Pete Colbenson, PH.D., will be in Bainbridge Thursday to speak to several organizations.  He will address the Chamber of Commerce breakfast Thursday morning, (NOTE Chamber breakfast will be at the Bainbridge Country Club) and the Kiwanis Club at noon.  Dan Provence is also hosting a dinner at Springhill Tree Farm for Dr. Colbenson on Thursday evening in conjuction with Decatur County Family Connection.

Pete Colbenson is the Director of the Children and Youth Coordinating Council, a leading funder in the state for services to youth.  He is also on the Georgia Family Connection Partnership Board.

Dr. Colbenson will review the CYCC's mission to assist local communities in preventing juvenile delinquency through the provision of state and federal grants, technical assistance, training of service providers and juvenile justice law projects.  CYCC currently funds over 200 Georgia programs totaling approximately $11.5 million.

He will also speak about the issues facing us today and how we may be able to address these issues through state and local partnerships.

As Director of the Children and Youth Coordinating Council, Dr. Colbenson assists Georgia communities in preventing juvenile delinquency through the provision of state and federal grants totaling over $11 million annually, offering technical assistance and training of service providers.   In a dual capacity, he also serves as Georgia's Juvenile Justice Specialist, providing contact with the US Department of Justice relative to Georgia's juvenile justice system.

Dr. Colbenson has worked with the Children and Youth Coordinating Council for over twelve years, culminating with his appointment as Director in July 2001.   He previously worked with the Department of Juvenile Justice in a number of positions, including Director of the Clayton Regional Youth Detention Center and Director of a juvenile offender program in Gwinnett County.

Dr. Colbenson holds a B.A. from the University of Tennessee and a Ph.D. from Georgia State University.  He lives in East Atlanta with his wife, Kathy.