Editorial

From the Desk of Gaye Morris Smith, Executive Director
Family Connection Partnership

Collaboration is Key to Improving Results

Welcome to the Premier Edition of Connected, Family Connection Partnership's new monthly electronic magazine ("e-zine"). Distributed via e-mail to hundreds of subscribers, Connected provides real-world solutions to the complex challenges facing Georgia's children, families and communities. Articles will track the following five result areas: healthy children, children ready for school, children succeeding in school, stable and strong families, and self-sufficient families.

Connected features news and information on current initiatives, resources, tools and upcoming events that support community collaboration, results accountability, community-based decision making, family-centered approaches, and prevention-oriented strategies. Connected also showcases community successes and promotes "what works" using research and evaluation practices that have proven to be effective in communities.

In this debut issue of Connected, we focus on a back-to-school theme. Early childhood, the period in a child's life from birth through age 5, is a critical time for children to develop the physical, emotional, social and cognitive skills they will need for the rest of their lives. Research shows that if children enter school without readiness skills, they run a significant risk of starting behind and staying behind.

Read how FCP supports state initiatives to ensure that our children are healthier, safer and more prepared to start school. Learn about community economic development efforts in rural Georgia that are paying off for children and families. See how local community groups are working together to create successes. And check out additional resources for more information on "what works" in communities.

Focusing on areas of early childhood development is an investment in the healthy future of the child, the family, and the community as a whole. We are proud of the successes we've had in Georgia's communities; yet we still have work to do. Collaboration among key organizations involved in early childhood activities is crucial to achieving better results in our communities.

This e-zine is a reflection of the work that we all do. Its success in effectively communicating results is directly determined by your input. We encourage you to share your stories of successes as we continue to work for our children, families and communities.