Family Connection regroups
By JACQUIE BRASHER

ATTENDING FAMILY CONNECTION MEETING

Emanuel County Family Connection is regrouping and restructuring its committees and is looking for people who are interested in serving. Candy Powers, coordinator, held an introductory meeting Wednesday, Oct. 10 at Swainsboro-Emanuel County Recreation Department to get the ball rolling. About 20 local residents from various occupational fields attended the meeting.

Attendees at the meeting were given plan summaries and fact sheets explaining the mission of Family Connection. Apub- lic/private nonprofit project created by the state of Georgia, Family Connection is a collaborative committed to improving the quality of life for Georgia's families. The project helps to implement policies, programs and practices for Georgia's communities. The project's three-year strategic plan is:

Goal 1: Teenagers in Emanuel County will delay sexual activity and parenthood. This committee's objective is to reduce the teen pregnancy rate for girls ages 15-17 from 42.5 per 1,000 in 2004 to 39.5 per 1,000 by 2009. Strategy: Through community partnerships, teens will be offered a variety of educational and health-related services dealing with postponing sexual involvement.

Goal 2: All children in Emanuel County will graduate high school. Objective here is to decrease the dropout rate of students in grades 9-12 in Emanuel County from 5.9 percent in 2003 to 4.5 percent by 2009. Strategy: Students will be offered comprehensive traditional and non-traditional educational programs, and families will be provided needed support services.

Goal 3: All children in Emanuel County will be safe from abuse and neglect. Objective on this committee is to decrease the number of substantiated cases of child abuse from 2.5 per 1,000 in 2004 to 1.9 per 1,000 by 2009. Strategy: Community education and cross-agency training will be offered and intervention services will be provided to victims of abuse and their families.

A major consensus among the people at the meeting was that parent involvement is key to a healthy, productive child in school. Many said that parents "can't wait until kids are in trouble" before they get involved. Another area of concern mentioned was the high dropout rate in Emanuel County, especially at or before the 9th grade level. Other topics discussed included afterschool tutoring, art programs and parenting workshops. These major issues will be the focus of Family Connection in the next three years.

Anyone interested in being a part of Family Connection may call Candy Powers at Emanuel County Board of Education, 237- 6674. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 9:30 a.m. at Swainsboro-Emanuel County Recreation Department's meeting room.

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