Jennifer L. Mabry in 2021, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on well-child check-ups which caused many children to fall behind in basic immunizations and physical benchmark screenings. The pandemic highlighted other social determinants compounding the deficit in healthcare access in the region, including lack of transportation, pervasive poverty within the preschool-age population, and homelessness.
To address the needs of the community, Mabry met with and formed a partnership with
the regional LBJ&C Head Start Program (begun in the Upper Cumberland in 1964) to discuss
these gaps in healthcare access experienced by children enrolled at the centers located
in Jackson and Putnam counties, specifically. The collaboration developed an academic-practice
partnership between WHSON and LBJ&C Head Start to improve healthcare access to the
vulnerable population of children, ages 3-5 years, within these medically underserved
populations. Initial funding was provided by the Rebecca Tolbert Faculty research
Fund through the WHSON. Mabry volunteers her time in support of these children and
families.
鈥淭he CHART project worked on eliminating inequity in healthcare access by implementing an accessible health clinic to provide federally required health screenings at no cost to the children through internal funding,鈥� stated Mabry, Project Director. 鈥淎fter performing these health screening for two [2] years, we found that some of the children needed blood lead screenings in addition to the vision, hearing, and physical exams.鈥�
CHART received Rural Reimagined funding in December 2023, allowing for the expansion
of a mobile health clinic service by purchasing a Blood Lead Testing machine, consumable
testing supplies, and funding for expanded travel. The additional funds also supported
adding a co-director 鈥� Emily Lee, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the nursing
faculty. Services grew to include other Head Start centers, beyond Jackson and Putnam,
including Cumberland, Fentress, Macon, Overton, White, and Warren. The RRI funding
was awarded for a single academic semester, spring 2024.
鈥淎t this stage we became involved in the Health Services Advisory Committee at the Central Head Start Office,鈥� Mabry said. 鈥淭ogether we developed an aggressive plan of action to complete physicals/lead testing with input from the Child Health Specialist [Malissa Mayberry] at the central office, center directors, and family engagement specialists. As a result of the program, many of the county centers then met federal health compliance requirements to obtain funding,鈥� she added.
Additionally, children cannot attend Head Start programs if their exams are not completed in the first 90 days they are enrolled. Last spring they completed 10 blood lead screenings and 4 complete physicals. During the fall of 2024, Mabry continued the work on a volunteer basis, without additional funding and completed an additional 11 blood screenings and 28 comprehensive health screenings in Jackson and Putnam counties.
