Mission Statement:
The Washington County Family & Children First Council promotes coordination and collaboration among county and local governments, non-profit organizations, businesses, schools and families in a manner which fosters wellness and self-sufficiency for families.
From the President…
Dear Community Member
The past fiscal year has been a “bitter–Sweet” experience for the Council in-that state and federal reduced funding has been a challenge throughout the year leaving the staff, and many of the participating agencies wondering how the financial wind would blow regarding assistance programs for Washington County children and families.
By state statute, County Family and Children First Councils are charged with community oversight and planning responsibility for youth services. Consistent with this charge, counties are anxious to partner with the State to assure that children receive the needed services, such as, Help Me Grow, prevention of abuse & neglect assistance, Service Coordination, child/youth mentoring, teen career development and other beneficial programs to which they and their families are entitled.
The Help Me Grow program continues to provide wonderful assistance to new families and serves a vast birth-to-3 population; Service Coordination has been very successful in reducing the number of out-of-home child placements (a very costly process); parenting training classes have been initiated both internally and externally with a contracted provider; and a Teen Career Initiative with all the county schools has been in existence for 4 years and is proving to assist many 10 – 12 grade students make better career choices for improved transition into adulthood.
All in all, it’s been another year of challenges with many successes, thanks to our dedicated staff and council members. And, our next fiscal year appears to be basically the same with the many budgetary constraints imposed again. Our focus in 2011-2012 will be on more and more community collaboration to help the various agencies of council meet these needs. It is a time for each of us to become more “proactive” in assisting our children to become better and healthier adults. Remember, our future depends on these great kids as they grow into adulthood. Plan now to be a part of this important effort.
Allen Brokaw, President
Washington County Family & Children First Council is a collaboration of mandated members per Ohio Revised Code 121.37 as well as local partners:
*City of Marietta
Community Business Representative
*Early Intervention Representative
*Frontier Local Schools
L & P Services, Inc.
*Marietta City Health Department
*Marietta City Schools
Marietta Memorial Hospital
*Ohio Department of Youth Services
Ohio State University Extension
*Parent Representatives (3)
*Project Head Start
*Washington County Board of Developmental Disabilities
*Washington County Children Services
*Washington County Commission
*Washington County Department of Job and Family Services
*Washington County Health Department
Washington County Juvenile Court
*Washington County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Board
*Washington/Morgan Community Action Program
*Mandated Members
MORE INFORMATION
Washington County Family & Children First Council Bylaws
FCF Council Member Roster 2012
2012 Council Meeting Calendar
2010 Annual Report