Overview

Family Connection is the largest statewide network of community collaboratives in the nation focused on improving results for children and families. In Georgia, 154 of the 159 counties are currently active in the process. Each collaborative serves as the local decision-making body for its community and develops and implements a plan with strategies to improve results in one or more of five areas: healthy children, children ready for school, children succeeding in school, strong families, and self-sufficient families. Collaborative members include educational and business leaders, local elected officials, faith-based and civic organizations, public and private service providers, families, and other concerned citizens. Family Connection was created in 1991 as a public/private partnership that included the Georgia departments of Education, Human Resources, and Medical Assistance; Woodruff, Whitehead, and Kirbo foundations; and former Governor Zell Miller. It started with 15 communities (based around the school system) focused on high school graduation.

Family Connection Partnership (FCP) supports the community collaboratives through training and technical assistance; building and maintaining relationships with public and private agencies to promote public policy and improve services and supports for families; promoting "what works" using research and evaluation; enhancing public awareness and commitment to improve results for children and families; and by managing the state allocation for community planning and implementation.

The FCP website, www.gafcp.org/, provides information about the Partnership and the local collaboratives.