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Summit
Learning Day BY
NAJA WILLIAMSON AND LAURIE SEARLE
More than 400 collaborative members, partners, and legislators convened at the annual Family Connection Summit in February, breaking the four-year attendance record for the two-day event, hosted by Family Connection Partnership. "It's a beautiful site to behold when I see more than 130 counties represented in the room," said Gaye Smith, executive director of Family Connection Partnership (FCP). "I look forward to this time when we come together as a network, set the direction for the year, and learn new tools to help us navigate our course. We are clearly on a journey together." Before setting the direction for the upcoming year, Smith opened the general session by looking back at some highlights of the past year. "Collaborative Information Management System (CIMS) helped streamline the collaborative reporting and review process," she said. "Last year all collaboratives successfully entered their required plans via CIMS, greatly reducing the turnaround time for plan submission, review, and feedback." Smith also discussed Collaborative Webs, which she said helped connect and promote the collaborative network via the Internet. FCP trained more than 200 people on Collaborative Webs in 2006, resulting in 122 new collaborative Web sites. The fall 2006 KIDS COUNT Tour offered eight forums across the state and answered the question, "How well are Georgia's children faring?" FCP, together with partners Voices for Georgia's Children and the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, shared the importance of using data to inform spending and policy in Georgia. "With nearly 400 Tour attendees, an average of 50 participants per site," said Smith, "it appears that making kids count in Georgia is important to the Family Connection collaboratives, legislators, educators, health professionals, parents, and citizens who participated." Smith also looked back at Evaluation Outcome Analysis, which examined the effects on two KIDS COUNT indicators—teen pregnancy and high school completion—when Family Connection collaboratives formed in a county. Evidence is mounting that Family Connection makes a positive difference in communities. Shifting to 2007, Smith unveiled the Collaborative Messaging Board. "This new tool promises to increase communication across counties and regions in the Family Connection network and beyond by offering a forum for discussions and information-sharing," she said. Collaboratives can try out the messaging board at www.gafcp.org/fcnetwork/mboard.
In her General Assembly Update Smith pointed out that the Georgia PeachCare funding shortfall is under review. "State and national leaders are optimistic that a solution will be found," she said. According to Smith, Family Connection state appropriation is at the same level in 2008 as in 2007, and that budget discussions will soon be underway. She also reminded attendees that FCP is hosting a weekly hotline with child advocate Mary Frances Williams to update collaboratives on General Assembly legislation and news. Conference calls are on Tuesdays, 11-11:30 a.m. during the General Assembly. To listen in or join the discussion, call 866-740-1260. Access code: 4207411# Watch
Gaye Smith's entire presentation.
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