Family Connection Partnership News

Family Connection Presents Awards at Biennial Conference

Family Connection recently honored outstanding community collaborative achievers during its Family Connection Biennial Conference in Jekyll Island. Executive Director Gaye Smith and Georgia First Lady Mary Perdue congratulated winners in the following categories:

Community Achievement Awards
Family Connection Service Awards
Family Advisors
National Recognition

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2003 Community Achievement Awards

Seven review committees met in August to review more than 60 nominations for outstanding achievement. The winners of the Community Achievement Awards were:

Winners of the 2003 Community Achievement Award are (l. to r.): Kathy O'Neal (Houston), Mayor James Worrall (Houston), Danny Stone (Newton), Gaye Smith (Family Connection Partnership), Leila Anderson (Houston), Floyd Thompson (Houston), Georgia First Lady Mary Perdue, Justin Tinker (Houston), Kathy Garwood (Crisp), and Sandra McAlister (Glascock).

Outstanding Collaborative Achievement in Family Involvement
Kids' Journey WrapAround Program, Houston County Family Connection collaborative

Outstanding Collaborative Achievement in Youth Involvement
Catoosa Youth Leadership Summit, Catoosa Teen Council, Catoosa Family Collaborative

Outstanding Achievement as Collaborative Partner
General Mills, Collaborative Partner to Newton County Community Partnership

Outstanding Achievement as Collaborative Partner
Mayor James Worrall, City of Perry, Collaborative Partner to Houston County Family Connection collaborative

Outstanding Achievement as Collaborative Chairperson
Kathy O'Neal, Collaborative Chair, Houston County Family Connection collaborative

Outstanding Achievement as Collaborative Coordinator
Kathy Garwood, Executive Director, Crisp County Community Council

Outstanding Achievement as Fiscal Agent
Glascock County Board of Education, Glascock Action Partners Inc., the Glascock County Family Connection collaborative

Family Connection Service Awards

The Family Connection Service Awards acknowledge five and 10 years of service for Family Connection staff.

Family Connection staff from collaboratives across the state celebrate five and 10 years of service.

FAMILY CONNECTION REGIONAL FAMILY ADVISORS

Family Advisors are selected by their Peer to Peer Network to provide a family perspective in the region. They serve as members of the Leadership Council and are active in their local counties and regions and on statewide committees. Family Advisors currently are hosting regional Parent Engagement Days to develop parent networks and increase parental involvement in their local communities.

Family Advisors were honored for their local, regional and statewide service to children and families.

National Recognition

The following collaboratives received national reorganization during the past year:

Success By 6/Family Connection Glynn
(Glynn County)
Saundra Hathaway, Coordinator

The Center for the Study of Social Policy and the Doris Duke Foundation recognized The Family and Children Educational Services (FACES) Center in Brunswick as one of 21 model programs across the U.S. for integrating family support principles into early educational care settings to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect. The program will become part of a national learning network with results published in a policy paper by the Doris Duke Foundation. The program is supported by a collaborative partnership of Success by 6/Family Connection Glynn, the Glynn County Board of Education/Pre-K program, and other community partners.

Hart Partners, Inc.
(Hart County)
Larry Pool, Executive Director

Hart Partners, the Family Connection collaborative in Hart County, received the 2002 Sunshine Award for Community Outreach for its summer food service program for children. The organization received the honor because of its collaborative efforts with the faith, business and education communities to combine an educational program with a summer nutritional program. The Office of School Readiness, Georgia Department of Education, nominated Hart Partners for the award.

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