When the State of Georgia's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) announced that it would offer a small amount of funding to counties that participate in the Communities of Opportunity, local City and County officials agreed to use Family Connection's juvenile delinquency prevention strategy, Elementary School Community Action Prevention Environment (E.S.C.A.P.E.), as the program for the grant. The E.S.C.A.P.E. program began last spring in 2 county elementary schools.
On Friday, November 13th, Georgia Department of Community Affairs Commissioner, Mike Beatty, was in Bainbridge to sign the contract with the City of Bainbridge and Decatur County for funding for the E.S.C.A.P.E. program. Pictured signing the contract are left to right City of Bainbridge Mayor Mark Harrell, Decatur County Commission Chairman Palmer Rich and DCA Commissioner Mike Beatty.
Decatur County is one of 91 Georgia counties that has been recognized as a persistent poverty county. In 2007, Governor Sonny Perdue and the Georgia Rural Development Council created the Communities of Opportunity (Co-Op) initiative. This is a collaborative, locally-driven community development strategy focused on enhancing the economic vitality of rural Georgia communities and administered by the DCA.
Ami Mejia, Decatur Family Connection Coordinator stated, "This has truly been a community effort. The community really came together when we started this approximately two years ago with the Town Hall meetings." She said that a program to address issues in the county was developed but that there were no funds to implement it. "I appreciate our community leaders for believing in our vision."
The E.S.C.A.P.E. program is currently in 2 elementary schools, John Johnson and Potter Street. Representatives from both schools attended the signing. Left to right: Kathy Varner, John Johnson Elementary Principal, Decatur County Family Connection Coordinator Ami Mejia and Potter Street Elementary Assistant Principal Jeanette Grimsley
"We're very excited about what you are doing here." Commissioner Beatty said. "Of all the strategies I've looked at, this is the most interesting and challenging. Our partnership with Family Connection is so important, they do great things." Commissioner Beatty stated that everyone in the community, including both City and County officials need to help in order for the E.S.C.A.P.E. program to be successful. "I would like for all of you to make this something really, really special. Something that the rest of the state could look at and say,'they got it right'".
The E.S.C.A.P.E. program began again shortly after the school year started. Currently a total of twenty students from two different elementary schools who were referred to E.S.C.A.P.E. by the school administration, and with the parents consent participate. E.S.C.A.P.E. is not a school program, but a community initiative. Elementary school-age students experiencing behavior problems that interferes with their ability to learn are identified and join the program.
A coordinated network of community-based services and supports, provide these students and their families with mentoring, tutoring, conflict resolution, parenting classes, information on the 40 developmental assets, and linkages to local community services and youth development and enrichment activities.
The cost of the initiative for March 2009 through June 2010 was $26,885. $13,560 was donated through in-kind services from Samaritan Counseling Center which is providing the conflict resolution groups for the students. The remaining $13,325 was the cash cost to Family Connection. The DCA Communities of Opportunity Grant will provide $5,000, while the remaining $8,325 was raised locally.
The expectation is that school administrators will see a decrease in discipline referrals and behavior problems in the students who participate in the initiative and according to administrators from the participation school that is happening. The ultimate goal is that these students graduate from high school and become successful at home, school and in their community.
The Youth Development Strategy Team will monitor the program outcomes throughout the year and expect to apply for a larger System of Care grant from the Governor's Office of Children and Families next year. Additional funding would expand the initiative to serve students in all of the elementary schools.
Mentors for the E.S.C.A.P.E. program are needed. If you would like to volunteer for this or any Decatur County Family Connection program or want more information about Decatur County Family Connection, please contact Ami Mejia at 229-243-6451 or amejia@bainbridge.edu.
