Each collaborative serves as the local decision-making body, bringing community partners together to develop, implement, and evaluate plans that address the serious challenges facing Georgia’s children and families. Collaboratives build a team of diverse partners committed to improving the quality of life in their communities. Each collaborative coordinates a planning process that identifies needs
and resources, sets goals and priorities, evaluates programs and practices, and measures and reports results for their county. Collaboratives work closely with communities to:
Foster relationships with local partners
Increase policymakers’ awareness of local issues
Implement proven programs and practices
Leverage additional funding to support community plans
Partners
Collaborative partners include families, local business and civic leaders, local elected officials, faith-based and school-based organizations, and public/private human service providers. Each collaborative is part of the Family Connection statewide network supported by Family Connection Partnership, a state-level public/private nonprofit. History
1991 - Created by the State of Georgia and funders in response to Georgia ranking 48th in the nation in child well-being, according to the first KIDS COUNT report
1995 - Adopted Georgia’s framework for measuring community and state progress in five areas:
Healthy children
Children ready for school
Children succeeding in school
Strong families
Self-sufficient families
2004 - Expanded to all 159 counties across the state
