(From left to right): Rural Health Association of Tennessee’s Allie Haynes and Jacy Warrell, award recipients Chrissy Hood, Alaina Hood, Representative Clay Doggett, and Rural Health Association of Tennessee’s Board of Director President Barry Cooper

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On March 5th, 2024, The Rural Health Association of Tennessee recognized Chrissy Hood and Representative Clay Doggett with the Rural Advocate of the Year and Rural Legislator of the Year, respectively.

Chrissy Hood was the recipient of the Rural Advocate of the Year Award for her dedication and hard work to bring awareness to healthcare and disabilities to her rural community of Pulaski and across the state of Tennessee. Mrs. Hood, in her role as a mother and as a member on the Tennessee Council of Developmental Disabilities, has been instrumental in advocating for her daughter, Alaina, and the various needs she has as a mother of a daughter with Phelan McDermid Syndrome, autism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and other complex medical conditions.

Representative Clay Doggett was awarded the Rural Health Legislator of the Year because of his work on the original bill SB602/HB905, which ended up providing $1 million to the Tennessee Department Disability and Aging to offer grants to help install adult-size changing tables in organizations and businesses across the state. This original proposal for this bill was the result of Representative Doggett actively listening to one of his constituents: Mrs. Hood. Mrs. Hood expressed a great need of being able to sanitarily change her daughter. Tennesseans with disabilities and their families didn't have safe and hygienic places to change their loved ones due to the lack of adult changing tables. Because of both of their advocacy and work to make the General Assembly aware of this issue, Mrs. Hood and Rep. Doggett have also been able to inform other state departments of these needs and the Tennessee Department of Transportation have agreed to place adult-size changing tables in all rest areas and welcome centers across the State. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has also agreed to install adult-size changing tables in state parks.

The Rural Health Association of Tennessee celebrate and are thankful for both Mrs. Hood and Representative Doggett hard work and dedication to this inequality.

If your organization or business is interested in applying for the grant to install an adult-size changing table in your place of business, find more information and apply for this opportunity at tn.gov/disability-and-aging/resource-directory/grants.html.

About Rural Health Association of Tennessee:

Founded in 1994, The Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA) is a 501c3 non-profit leading the way for a healthy Tennessee through partnerships, advocacy, education, and resources. Our members of rural hospitals and providers, school health professionals, mental and behavioral health providers, and others are committed to the vision of becoming among the healthiest states in America. We believe in the power of listening and learning through direct service, advancing professional knowledge and development, and elevating the voices of rural Tennesseans.