AdvOCAcy : your child welfare update, 2019 October

Office of the
Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update

October 2019

Page 1

The Summit: Georgia's Child Welfare Conference

The unedited voices of young people who have been in care:

Are you one of over 600+ child welfare professionals

who are registered for The Summit, Georgia's Child Welfare

Conference? The Georgia Office of the Child Advocate,

As part of this year's Summit: Georgia's Child

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, and Georgia Welfare Conference, youth in foster care are encour-

Supreme Court's Committee on Justice for Children are aged to participate in the Summit Youth Art Contest

excited to host their third annual Summit on November 13- with the theme "This is ME". This has been an oppor-

15, 2019 at the Hotel at Avalon in Alpharetta. During the Sum- tunity for youth to express themselves: What makes

mit, we hope to see many pho-

you who you are, who you are becoming, or who you

tos and social media posts and

want to be? Click here to learn how youth can share

encourage the attendees to use

their voices through the Summit Youth Art Contest.

the hashtag #TheSummit2019. Click here to learn more about the exciting workshops, plenary speakers, networking opportu-

We are receiving artwork through November 4th. Below is an excellent example of how powerful youth voices are in our state:

nities, and our new

"Courageous Conversations"!

We look forward to seeing

many of you there!

As part of #TheSummit2019, we encourage attendees to bring

new or gently used children's books to the Summit which will

be distributed throughout the state to share the gift and ad- "My work shows me being trapped by 4 things; Rules,

venture of reading to our youth in foster care. If you would like Expectations, love, and family. The family web is

to donate your books in advance, please contact OCA Investi- slightly torn to represent my distance from family and

gator Shantelle Whitehead at swhitehead@oca.ga.gov.

to show one can never truly be free." - J.G. (Age: 17)

Office of the
Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update

October 2019

Page 2

Celebrating Georgia Pre-K Week and Highlighting The Head Start Program

By LaVenus Brown

The Head Start program began in 1964. Its purpose was de-

East Dublin Head Start/Middle signed to help promote access to education among disadvantaged Georgia Community Action Agency and low income families of preschool age. As a parent, I was able to

have the experience of a child taking part in the Head Start program. After relocating to Georgia from

New York, I enrolled my son into the Head Start program. This ultimately led to my employment with

the program through Middle Georgia Community Action Agency (MGCAA) in 1995 until present. While

looking for employment, I was offered the opportunity to become a parent volunteer. I really enjoyed this opportuni-

ty, but the reward of positively interacting with children was even greater. I was eventually offered a job as a teacher,

and worked my way up to my current position as a Center Manager of East Dublin Head Start.

During my time with this program, I have come in contact with so many great families, and watched them become self -sufficient in life. Within the MGCAA-Head Start program, several parents and their children have become outstanding employees of the agency. This is a plus for working with such an agency that looks to not only educate the children, but assure their parents feel they are an important part of the program. My most rewarding moment happened when one of my parents came to me and said she had received her degree in nursing. This is a parent who started out coming to the parent meetings and articulating the hardships she was facing. She came and talked See PRE-K, Page 7

Llama Llama Red Pajama
For Georgia Pre-K Week, OCA Director Rachel Davidson visited with students at East Dublin Head Start to engage them in reading the children's book Llama Llama Red Pajama by author Anna Dewdney. This was also a great way to kick-off October as "Book Month" by showing how reading can be fun and educational for children and their families. Thank you to all educators and education professionals for your service for our students in Georgia!

Office of the Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children
October 2019
Receiving HOPE Center

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update
Page 3

In early 2020, Wellspring Living will open the doors to a center focused on serving trafficked youth through identification, stabilization, and placement. The picture above outlines the various services and care youth will receive at this center. The picture below is a glimpse into a portion of a common living area in the new center. Contact info@wellspringliving.org if you are interested in helping their efforts to fully furnish and outfit the new center.
The Georgia Conference on Children and Families hosts an annual awards luncheon during their annual conference. Pictured here are many of the award winners. Congratulations to all who received an award! Thank you for all that
you do for Georgia's children!

Office of the
Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update

October 2019

Page 4

Keeping Georgia's Children a Priority

National SIDS Awareness Month

The Georgia Child Fatality Review Panel held its annual strategic planning session at Lake Blackshear Resort and Conference Center and focused on reducing the number of preventable deaths of children in Georgia. An overview of data from 2018 illustrated that most causes of children's deaths were preventable, included those caused by suicide, homicide, and sleep-related situations. A special presentation was also made to Douglas County Juvenile Court Judge Peggy Walker, who has served as the interim chair of CFR during 2019. Judge Walker recently announced her retirement at the end of this year from Juvenile Court. Her contributions to both CFR and the child welfare system are far-reaching!

October marks the observance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness month. As of 2018, Georgia averages three infant deaths every week due to SIDS and other sleep-related deaths. Many of these deaths result from accidental suffocation, overlay, and entrapment. Georgia has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country. Sleep -related infant deaths occur suddenly, but parents and caregivers can reduce the risk of these deaths by following the ABCs of safe sleep. Click here for more information.

Office of the Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children
October 2019

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update
Page 5

Office of the Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children
October 2019
We are sad to say "Goodbye" to one of Georgia's long-serving juvenile court judges. Judge Ben Brinson served as a juvenile court judge in the Atlantic Judicial Circuit for almost 20 years. He passed away on October 23, 2019. In addition to serving as a juvenile court judge, he also served as President of the Council of Juvenile Court Judges after having served on the Executive Committee for several years. He was an active member of the Council, participating in multiple committees and regularly advocating for his peers and children in need. Judge Brinson, thank you for your service!

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update
Page 6

Above: Judge Ben Brinson, along with other judges who have served as Presidents of the Council of Juvenile Court Judges.
Left: Judge Ben Brinson on a panel of past presidents of the Council of Juvenile Court Judges (CJCJ) during the Fall CJCJ Seminar.
Are you interested in helping a child in foster care for the holidays? Participate in the annual Secret Santa
program! Learn more here.

Walton DFCS staff helped children in care celebrate Halloween by decorating their offices, dressing up, and inviting children to trick-or-treat through the
hallways! Happy Halloween!

Office of the
Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update

October 2019

Page 7

First Lady Kemp Visits Berrien and Lowndes Counties

Georgia's First Lady Marty Kemp visited Berrien County earlier in October at the ribbon cutting for the county's new Family and Children Services building. She also visited the Greater Valdosta United Way office to visit with representatives of the Lowndes County Child Advocacy Center and The Haven. During her visits, First Lady Kemp discussed ways that they could work together to serve children in the local communities.

First Lady Kemp with the Greater Valdosta United Way team

First Lady Kemp with the Berrien County DFCS and CAC

PRE-K cont'd...

with me, and stated that she couldn't take her children out for family night. I shared with her how I would buy things like: popcorn, drinks, and a bag of candy from the dollar store

(while using my saved coupons). I would also purchase the store brand pizza. My son and I

would mix the popcorn and candy together to make our own party mix, while watching a movie or show on television. And

this became our family night twice a bond. Once she was able to complete you. What is it you would want to do for to be an influence to her children, and worked to get her enrolled, and obtain her education journey. From there she she is now currently working in the hoswho completed the Head Start program

Head Start provides a range of services in the areas of education and early childhood development, in-
cluding: Medical, dental, and mental health Nutrition Parent involvement and family support Literacy

month, so that me and my son can this task, I told her now let's work on yourself? She responded, she wanted go back to school. Together we all the financial aid available to benefit took off, completing her degree and pital. I still see her and her children and they are holding good jobs.

As a Head Start and child advocate, I reach out to anyone I see who has a small child that could benefit from the services that the Head Start has to offer. Head Start promotes the school readiness of children ages 3 to 5 by encouraging their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Head Start recognizes that parents are a child's first teacher and also aims to empower them for a lifelong role in the child's maturation and learning.

Head Start promotes the school readiness of children ages 3 to 5 by encouraging their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Head Start recognizes that parents are a child's first teacher and also aims to empower them for a lifelong role in the child's
maturation and learning.

Office of the Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children
October 2019

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update
Page 8

Atlanta Pride Parade
Chris 180, a nonprofit organization serving LGBTQIA+ youth and youth in foster care, shared information about their
services and celebrated with many others as part of the Atlanta Pride parade this month. To learn more about Chris 180, click here.

Office of the Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children
October 2019

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update
Page 9

Nov. 13 is World Kindness Day!
Upcoming Events:
Nov. 4: DFCS Region 9 Youth Town Hall in Dublin. More info here. Nov. 6: Human Trafficking Training for Law Enforcement, First Responders, EMS, Prosecutors, and Judges in Forsyth. More info here. Nov. 13-15: The Summit: Georgia's Child Welfare Conference at the Hotel at Avalon in Alpharetta. More info here. Nov. 18: Connected Caregiver Training in Savannah. More info here. Nov. 20: Webinar on Georgia legislative updates. More info here. Dec. 4: Connections Matter training in Athens. More info here. Dec. 5-7: Teens R 4 Me Conference in Atlanta. More info here.

Office of the Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children
October 2019

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update
Page 10

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO DOWNLOAD THE SUBMISSION FORM.

Office of the
Child Advocate
For Georgia's Children

AdvOCAcy
Your child welfare update

October 2019

Page 11

Annual Youth Protection Seminar
Highlighted by Renee Moore, Senior OCA Investigator
On October 10, 2019 the annual Youth Protection Seminar was hosted by the Atlanta Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Cobb County. Chief Erika Shields with the Atlanta Police Department and Dave Moody with C.D. Moody Construction Company, Inc. were the keynote speakers. Child welfare workers, law
enforcement, community stakeholders and partners attended the one day seminar to learn about Sextortion, Social Emotional Development, Responding to Reports of Abuse, Suicide/Mental Health First Aid, and Building Resilience in our Youth among other topics. The seminar was a huge success and we are looking forward to next year. Thank you to all who attended!

2019 Child Welfare Health Summit
The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services held its first Child Welfare Health Summit on October 10th at the Methodist Home for Children in Macon. The Health Summit brought together key leaders and direct youth service support providers within Georgia's child welfare system to ensure that Georgia has a vision and common language moving forward in serving the behavioral health and medical needs of the state's most vulnerable population. As pictured below, Dr. Priyanka Patel (Medical Director with the Georgia Department of Human Services) explained the types of psychotropic medications, best practices for keeping records, methods to ensure that youth are not receiving less or more medications than needed, and the importance of the youth's parent/guardian understanding what informed consent for such medications require.

Georgia Office of the Child Advocate for the Protection of Children Rachel Davidson, Director https://oca.georgia.gov 7 MLK Jr. Blvd, Ste. 347 Atlanta, GA 30334
For general inquiries, assistance, or to file a complaint: Phone: (404) 656-4200 Internet: https://oca.georgia.gov/
webform/request-oca-assistance-orinvestigation
To submit an article for the newsletter: Jansen Head: jhead@oca.ga.gov

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