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Logo
Reinforces Conference
Theme—Community Improvement:
Tools of the Trade The conference committee reviewed more than 20 logos submitted by a variety of talented artists, whose names were withheld until after the vote. In December the committee unanimously selected the winning design submitted by Collins Digital Imaging. The logo reinforces the conference theme, Community Improvement: Tools of the Trade. It will be used on program materials and also on a commemorative long-sleeved T-shirt. Family Connection will return to the Classic Center in Athens for its 9th biennial Conference Oct. 24-26. Hosted by Family Connection Partnership for partners, collaboratives, and supporters of Family Connection, the conference offers a special opportunity to exchange information, ideas, and practical tools for building strong communities where children and families can thrive.
Would you like to discuss Family Connection values? Do you want to share your ideas about the upcoming 2007 conference? Do you want to find out what other communities are doing to involve families and faith-based organizations in their collaborative work? The messaging board offers a forum to discuss and share information on these and other topics. This free service provided by Georgia Family Connection Partnership (FCP), includes an index of forums, search tool, and options to read, reply, create, or print topics. FCP unveiled the message board at the 2007 Family Connection Summit in February. FCP staff members demonstrated the new tool at the Summit, guiding users through the message board and answering questions. Comments were favorable. We encourage you to log into the Message Board at www.gafcp.org/fcnetwork/mboard, explore, and play around. FCP will offer training on this tool in the spring, but in the meantime, you can e-mail questions about the message board to moderator@gafcp.org. Caution: This is not a tool for answering specific questions about CIMS, evaluation, communications, technical assistance, finance or other services that FCP offers to communities.
The National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on May 2 is an opportunity for Georgians to encourage teens to focus attention on the importance of avoiding teen pregnancy. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is hosting an online quiz that challenges teens to think carefully about what they might do in certain tough situations and helps them to recognize that sex has consequences. The Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP) and partners across the state will hold events and activities leading up to the National Day and throughout the entire month of May to encourage teens to take the quiz and participate in teen pregnancy prevention efforts. Here are just some of the ways community organizations can promote the National Day:
For more information about G-CAPP and its statewide campaign to reduce teen pregnancy in Georgia by another 15 percent by 2015, please visit www.gcapp.org.
The Southern Education Foundation (SEF) knows, and has been working for 140 years to improve the equality and excellence of education in the South. SEF is in the process of doing preliminary research as it prepares to publish a brief on the reach and benefits of Pre-K programs in Georgia. "Of a total budget of $18.7 billion, only 1.6 percent of the budget is spent on Pre-K programs," said Steve Suitts, program coordinator at SEF. "The lottery reserve money remains untouched. Why isn't it being spent on the children?" The lottery program originally was created to fund Pre-K programs throughout the state. Through research, SEF has found that the Georgia Lottery is primarily funded by rural counties, where an average of $636 per person is spent on lottery tickets in one year, compared to $206 per person in the metro Atlanta area. According to 2006 Georgia Kids Count, one in three counties in the state have experienced persistent poverty over time, especially in rural areas. SEF believes poverty and lack of education go hand-in-hand, and because of this, all children need access to Pre-K programs to give them a chance at educational success. SEF, which educates the public about the critical importance of early education, plans to publish the Pre-K findings that promote the need for increased funding for high-quality Pre-k programs and expansion of coverage so all children in Georgia can benefit from the strong foundation these programs provide. SEF President Lynn Huntley, who speaks regularly on behalf of the organization, says she believes all children deserve an equal chance at success through education. She and her staff have championed this issue hoping that publishing the brief will help advocates influence legislators and policy, businesses, and communities to work toward expanding coverage and improving quality for universal Pre-K programs in Georgia. SEF plans to release the report this summer.
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