Media Contact
Bill Valladares
Communications Coordinator
email
404-527-7394 (x114)
fax 404-527-7443

Welcome to the GaFCP Newsroom

Georgia Family Connection Partnership (GaFCP) is a nonprofit organization created and funded by the state and private sector to focus on improving conditions for children and families. GaFCP represents a strong, unified voice that promotes local decisionmaking and community priorities. As an intermediary we connect partners at the local and state levels to each other for peer learning, resource sharing, and replicating best practices. We help partners strengthen families by supporting Georgia Family Connection collaborative organizations committed to improving the quality of life in communities in all 159 counties.

Bibb and Monroe Family Connection Announce Partnership
This partnership is an opportunity to strengthen and leverage cross-county relationships.

Seven School-Based Health Centers Receive Planning Grants
Emory Department of Pediatrics Urban Health Program is giving Georgia’s school-based clinic services a much-needed boost to increase access and care for children by awarding additional planning grants.

Troup and Houston Counties Make the 2011 list of 100 Best Communities for Young People
When America’s Promise Alliance released the 2011 list of 100 Best Communities for Young People this week, Troup and Houston counties were among the winners. The competition recognizes cities across the country that focus on reducing high-school dropout rates and providing service and support to youth.

Heavy Reliance on Juvenile Incarceration Is Not Paying Off for Taxpayers or Kids, Report Finds
Locking up juvenile offenders in correctional facilities is not paying off from a public safety, rehabilitation or cost perspective, according to a new report the Annie E. Casey Foundation released today.

One in Four Georgia Children Living in Poverty
Newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau show the profound impact the recession has had on Georgia's children and families.

Position Announcement: Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Family Connection Coordinator

New KIDS COUNT Report Shows Georgia Must Do Better for Its Children in Poverty
According to the 2011 national KIDS COUNT Data Book released today by The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Georgia held onto a national ranking of 42nd in critical indicators of child well-being for the third straight year.

New Study Shows Lack of Access to Supermarkets is Linked to Diet-Related Disease
Georgia’s existing supermarkets are unevenly distributed, leaving a disproportionately high number of lower-income residents without access to healthy food. Georgia Family Connection Partnership has helped form a Georgia Supermarket Access Task Force to develop a solution for this state.

GaFCP Updates List of Georgia KIDS COUNT Indicators
Georgia Family Connection Partnership recently released an updated list of the Georgia KIDS COUNT indicators of child well-being, cutting the number of indicators from 49 to 45. Changes will help us better capture data we need to inform program, policy, and budget decisions.

New Study Shows Preventing Low Birthweight Saves Money and Lives
A conservative estimate of the cost of low-birthweight in the United States is $26.2 billion per year. Georgia incurs approximately $1 billion of those expenses.

Position Announcement: Morgan County Family Connection Coordinator
Morgan County Family Connection invites applications for a county coordinator.

A Grim Day at Treutlen H.S.
Ghost Out and Crash Reenactment Program educates students on the consequences of distracted driving

Peach County Laces up to Raise Awareness about Child Abuse, Neglect, Obesity
Peach County Family Connection raised awareness about child abuse and neglect and childhood obesity in April by getting members of the community to lace up for its inaugural 5K Walk/Run Race.

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, AFYF, Good Sports Issue Call for Equipment Donations Applications
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation, and Good Sports have issued a call for community groups in Georgia to submit applications for this second round of equipment donation grants.

Calhoun County Strikes Back at Generational Poverty through Book Project
Calhoun County Family Connection Collaborative is pairing up senior citizens with at-risk youth in a mentoring project that promotes education, while capturing the stories of its most venerable residents in a book.

Third Grade Is Key to Later Life
KIDS COUNT study shows students who don't learn to read well by third grade are more likely to drop out of high school.

New Scholarship Opportunity Available to Georgia’s Low-Income Children
The Arete Scholars Fund is accepting scholarship applications from Georgia's economically challenged families for the 2011–12 school year through its new online system.

New Study Ranks Fayette as Georgia’s Healthiest County
Fayette is the healthiest county in Georgia according a new county health rankings report released this week. Calhoun County is the state's least healthy.

Request for Proposals for Emory’s School Based Health Center Planning Grants
Emory University’s Department of Pediatrics Urban Health Program will award planning grants to organizations and communities interested in exploring the creation of a school-based health clinics.

GaFCP Testifies on FY12 Budget
Georgia Family Connection Partnership Executive Director Gaye Smith provided testimony on the FY12 budget to the House Appropriations sub-committee on Human Resources early this week.

Improving Conditions for Youth and Families in Tabor Heights
Peach County Family Connection supports two programs that are improving the quality of life for families and children in the Tabor Heights community.

Collaborating During Tough Economic Times
Georgia Family Connection collaborative organizations from the northwest region recently got together to host the Northwest Georgia Mini-Conference.

Planning for Healthy Babies Waiver Approved for Georgia
Medicare and Medicaid Services approved DCH application for a Medicaid 1115 demonstration waiver to provide family planning-related services to individuals ineligible for Medicaid or SCHIP

Emory Urban Health Program Announces 11 Planning Grants for School Based Health Centers
$3 million gift from The Zeist Foundation aimed to help improve outcomes for at-risk children throughout the state over the next five years.

Falcons Accepting Nominations for 2010 Community Quarterback Award
The Atlanta Falcons are pleased to announce the criteria for the 2010 Community Quarterback Award, which honors volunteers in Georgia ages 13 and over who exemplify leadership and dedication to bettering their communities.

Study Shows Community Collaboration Supports Healthier Birth Weights in Georgia Counties
According to the results of a recent evaluation study released by GaFCP, community collaboration contributes to more infants being born at healthy weights in Georgia.

Lt. Gov. Challenges Georgia Schools to Get Kids Healthy
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, troubled by the growing concern of child obesity, has issued a challenge to Georgia schools to get kids healthy.

Georgia Wins Race to the Top Grant
Gov. Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Education selected Georgia as a winner for the second round of Race to the Top grants.

Walmart and GaFCP Helping Youth and Parents Work as Partners Toward Educational Success
A generous $50,000 grant from The Walmart Foundation has enabled Georgia Family Connection Partnership to undertake a Youth/Family Rally grant program in nine regions this fall.

Census Bureau Releases Timetable for 2009 Income, Poverty, Health Insurance Estimates
The Census Bureau announced today the public release schedule for the official income, poverty and health insurance estimates for 2009 from the Current Population Survey, as well as estimates from the American Community Survey.

KIDS COUNT Study Shows Georgia Still Unable to Climb out of the Bottom 10 in Child Well-Being
New National KIDS COUNT Study Shows Georgia Still Unable to Climb out of the Bottom 10 in Child Well-Being

Fresh Start Program Offers Short-term Financial Crisis Assistance
The Georgia Fresh Start program is an initiative that will provide a one-time crisis assistance payment for qualified families to pay past-due utilities and shelter expenses.

Request for Public Comment on Georgia’s Title V Block Grant Application
The Division of Public Health’s Maternal and Child Health Program is asking for public comment on Georgia’s FY11 Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant application and five-year needs assessment by June 24.

Georgia to Lead Nation in Collaborative 10-Year Commitment to Address Grade-level Reading
Georgia KIDS COUNT special report makes reading by the end of third grade a statewide priority

Teen Maze Shows Students Consequences of Their Real-Life Choices
More than 1,500 Crisp County students in grades 8-12 experienced the benefits and pitfalls of life-altering choices—without the consequences—as they made their way through the teen maze at Crisp County High School. Community members and volunteers take you through the maze in video and pictures.

Crisp County High School Among America’s Best
U.S. News & World Report has ranked Crisp County High School as one of the nation’s best public high schools.

ASPA Honors GaFCP Executive Director Gaye Smith During Public Service Recognition Week
North Georgia’s professional society for public employees is celebrating Public Service Recognition Week (May 3‑9) by spotlighting the outstanding work of Georgia Family Connection Partnership Executive Director Gaye Morris Smith.

2-1-1 Database Expanding to Strengthen Communities
The First Lady's Children's Cabinet, the Governor's Office for Children and Families, and United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta are expanding the existing United Way 2-1-1 database to include even more state agencies, nonprofits and faith-based providers, allowing Georgia's families greater access to services related to their children's health and well-being.

Comprehensive School-Based Health Clinic Program RFP Q&A
The Urban Health Program hosted a statewide telephone conference last month to discuss the Comprehensive School-Based Health Clinic Program request for proposals, which are due April 26 at 5 p.m.

Preventing Child Abuse—the Work of Everyone—Every Day
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. But Preventing Child Abuse is the Work of everyone. Every day.

A Night in a Homeless Shelter
CNN aired a story during the weekend about a family that chronicles its struggles with homelessness and the safe shelter Fannin County Family Connection is providing, along with opportunities for the family of four to become stable and self-sufficient again.

Comprehensive School-Based Health Clinic Program RFP Phone Conference March 22
The Urban Health Program, Department of Pediatrics at the Emory University School of Medicine requests proposals to stimulate planning, and to facilitate collaboration and community discussion to expand the number of school-based health clinics throughout the state from two to 12 within five years.

Lawmakers Urge Georgia General Assembly to Use KIDS COUNT Data
Lawmakers urge Georgia General Assembly to use KIDS COUNT materials to make informed decisions

Public Meeting to Discuss American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Georgia State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care will hold a public meeting to discuss its application for the federal state advisory council grant fund

Thomas County Family Connection Honors Local Legislators and Partners
Thomas County Family Connection honors local legislators and partners with its inaugural Power of the Network award.

$360,000 Grant Will Help Cook County Family Connection Get Residents Healthy
$360,000 grant will help Cook County Family Connection get residents healthy

Casey Foundation Merges Latest Research and Best Practices for Improving Areas of Child Well-Being
The latest version of the KIDS COUNT Indicator Briefs, updated in 2009, have been merged into one publication.

New Study Finds Young Children Most Often Missed in Census
The 2000 Census missed more than 1 million young children under age 10 and more than three-quarters of a million children under age 5, or nearly 4 percent of this population group.

Good Health a Growing Concern for All Georgians
Get Involved in Making Real Change in Health Reform

DFCS Announces Administrative Review Appeals Process for Caretakers
In the past, a child’s legal caretaker who has been the subject of a substantiated case of abuse and/or neglect has been allowed to request an administrative review of the case findings. The administrative reviews were conducted internally with no independent external review of the findings. A change in this process has been made.

Advocates Celebrate the Millionth Child Enrolled in Georgia’s Pre-K Program
Georgia Family Connection Partnership was one of 32 co-sponsors that rallied with Voices for Georgia’s Children on the steps of the state Capitol on Oct. 20 to step up for kids and celebrate the millionth child enrolled in Georgia’s Pre-K program.

Community Summit Sparks Dialog on Social Issues Related to Youth and Families
The Chatham-Savannah Youth Futures Authority (YFA) recently hosted its 2009 Community Summit, “Kids Matter! Securing the Futures of Our Youth & Families.”

Spalding County Collaborative Awarded Recovery Act Funding to Create Jobs
Spalding County Collaborative Authority for Families and Children awarded Recovery Act funding to create jobs and spur economic improvement

Peach County Family Connection to Host a Workshop on Domestic Violence
To coincide with National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Peach County Family Connections Collaborative will host a seminar titled “Breaking the Cycle, Beating the Odds” at Fort Valley State University, Founders Hall, Friday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m.-1p.m.

Application Deadline for 2010 Grassroots Arts Program Extended Due to Recent Disaster
In response to last week’s historic flood and the subsequent federal disaster declarations in this region, has extended the Grassroots Arts Program (GAP) application deadline to Nov. 1, 2009.

2009 “Step Up for Kids!” Essay Contest
Voices for Georgia’s Children invites students in grades K-12 to enter its essay contest. One winner will be selected in elementary, middle and high school.

Framework for Child Injury Prevention Planning Offers Coordinated Process to Prevent All Injuries
Childhood injuries and deaths associated with those injuries are a substantial source of emotional and economic burden on Georgians.

Georgia’s SAT Scores Fall for Third Straight Year and Continue to Trail National Averages
Georgia students continue to trail the nation in SAT achievement, high school on-time completion, and in national assessment tests. Averages are down 6 points from last year, while nationwide scores were down 2 points.

Georgia Council for the Arts Appoints GaFCP Regional Partner to Administer Grassroots Arts Program
This partnership is for fiscal year 2010 in the 11-county area serving Carroll, Cobb, Dekalb, Douglas, Haralson, Heard, Meriwether, Paulding, Pike, Troup, and Upson counties.

GaFCP Supports DECAL’s Proposed Changes to Current Child Care Services Rules
DECAL extends period for public comment and will hold community forums across the state.

Georgia Drops in KIDS COUNT Ranking
State Now 42nd in Nation in Child Well-Being

Georgia Drops in KIDS COUNT Ranking State—Now 42nd in Nation in Child Well-Being
National Study Shows Georgia Is at a Tipping Point for Improving Lives of Our Children and on the Verge of Becoming a Majority-Minority State