Houston County Family Connection

Collaborative Meeting Agenda and Notes

July 11, 2016 * 12-1:30pm

Community Education

Houston County Family Connection Mission:

We bring together community partners in an effort to limit duplication and overlapping of services, then coordinate more efficient and effective service delivery, and ultimately, better results for families in Houston County, Georgia.

Meeting Purpose:

Participants will get updates on committee work

Participants will share resources and upcoming activities

Participants will network with other organizations

Introductions

Strategy Team Work Updates

Health Strategy goals: lower obesity rate and increase the nutritional value of foods our community eats.

Activities:

Meet me at the Market Event in October - Purpose of this event is twofold: 1. To bring resources to the community at an event that gets over 2,000 people each Thursday. 2. To encourage community to get out to the market and spend EBT $ (they double them) for healthy food options.

Food Pantry/Food Kitchen Health fairs – to promote resources to the community and improve the nutritional value and healthier use of foods they receive. The team has identified 6 food pantries/kitchens we will be working with for this fiscal year. The committee will ask them to complete a survey of how they get their food donations and we will help the organization to improve the quality of the donations through ask for this instead of this lists. Possible fresh food at food pantries…

Wholesome Wave Training on July 18th one open slot if anyone would like to go – email Tian no later than Friday the 15th.

Youth Strategy goals: Reduce youth recidivism

Activities:

Teen Maze– 2 meetings next meetingJuly 27th Teen Maze Planning Meeting 9am CGTC. Bldg G. Purpose:

“To increase understanding of personal responsibility and the importance of making positive choices”

Vision:

A Healthier Houston County

Data has been collected for this event. Please be aware we may not see any changes in the data for 2 -5 years. Some data shows the largest increases is when youth are 19 – 21 (STD and Pregnancy numbers). Teen Maze is a prevention program, therefore the students going through the maze will take 3-4 years to be 19 -21yrs old where we can then see impact of the decrease in STD, pregnancy numbers.

Please sign up for a committee: See attached. These Signup sheets will be at each monthly meeting until December.

DJJ Support– Need someone to take the lead on this strategy. Need: research the current resources and identify the gaps and holes in services. Tian has met with DJJ and has some data/Resources. After assessing the services, this team will determine if additional services are needed or how to proceed

Committee Updates

Grant Team – Committee Members – Kim, Stuart, Tian, Brittney.

Purpose – identify grants/funding streams that Houston County collaborative partners may be eligible. Tian will email Grant summary to collaborative. Grant summary received to date: one. Once the committee has your organizations form, then the committee will research grants that may fit into your proposal. You will be notified of any grants that are located. You will then choose if you want to apply for the grant or not. The Grant committee can help you, but it is the organizations responsibility to apply. Connections on the Parkway is considering offering grant writing classes for a fundraiser in the future. Family Connections will also continue to offer trainings quarterly and will research a Grant writing 101 training in October, November, December Quarter.

Resource Fair – Committee Members – Joy, Monika, LaTorey, Tian, Kim Greer, Kim Ritchie

Purpose – to identify and connect resource partners in Houston County.

The Houston Health Complex would entertain hosting a resource fair to include doctor’s offices.

Event Planning Committee – Committee Members – Joy, Tomieka, Tian

Purpose – Raise Funds for programs and needs of the collaborative, celebrate our partnerships, and accomplishments. Researching a facility, caterers, and Casino rental businesses. Looking at event in the Fall Aug/Sept.

Data Training - Save the Date

A Data Training is scheduled for August 9thsometime between 9am -12pm at Educare. Tian is waiting for the presenter to get back to her with the actual training topic around DATA. Those who completed and returned the Data information sheet will be invited to the training first, any open slots will be opened to the collaborative until filled.

DECAL Grant Update

Houston County Family Connections received this grant to help reduce barriers for parent engagement at the libraries in Houston County. The grant will provide funding for a Spanish interpreter at each library one hour per week and a Spanish Story time, Marketing Materials, and FREE rides on the WRT bus to the library for story times. If your agency would like to participate in this grant, you must attend the orientation event on July 29th at 9am at Educare please RSVP to Tian (see attached invitation)

Partner News/Updates/Activities

Middleton Education Outreach is having Community Block Party every third Friday. See Attached flyer. Vendors are welcome.

CASA superhero Fun is Coming August 27th–See attached flyer.

Single Mom’s Connect Annual Celebration July 24th at Peavy Park. They are looking for Vendors for their event. See attached flyer and vendor form.

Partner Spotlight –

Salvation Armybegan over 150 years ago in London England. The main purpose was to reach out to share the gospel meeting the physical, spiritual, mental and health needs. They quickly realized the devastation in England was great in a particular area and focused their efforts to help offer food, clean home education (for health and safety). Now Salvation Army is in 127 countries. The organization still has an evangelical and community needs focus. Salvation Army in Houston County operates a Safe House serving the Houston, Pulaski and Peach counties. If persons outside of these counties need help, they will not be turned away, they will help them find a place. Salvation Army is the place to send referrals for Temporary Order of Protection. The Houston County Protocol has identified HC Salvation Army for this purpose. Outreach services include: Christmas Toy collection, Red Bell Ringers, Veterans and Homeless outreach (have a day center with washer, dryers and showers – hoping to get up and open in the near future – if someone you know has this need, please have them contact Captain Ruth), 24/7 Voucher program. The greatest need they have are Diapers, TP, Tissue Paper,

Priss N Frankgoal: building healthy communities. The center is a family friendly facility where families can engage with one another in activities they would do at home, cooking, playing outside, other activities in a safe environment. Services: Visitation Center for children and families in Foster Care. Transportation to/from visitations – will go as far as Atlanta & Valdosta to their center. Emergency Services for children entering foster care; Aftercare follow up and Home assessments.

Services for general public: Parenting Classes – in home and at the center; Counseling adult/child in home or at center; Mentoring/Tutoring; Clothes closet with adult/child clothes and shoes; Food Pantry,

Next Partner Spotlight:

NEXT MEETING:

August 8th, 2016. Noon -1:30pm at Community Education at Houston Health Complex - in the old mall on Houston Road and Watson behind Checkers – Entrance E3. Call for directions: 478-923-9771.

Upcoming:

July 13th Resource Fair Meeting @ HHC Community Education 3pm

July 20th Book Bag Stuffing 10am location to be announced

July 22nd Back 2 School Bash 9am – 2pm

July 23rd Unity in Community 5K and Festival

July 27th Teen Maze Planning Meeting 9am CGTC

July 28th County Wide Planning Meeting County Commissioners Office 4pm

July 29th DECAL grant Partner Meeting Community Education – Educare see attached invitation

August 8th Family Connection Collaborative Meeting

August 9th Data Training Community Education 9am - 12pm Invitation to follow

August 12th Health Strategy Meeting Community Education 2:30pm

August 13th Spanish Health/Resource fair 10am – 1pm

August 27th CASA Superhero Run

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