Amanda Neal

Integrating Adverse Childhood Event Scores in Care of Underserved Communities in Mobile, Alabama

Integrating Adverse Childhood Event Scores in Care of Underserved Communities in Mobile, Alabama. As members of the Delta AHEC region in Alabama, we sought to evaluate Adverse Childhood Event (ACE) Scores present in underserved populations within Mobile, AL. We also aimed to provide education around what ACEs are and how they may impact care and support needs. In conjunction with University of South Alabama’s student-run free clinic, we aim to collaborate with a men’s rehabilitation center and a women’s emergency shelter to collect and disseminate information. As of the presentation date, we have led a session at the men’s rehabilitation center with plans to lead a session at the women’s emergency shelter in the near future. In the data collected at the men’s rehabilitation center, we found evidence of significantly elevated ACE Scores which is in alignment with previous research suggesting a link between ACE Scores and experiencing homelessness. It also reaffirms the need for ACE evaluations when working with patients to better tailor interventions to the person and their unique backgrounds.

Allison Cupps and Jayla Palacio

Prevention Pals Community Impact Project

The Prevention Pals community impact project (CIP) focused on offering prevention services and education to the community of Clanton in Chilton County, Alabama. The CIP was centered around offering free health screenings for adults that visit Chandler Drugs and a poison prevention activity for children. The activity included a poster that allowed children to match medications and candy to the categories of “capsules” or “candy”. A survey was also conducted at the end of the activities to gauge the satisfaction of patients after the health screening and their understanding of the biometric results they received. The poster presentation took place at the 2025 AHRA Conference in Hoover, Alabama, and the CIP was conducted on the following Saturday. We were able to educate the conference attendees about the Prevention Pals event, and we also received feedback on possible improvements that could be made for a future Prevention Pals event.

Timothy Alexander & Natalia Rivera

Simple Recipes for Health: A Low-Cost Nutritional Guidebook

Our project, Simple Recipes for Health: A Low-Cost Nutritional Guidebook, focuses on providing valuable nutritional information to those with food insecurities to provide them with access on how to make nutritional foods with ingredients typically distributed and provided by food banks. We have designed a pamphlet for distribution along with food bank items which provides some simple healthy recipes as well as providing some basic information on constructing healthy meals. Our goal is to empower these individuals to make healthier meals, resulting in better health outcomes.

Nikolete Hurrinus & Lauren Farrell

Click to Fit: An Exercise is Medicine Program

Our poster, “Click to Fit: An Exercise is Medicine Program,” presents an initiative to improve health literacy and patient adherence to exercise through virtual seminars and a supportive Facebook community. The program covers goal setting, sleep hygiene, and nutrition, aiming to empower participants to make sustainable lifestyle changes while providing continuous support and feedback. Preliminary data has highlighted the value of digital engagement and participant-driven content to maintain long-term healthy habits.

Thomas Creech, Johnathan Lunsford and Sarah Khan

Beyond the Golden Hour: An Educational Intervention for Trauma, Hemorrhagic Shock, and Opioid Overdose Response in Rural Alabama

The AHEC Scholars have undertaken a two-pronged project to tackle significant health challenges in Alabama’s rural communities.

Hemorrhage Control Training: Hemorrhage is the leading preventable cause of trauma-related deaths, as identified by the American College of Surgeons. With most of Alabama’s population living over thirty minutes from the nearest Level 1 or 2 trauma center, timely intervention is crucial. To equip rural communities with life-saving skills, AHEC Scholars have initiated Stop-the-Bleed courses. To date, 46 nursing students and Alabama State Troopers have been certified in two classes. Plans include extending these courses to 93 businesses involved in the Dothan Heartsafe initiative and other nearby communities, in collaboration with local volunteer fire departments.

Opioid Overdose Prevention: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alabama has historically had high opioid prescription rates and rising opioid overdose deaths, though there has been a recent decline in 2024. AHEC Scholars have joined forces with the ACOM Naloxone Distribution Coalition to educate the public on opioid dangers and emergency interventions like naloxone. The initiative also provides naloxone to participants for use in overdose situations.