Family Connection Partnership News

Several collaboratives are implementing a unique Medicaid funding opportunity designed exclusively for Family Connection counties in Georgia. Through a collaborative effort between Family Connection Partnership and the Department of Community Health, Children At Risk Targeted Case Management (TCM) reimburses collaboratives for work they do to achieve the result of Children Succeeding in School.

Children At Risk TCM supports prevention by linking children to existing services and resources and identifying unmet community needs. It provides access to resources for children who are eligible for Medicaid and have been identified as being at risk of failing to complete high school. Risk factors range from inadequate healthcare to frequent absenteeism. Children At Risk TCM only may be provided by a Family Connection collaborative that has included it as part of a strategy in the community plan.

Children At Risk TCM helps families identify their children's goals, determine their needs, develop a plan, link to resources and services, and review their progress.

In turn, the collaborative receives Medicaid reimbursement for staff whose purpose is to link children to existing services and resources. The new revenues from Children At Risk TCM are reinvested in the local Family Connection collaborative to support or enhance other efforts identified in the community plan.

For more information on Family Connection Children At Risk TCM, contact Arianne Weldon at (404) 527-7394 or arianne@gafcp.org

Collaborative Feature:
Lumpkin County Family Advocate Links Families to Resources
by Anita Middleton
anitamiddleton@alltel.net
Family Connection Coordinator
Lumpkin County

Lumpkin Family Connection has long realized that there are many issues that can cause children to fall behind in school. Poverty, poor health care, unstable families, and neglect and abuse often play important roles in school failure.

In Lumpkin County, Marianne Beliveau serves as a family advocate for Children At Risk TCM. She plays an important role in helping to remove these barriers.

Beliveau has offices in two elementary schools and has become a vital link between the school and referred children and their families. Working closely with families to help them identify their needs and problems, she helps them find community resources that will fill these needs.

Although Beliveau is a very quiet person by nature, when it comes to the families she serves, she is very vocal. She has organized food and clothing drives in both of her schools for children and families who are in need. She coordinates donations of school supplies and book bags for children who otherwise would have none. She has hygiene and lice kits available when needed. And she is not shy about talking about the needs of a child to other agencies or to parents or guardians.

Beliveau creates an environment for success through trust, high expectations, and involving the community in the solution. She treats "her families" with dignity and helps the children and parents become problem solvers and self-sufficient in the process.