Making Connections with Community Resources through Wellstar Find Help

The CDC Foundation is launching Live to the Beat Virtual Coaching, a free program to help women take small steps toward better heart health. This flexible, virtual program offers practical guidance meant to support and encourage—never overwhelm.

Live to the Beat Virtual Coaching focuses on everyday habits that matter most for heart health. Women will learn how to manage blood pressure, reduce stress, improve sleep and build health routines. The program helps participants understand their numbers and learn the right questions to ask so they can be active partners in their care.

Through our partnership with the CDC Foundation, Wellstar provides support for the virtual coaching program. This includes Dr. Karla Booker, a Wellstar primary care physician and public health advocate. Dr. Booker helps participants to better understand their health, prepare for medical visits and work with their care team to manage their well-being.

"I want my patients to know that I am their dream weaver. Whatever life they envision for themselves is possible," Dr. Booker said. "I want to empower them to communicate openly with me to make their dreams come true."

Participants may choose to attend all five sessions or choose sessions that fit their needs. Each session offers practical tools, real‑world insights and clear next steps that can be applied immediately. Following the live sessions, instructional videos are available for download. Partners and community organizations can also use a facilitator guide (by request) and session worksheet to can help educate the community.

Learn more and register at livetothebeat.org/coaching. 

When caught early, colorectal cancer is much more treatable, yet many people face barriers that prevent them from getting screened. Through the ColoCare Connect Program, Wellstar is working to make preventive care more accessible for communities who need it most.

In 2024, Cobb & Douglas Public Health, with support from the Wellstar Foundation, provided funding to expand colon cancer screening across Cobb and Douglas counties with the launch of ColoCare Connect. The community-based program, led by Wellstar Center for Health Equity and the Community Health team, focuses on education, resources and supplying at-home screening tests with the help of trusted local clinics.

Meeting patients where they are

Instead of patients having to navigate additional appointments, ColoCare Connect partnered with community clinics that were already providing care. These included BWell Medical & Wellness Center, Someone Cares, Bethesda Community Clinic and The Rouse Foundation.

Our partners provided patients with fecal immunochemical tests (FIT kits) that allowed them to complete colorectal cancer screening at home. During the grant period alone, the program distributed 435 FIT kits.

A strong community partner: BWell Medical & Wellness Center

One example of ColoCareConnect’s impact is BWell Medical & Wellness Center, which distributed more than 100 FIT kits and continues to collaborate with Wellstar to help people get screened.

The clinic serves a diverse population that includes working families, the elderly, underserved residents and people living in assisted living or personal care homes.

“Our focus is on accessible, patient-centered care that emphasizes prevention and early intervention,” said Vivian Adu-Aboagye, director of BWell Medical & Wellness Center. “Many of our patients face barriers such as transportation challenges, time constraints or limited access to preventive services.”

The partnership stood out because it offered a practical and patient-friendly solution.

“Many patients delay colon cancer screening due to fear, cost concerns or scheduling challenges related to their colonoscopy,” she added. “The FIT kits provide a convenient option that fits naturally into routine primary care visits.”

Making screening part of everyday care

At BWell, team members speak with patients during their visits to determine if they need colorectal cancer screening. They provide education and distribute kits during appointments, then follow up about returning the kit.

Patients have said they appreciate the privacy and convenience of the kits. Many of them had previously avoided screening due to concerns about invasive procedures or difficulty taking time off work. By removing common barriers, like transportation challenges, scheduling conflicts and fear, patients who may have otherwise skipped their colon cancer screenings were able to get checked.

Building toward healthier communities

ColoCare Connect demonstrates the power of community partnerships in advancing health equity. By equipping trusted local clinics with resources and support, the program expanded access to life-saving screening.

As the program continues, partnerships like these help ensure that more individuals have the opportunity to participate in early detection and receive follow-up care when needed. This ultimately improves outcomes and strengthens community health across the region.

Connecting patients to ongoing support

Screening is an important first step, but access to information and support beyond the clinic is also critical. Community members can use Wellstar Find Help to locate colorectal cancer screening programs, patient navigation services and financial assistance resources available in their ZIP code. 

If your screening has an abnormal result, care teams can help coordinate next steps, answer questions about a colonoscopy and identify financial assistance options when needed. By pairing clinic-based screening with community-based support resources, Wellstar and its partners are working to ensure patients do not have to navigate the process alone.