Family Connection Day held at Capitol

Pam Brown, Mandy Underwood and Julie Chance represent Jenkins County during Family Connection Day at the Capitol on Feb. 14. (Photo contributed)

Representatives from Jenkins County and 111 other counties from across the state converged on the Capitol to celebrate Family Connection Day and to acknowledge our legislative leaders for their ongoing support of the Georgia Family Connection network.

"When we're at the Capitol with this many counties that have a passion for improving the outcomes for children and families, we leave a tremendous impression on our state leaders," said Gaye Smith, executive director of Family Connection Partnership."

In a proclamation declaring Feb. 14 as Family Connection Day, Gov. Sonny Perdue encouraged all citizens to join him in supporting the Family Connection network's vision, goals, and principles to ensure that people, resources, programs and funding are combined in ways that will provide comprehensive solutions to the problems children and families face.

Keynote Timothy Mescon, dean of the Michael J. Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University, underscored the power of partnerships and the groundbreaking work of Family Connection by expressing the need to set higher bars, overcome obstacles, and work together to improve the outcomes for children in Georgia.

"We believe that no single agency, public or private, or citizens group, can achieve the outcomes we seek for children alone," said Smith. "We must do this work- together- in ways that are effective and efficient. But that work begins when talented and dedicated people get involved at the local level."

The Jenkins County Family Enrichment Center (JCFEC) is located at 527 Barney Avenue. JCFEC serves as the Family Connection collaborative for Jenkins County. The next collaborative meeting will be held on Thursday, March 6, at 6: 15 p.m. at the Millen United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. The collaborative welcomes community participation.

Georgia Family Connection is a statewide network of 159 counties that have made a commitment to improve results for children, families and communities. Each collaborative is a public/private partnership supported by the state and the private sector to address the serious challenges facing children and families in Georgia.