ATHENSCOMMUNITY

PLANFOR

CHILDREN

family connection-communities in schools of athens presents the whatever it takes

Have you ever been to one of those kids bowling birthday parties where they set up the bowling bumpers down the sides of the alley? Every child who rolls the ball knocks down some pins. When you think of Whatever It Takes (WIT) think of those bowling bumpers.

WIT seeks to take all of the institutions and resources that serve Athens’ children and create a seamless longitudinal network of support so that every child in Athens is healthy, safe, engaged in the community and successful in school and life.

This initiative chooses to focus on education as the ultimate measure of a child’s success. We feel strongly that a post-secondary education is needed for today’s young adults. While not every young adult needs to graduate with an astrophysics degree from a four year university, they each need a marketable skill that can be taken into the workplace. As such our goal is that at 1 p.m. on Wednesday July 1st, 2020 every child in Athens will be on course to graduate from a post-secondary education, be it vocational school, military service, technical school, or four year university.

Is this even possible?

Yes. In fact it is a logical extrapolation from many great successes over the last fifteen years. This community has seen remarkable improvement in areas such as school truancy, substantiated cases of abuse and neglect, and high school graduation rates among others. This progress has been possible because the institutions serving Athens’ children now work collaboratively.

When you’re able to get everyone rowing together, in the same direction, at the same time some really impressive things can happen.

WIT is not a program; it is collaborative process. WIT is a collection of over seventy institutional partners, youth, and the families we serve. WIT is the Clarke County School District, neighborhood leaders, Habitat for Humanity, the UGA College of Education and many more. WIT is you.

During this last year over five hundred people have worked thousands of hours to put together the Athens Community Plan for Children to create a seamless longitudinal network of support from preconception to post-secondary graduation. This work has developed into seventy-seven evidence based solutions addressing the needs and leveraging the strengths unique to our community. Frankly, we’re incredibly proud that our town has produced such an amazing plan. Together these solutions represent one of the most strategic and aggressive efforts ever undertaken to ensure the success of every child in a community.

Take a second and think about a young adult you know who defied the statistics and succeeded. Think of all the good that has come from that success. Now think of a young adult who failed as has come to be expected and all the consequences that have come from that failure. As James Baldwin said, “These are all our children, and we will benefit by or pay for what they become.”

Successful children create successful communities.

Lewis D. Earnest M.D.President, Board of DirectorsFamily Connection-Communities In Schools of Athens

Welcome

Tim JohnsonExecutive DirectorFamily Connection-Communities In Schools of Athens

Early Care & LearningPages 3-4

K-12Pages 5-8

Post-Secondary & CareerPages 9-10

Health & WellnessPages 11-12

Safety & Community StabilityPages 13-14

Neighborhood EngagementPages 15-18

Whatever It Takes CollaborationPages 19-20

Get InvolvedPages 21-22

Athens Community Plan For Children

Whatever It Takes is an initiative of Family Connection-Communities In Schools of AthensP.O. Box 1904 Athens, GA 30603 • 706-369-9732 • info@witathens.org

In your hands is an overview of the 77 solutions for childhood success that were created by strategic action teams made up of Athens experts including parents, teachers, students, doctors, nurses, business owners, law

enforcement officials, social workers, the creative community, the faith community and more.

The complete document with all 77 solutions is available online at www.witathens.org/acpc.

When you are finished reading this book please consider passing it on to a friend. If you must dispose of it, please recycle. Thanks!

www.witathens.orgfollow us on Twitter @witathens

connect on Facebook at facebook.com/witathens

ACPC Book Designed & Built by Ryan Lewis, WIT Communications Director • Content Produced with Erica Gilbertson, WIT Program Director

3

EARLY CARE & LEARNING

Featured Solution

“Children in quality early learning programs earn $20,000 more per year as adults and save the state $19,000 per year in remediation

and criminal justice costs.”(Reynolds 2004)

Parent Education & Family SupportACPC Solution 1.1

School Readiness Academy:Designed by the WIT Early Learning Network, the School Readiness Academy will provide on-going training and support to help parents be the first and best teacher of their own children while preparing them for kindergarten success. WIT Neighborhood Leaders (pages 15-18) will train, support and mentor parents to extend the impact of the Academy.

Family Literacy: Adult education and family literacy programs will be expanded at Athens Technical College (H.T. Edwards Campus), Athens-Clarke Literacy Council, Office of Early Learning and in neighborhood settings. GED, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and parent and child activities will be used to help parents improve their own educational achievement while reinforcing their children’s early learning.

Home Visitation: Prevent Child Abuse Athens will expand evidence-based home visitation through the Healthy Families Program. Home visits focus on positive parenting, child health, improved school readiness and family economics.

Laying the Foundation for Life Success

Scan this QR code with a smartphone QR reader app

into your internet browser to read the full text of all WIT Early Care and Learning solutions for childhood success.

or type: www.witathens.org/ecl

Sonya FreemanWIT Neighborhood Leader

Mother of Three

Mary HoodHealthy Families Program, PCAA

4

1.0 Establish WIT Early Learning Network

1.1 Parent Education & Family Support1.1.a Family Engagement1.1.b Neighborhood Parent Leadership1.1.c Family Literacy/GED/ESOL1.1.d Evidence-Based Home Visitation & Parent Support1.1.e Job Readiness & Training

1.2 Early Care & Education1.2.a Expand/Improve Quality Child Care1.2.b Family Child Care / Friend & Neighbor Care1.2.c Home Visitation1.2.d PreK-3rd Grade Alignment

1.3 Health, Nutrition & Wellness1.3.a Universal Screening & Assessment1.3.b Medical Home & Access to Health Insurance1.3.c Nutrition Education1.3.d Health Services for High Risk Mothers & Children1.3.e Social Emotional Behavioral Support

1.4 Child Care Workforce Development1.4.a Professional Development for All Providers1.4.b Quality Incentives for Centers & Homes

WIT Early Care & Learning Solutions

Rock Springs Day Care Center

Expand & ImproveQuality Child Care ProvidersACPC Solution 1.2.a

In order to build on the Office of Early Learning’s outstanding programs, coaching and professional development on standards-based instruction will be provided to private centers and family child care providers to align instruction to Georgia Early Learning Standards (GELS) and Pre-K standards.

Professional learning will be increased beyond the normal state required hours. Professional learning will be provided to agencies that provide child care programs to support development through adult/child interactions.

ACPC Solution 1.2.a in action

In 2011 the non-profit Rocksprings Day Care Center earned national accreditation as a high quality early care and learning center. By demonstrating that they have achieved high standards of care and education of infants, toddlers and preschoolers, the Rocksprings Center has become National Association for the Education of Young Children accredited.

Rocksprings Child Day Care Center has been serving the children of Rocksprings and surrounding areas of Athens for 35 years in partnership with the Athens Housing Authority.

EARLY CARE & LEARNING

Featured Solution

“WIT is committed to doing Whatever It Takes so all children arrive in

kindergarten as confident, cooperative, eager young scholars”

Dr. Jean GowenWIT Early Care & Learning Strategic Action Team Chair

K-12

5

Scan this QR code with a smartphone QR reader app

into your internet browser to read the full text of all WIT K-12 solutions for childhood success.

or type: www.witathens.org/k12

Leo CotlarCIS Site Coordinator

Clarke Central High School

Featured Solution

Communities In Schools (CIS) Site CoordinatorsACPC Solution 2.8

Communities In Schools (CIS) Site Coordinators work in schools to identify students who are at risk of dropping out, evaluate school and student needs, and gather resources to address those needs.

Needs can range from academic assistance, to health care, counseling, transportation, mentoring and much more. Collaborating with principals, teachers, graduation coaches and other school support staff, CIS Site Coordinators forge community partnerships that bring resources into schools to help remove barriers to learning.

Funded in part by a grant from AT&T, CIS Site Coordinators work at Alps Rd Elementary, Clarke Middle School and Clarke Central High School with plans to expand the program in future years.

Lauren MedinaCIS Site Coordinator

Clarke Middle School

Clarke Middle SchoolAfterschool program

Clarke Central High SchoolUGA College Visit Field Trip

Succeeding in School and in Life

6

2.1 Professional Development Schools2.2 International Baccalaureate Program2.3 UGA Elementary Strings Project2.4 Project FOCUS (Fostering Our Community’s Understanding of Science)2.5 Field Trips to UGA2.6 School Social Workers2.7 School Behavior Specialists2.8 Communities In Schools (CIS) Site Coordinators2.9 Mentor Recruitment & Evaluation Project2.10 K-12 Mindful Awareness Practices2.11 Performance Learning Center2.12 CCSD Summer Program2.13 Books for Keeps2.14 YWCO Girls Club Summer Program Expansion2.15 K-12 Liaison Advocate (AmeriCorps VISTA position)

2.16 CCSD Afterschool Program2.17 Expand Service-Learning Opportunities2.18 Elementary Art Mentoring8.1 Information Literacy Initiative8.2 Expand Internet Access

WIT K-12 Solutions

Robert GuyACPC Solution 2.11 in action

One of ten children whose family had been homeless for years. He recalls hiding in the bushes when his stepfather was able to afford a one-person room at a hotel, with all the kids and mom sneaking in once he had the room. They arrived in Athens and, as in his previous high schools, he felt alienated and lost.

He transferred to Classic City High School / Performance Learning Center where he thrived, receiving individualized support and instruction, going on to attend Morehouse College on a full scholarship with plans to attend law school. He has testified before a joint Education Committee of the House and Senate (see photo) about his experience.

When we cite data we are talking about Robert Guy and thousands of successes like him. Such successes must be the expectation for all our children, not the exception.

K-12

7

K-12

Featured Solution

Professional Development SchoolsACPC Solution 2.1

Key personnel from the Clarke County School District and the UGA College of Education (UGA COE) have developed a Professional Development School (PDS) model in Athens as a strategy for improving classroom instruction, teacher retention, and student academic performance.

In 2011, Clarke Middle School and the Athens Community Career Academy (see page 10) began to function as PDSs, which include a UGA Professor-in-Residence who spends 2-3 days a week at the school. Half-time devoted to UGA COE instruction (supervising student interns or teaching a class on-site) and half-time devoted to service to the school.

At Clarke Middle School the PDS model supports implementation of the International Baccalaureate Program (see Solution 2.2) and at the Athens Community Career Academy the PDS model is supporting an emphasis on workplace ethics.

The odds of completing high school rise by 36% for children exposed to preschool.

(Heckman 2004)

“We believe what we have developed in Clarke County [professional development schools] is a national model for

universities and public school districts across the country.”Dr Phil Lanoue Superintendent, Clarke County School District

& Dr Andy Horne Dean, UGA College of Education

8

K-12

ACPC Solution 2.13

Books for Keeps started as one woman’s effort to help a child who loved to read but had no books at home. It grew into a grassroots movement to end summer slide in Athens by ensuring children have access to books of their own during summer.

Books for Keeps distributes books to Clarke County School District students ranging from Pre-K through 12th grade. The elementary school program is based on research that found giving economically-disadvantaged elementary school children 12 high-interest books each at the beginning of summer had an impact on reading achievement statistically similar to attending summer school.

In 2011 Books for Keeps provided 12,000 books to 1,000 elementary school students in Athens.

Books for Keeps is an inspiring home grown example of a person seeing a problem and dedicating herself to solving it. Founder Melaney Smith asked herself: “Why doesn’t somebody do something? It’s my typical question when I encounter an upsetting problem. But this time, I got an answer: I am somebody. I can do something.”

UGAWIT

UGA WIT seeks to harness the power of 34,000 University of Georgia students to improve the lives of children in Athens.

UGA WIT has specific goals: a network of 1000 volunteers such that when local agencies identify a student that needs a tutor, a coach, a mentor, or even just a pair of socks someone will be there; 400 tutors to work at after school programs such that every child in the neighborhood who needs a tutor gets one; and collection of 83,000 books for the nonprofit, Books for Keeps, to prevent summer learning loss. UGA WIT is already well on its way to achieving these lofty goals.

Books for Keeps

9

Post-Secondary & Career

Scan this QR code with a smartphone QR reader app

into your internet browser to read the full text of all WIT Post-Secondary & Career solutions for childhood success.

or type: www.witathens.org/psac

Featured Solution

College & Career Success OfficeACPC Solution 3.7

The College & Career Success Office will consist of a College Success Unit, focused on helping students enter and excel in college then transition to successful careers and a Career Education Unit to help students enter and complete training programs that teach job and career skills.

Beginning in elementary school, the College Success Unit will “talk up” and raise public awareness to promote college enrollment, particularly among under-represented groups.

Staff and volunteers will encourage more students to pursue college and assist them along the way, with the challenges they will face – from the financial aid and admission processes to time management and navigating the social and cultural environment. Key components will include: outreach, academic support, admissions and financial aid, workshops and training, scholarship information, internships/jobs, data collection and tracking and supporting those who are enrolled in college to increase retention.

Students and families will receive targeted support through “College 101” workshops. Admissions and financial aid professionals from higher education institutions, including UGA, Athens Technical College, and Gainesville College-Oconee campus will prepare and deliver neighborhood and school based workshops to families, middle and high school counselors, and student support staff.

Workshops will help families develop a resource network with the staff of area colleges and follow-up will come from WIT Neighborhood Leader “College 101” Specialists who will work one-on-one with students and families.

“People With a College Degree Will Make

Over Their Lifetime Than Those Without

a Degree”(US Census Bureau)

One Million Dollars More

Achieving the Dream

10

3.1 Athens Community Career Academy3.2 Increase Dual Enrollment3.3 College & Career Going Culture: Adopt-A-Class3.4 College & Career Going Culture: Teachers as Advisors3.5 College & Career Going Culture: Internships3.6 Career Based Learning Opportunities3.7 College & Career Success Office3.8 Achieving the Dream Network3.9 Expand Scholarship Opportunities3.10 Junior Achievement

WIT Post-Secondary& Career Solutions

Featured SolutionsAthens Community Career Academy & Increase Dual EnrollmentACPC Solutions 3.1 & 3.2

The Athens Community Career Academy is a collaborative venture among the Clarke County School District, UGA College of Education, Athens Technical College, and OneAthens. Courses are specifically designed to meet the needs of local business, industry and workforce; to change with labor market and local economic needs; and to provide opportunities for students to participate in pre-college and dual/joint enrollment.

Career pathways offered include Health Occupations, Law & Justice, Broadcast/Music Video Production, Business Information Technology, Marketing, and Engineering/Drafting/Design. All 10th-12th grade high school students in CCSD are eligible.

Dual enrollment programs - which provide high school students the opportunity to enroll in college courses while still in high school - are a key strategy for increasing high school graduation rates and easing the transition into post-secondary education.

The Athens Community Career Academy supports dual enrollment expansion with on-site college courses provided by Athens Technical College. Area colleges will deliver information on dual enrollment opportunities available at their institutions through Neighborhood Leader “College 101” Specialists who will share the information with residents throughout the community.

Fred Smith

“WIT represents possibility; sadly, climbing from poverty to the mainstream is proving much too elusive for far too many youth in our community. For kids in the neighborhood, WIT is the best hope for addressing this enormous community failure and helping them to realize their potential.”

Co-Chair WIT Post-Secondary & Career Strategic Action Team • District 4-North Director, Georgia Department of

Labor • Former Jack R. Wells Public Housing Resident

Post-secondary & Career

11

Health & Wellness

Scan this QR code with a smartphone QR reader app

into your internet browser to read the full text of all WIT Health & Wellness solutions for childhood success.

or type: www.witathens.org/hw

Featured Solution

Lay Health EducatorsACPC Solution 4.6

Neighborhood Leaders will serve as Lay Health Educators, receiving training in health and wellness education and bringing that knowledge into their community to share with neighboring families.

Lay Health Educators enhance provider-patient communication, preventive care, adherence to treatment, follow-up, and referral, disease self-management, and navigation of the health care system.

Lay Health Educators promote and build individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy in the community.

The Dalton, Georgia Lay Health Educators program prevented $2,379,061 worth of medical costs and had a 16:1 return on investment.

“We will change the culture in every neighborhood

throughout Athens such that excellence in

educational achievement is highly valued, celebrated,

and expected.”Tim Johnson

FC-CIS-WIT Executive Director

Growing Up Healthy: nutrition and exercise!

12

health & wellness

4.1 Physical Activity in Elementary Classrooms4.2 Active After-School Programs4.3 Nutrition Education4.4 Increase Access, Availability & Awareness of Fresh Local Produce (School/Community Gardens)4.5 Women, Infant & Children (WIC) Satellite Office4.6 Health System Navigator/Train Lay Health Educators4.7 Provide School-Based Nurses4.8 Dental Services4.9 Family Counseling Services in Early Learning, Elementary & Middle School4.10 Expand Mental Health Services in High School4.11 Health & Wellness Mindful Awareness Practices4.12 Teen Pregnancy Prevention4.13 Children’s Asthma Clinic4.14 Substance Abuse Support

WIT Health & Wellness Solutions

“It’s tempting to put problems in silos and assign them to different agencies and institutions like schools, courts,

DFCS, police, etc. What’s so special about Whatever It Takes is that the partnership is so wide ranging and cuts across all barriers of professional disciplines and institutions.

That collaboration has resulted in a plan that is comprehensive, with a goal that is

entirely reachable.”

Featured Solution

Mindful AwarenessACPC Solution 4.11

Mindful Awareness has global effects on the brain and behavior. Designed to enhance stress resilience and improve social-emotional learning for children, adolescents, and educators, Mindful Awareness is a solution that will have positive effects in all areas of the cradle to career continuum.

Neighborhood Leaders have begun Mindful Awareness training and have incorporated the practice into their meetings with great results.

The ultimate goal of the solution is to create a mindful culture within CCSD so that peaceful classrooms, attentive students and calm, resourceful parents and neighbors can work together for the success of all students.

Judge Robin Shearer WIT Safety & Community Stability Strategic Action Team Chair

Presiding Juvenile Court Judge, Western Judicial Circuit

13

Safety & Community Stability

Scan this QR code with a smartphone QR reader app

into your internet browser to read the full text of all WIT Safety & Community Stability solutions for childhood success.

or type: www.witathens.org/scs

Featured Solution

“The most effective crime prevention

initiative in Athens has

been Family Connection’s work

to reduce teen pregnancy.”

Jack Lumpkin Athens-Clarke County Police Chief

Affordable HousingACPC Solution 6.3

Community stability is enhanced by affordable housing options. A WIT Neighborhood Leader will serve as a Housing Advocate Specialist who will advocate for affordable housing, collaborate with Athens Housing Authority (AHA) to address resident concerns, serve on the AHA Inter-Community Council, serve on OneAthens Housing Team, and address neighborhood housing concerns.

Habitat for Humanity: Habitat for Humanity of Athens has procured the land and is moving forward to build 5 new homes with families to provide affordable housing in addition to a number of beautification and structural repair projects. Athens Housing Authority (AHA): A “HOPE VI like” strategy is currently planned to begin in 2012 for the Jack R. Wells community. The present 125 public housing dwelling units will be demolished and replaced with a mixed-income, potentially mixed-use complex.

The current number of public housing units will be maintained with several hundred additional tax-credit and market-rate units being added to the existing site. The end product will be market-rate quality for all units and include amenities and resident services not currently possible under the low-rent public housing program.

Providing Opportunities for Success

Jack R. Wells Neighborhood

14

5.1 Athens-Clarke County Peer Court5.2 Citizens Police Academy5.3 Family Team Meetings5.4 Safety-related Mindful Awareness Practices5.5 ACC Juvenile Court Restorative Justice Training5.6 Rites of Passage Youth Development Program5.7 Clarke County Attendance Panel5.8 Clarke County Truancy Court5.9 Safe Dates Program5.10 Anti-Bullying Interventions5.11 Youth Police Academy6.1 Increase Adult Literacy6.2 Goodwill Jumpstart6.3 Affordable Housing

WIT Safety & Community Stability Solutions

Citizens Police AcademyACPC Solution 5.2

The 13 week Citizens Police Academy (CPA) program introduces community members to police operations, philosophy, procedures, laws, and rules.

Curriculum includes: Criminal Investigations, Patrol, District Attorney/Criminal Investigations, K-9/Traffic, and Drug and Vice.

Graduates learn to better protect their neighborhoods by working with police and other local government agencies to solve community problems.

Neighborhood Leaders will serve as Safety Specialists and use their CPA training to develop Neighborhood Watch groups, as well as serve as neighborhood liaisons to the police department on safety issues. A youth Citizens Police Academy is currently being planned.

Featured Solution

Rites of PassageACPC Solution 5.6

To prevent African-American youth ages 10-19 from entering the juvenile justice system by addressing risk factors such as teen pregnancy, youth violence, and school failure, the Rites of Passage after school program utilizes an Afro-cultural approach to combat social problems facing youth in Athens.

The focus is on children identified as “at risk” by Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Family & Children Services, CCSD, or Athens Housing Authority. This solution aims to expand the number of children served by Rites of Passage.

All services of Rites of Passage are designed to meet WIT’s programmatic goals to improve child health, improve child development; improve school performance, improve family functioning, and improve family economic capacity.

should know how to plan ahead, make choices, resolve conflict nonviolently, have interpersonal skills, have something to contribute, have a sense of purpose, have integrity, value themselves and others, have family support that includes high levels of love and support, be given positive roles in the community and freedom of expression through the arts.

All youth:

Safety & Community StabilityWIT

Neighborhood Leader

Sonya Freeman Graduated from the

ACCPD Citizens Police Academy in

November 2011

15

Neighborhood Engagement

The first group of Neighborhood Leaders were identified and recruited in December 2010 and spent 2011 training, participating in WIT Strategic Action Teams to inform and guide the planning work of the initiative, hosting intimate ‘Living Room Conversation’ focus groups in their homes, organizing monthly ‘Community Conversation’ events to seek public involvement in the process, planning and carrying out a door-to-door Community Assessment Survey and much more.

As if all of that weren’t impressive enough, the majority of WIT Neighborhood Leaders also began pursuing post-secondary educations themselves in order to be better teachers and examples for their own children.

TheNeighborhood Leadership ModelACPC Solution 7.1

The Neighborhood Leadership model is a crucial component of the Whatever It Takes initiative. By identifying natural leaders within the neighborhood and providing them with the education and training needed to develop their natural talents, Whatever It Takes is building a sustainable network of on-the-ground experts to guide the process and implement solutions for childhood success.

On the ground.

In the Neighborhood.

Door-to-door.

Face-to-face.

Person-to-person.

This is how real change

happens.

Whatever It Takes: It’s a Mindset and a Motivation!

16

Neighborhood Engagement

Neighborhood Leadership AcademyACPC Solution 7.1

WIT Neighborhood Leaders will participate in the Neighborhood Leadership Academy to receive training and education in areas such as conflict resolution, mediation, public speaking, cultural competency, inter-personal communication skills, and community advocacy, among others.

The Academy will connect training, skills and resources from various community programs and organizations to citizens interested in becoming parent leaders, community advocates and those interesting in creating a successful culture in the neighborhoods.

After completing core training, Neighborhood Leaders will become “specialists” with additional sets of trainings and resources to assist with delivering solutions identified by WIT as having positive outcomes on student educational achievement.

Specialization areas include early childhood parent education, K-12 school system navigation/connecting to school resources, post-secondary assistance, health education, nutrition/exercise, community safety, information, referral, housing/transportation advocacy and others.

Featured Solution

Scan this QR code with a smartphone QR reader app

into your internet browser to read the full text of all WIT Neighborhood Engagement solutions for childhood success.

or type: www.witathens.org/ne

WIT Neighborhood Leaders are instrumental

in implementing all 77 WIT Solutions in their

neighborhoods.

Latasha GentryWIT Neighborhood LeaderMother of Three

Dr. Geraldine ClarkeAthens Housing AuthorityResident Support Director

Terris ThomasWIT Neighborhood Engagement Facilitator

17

Neighborhood Engagement

TheParkonWestBroadCommunityCenterNeighborhood Leaders Put Training in Action to Open Community CenterACPC Solution 7.1 in action

Loreal Vinson and Tamika Williams, two rising stars in the WIT Neighborhood Leadership Academy saw an opportunity when their apartment complex came under new management. Looking to provide the dozens of children who call the Park on West Broad home a safe place to play and study, Vinson and Williams persuaded new management to provide space for a community center. They are currently finalizing details to build a playground for the children.

With the location secured, the Neighborhood Leaders convinced the CCSD to donate furnishings and they now have a space for tutoring (formerly done in the laundromat) and other activities.

Loreal VinsonWIT Neighborhood LeaderCIS AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer at Alps Rd ElementaryMother of Two

Tamika WilliamsWIT Neighborhood Leader

Mother of Two

18

Neighborhood Engagement

Community Conversations, Living Room Conversations & Door-to-Door Community SurveyNeighborhood Leaders have driven WIT’s Neighborhood Engagement work from the beginning.

Neighborhood Leaders work in 2011 included planning monthly Community Conversation events, facilitating public involvement in the WIT planning process, hosting small Living Room Conversation focus groups in their own homes and carrying out a door-to-door community survey.

WIT Neighborhood Leaders are the heart and soul of the initiative.

Mark BrownBeing shot in the head would have slowed most single parents down but to Mark Brown it was the wake-up call he needed to rededicate himself to his education and to building a better future for his two daughters.

As a WIT Neighborhood Leader Mark is learning the skills he needs to help others focus on the success of all Athens’ children.

WIT Neighborhood LeaderAthens Technical College StudentSingle Father of Two Daughters

WIT Volunteer Appreciation Celebration Planned and hosted by WIT Neighborhood Leaders

Clarke Middle School • July 1st, 2011

19

Whatever It Takes Collaboration

Dr. Noris Price (CCSD), Geoffrey Canada (Harlem Children’s Zone), Terris Thomas (WIT), Tim Johnson (WIT)

MLK Day of ServiceWIT Staff and Volunteers Built Raised Gardens for

Students at Clarke Middle School

Children exposed to a culture of learning at an early age with continuing support through post-secondary graduation have a far greater chance of life success and have less need for expensive and less effective intervention(s) later in life. We must make sure that every child is taught the skill set needed to be successful in life.

By initially concentrating our efforts in a single neighborhood - the Alps Road Elementary School Attendance Zone (see map) - and subsequently expanding outward, Whatever It Takes will achieve a domino effect bringing this ‘cradle to career’ continuum to the entirety of Athens-Clarke County over the next ten years.

Starting with a manageable area allows us to reach the tipping point of 65% neighborhood involvement that is necessary to create a genuine culture of success. This concentration of resources creates a compounding effect, changing the odds for all children rather than helping just a few to beat the odds.

Family Connection-Communities in Schools of Athens is a partnership of non-profits, businesses, the public

sector, and most importantly – families.When the public and private sectors come together

great things can be accomplished!

The Alps Road Elementary School Attendance Zone is the Initial Geographic Focus of the WIT Initiative. Efforts Will Expand Countywide Over

the Next 10 Years.

Together We Are Strong

20

Whatever It Takes collaboration

Family Representatives from Athens-Clarke County

Youth from the Clarke County School District

Superintendent of the Clarke County School District

Mayor of Athens-Clarke County

CEO of the Chamber of Commerce

Members of the Community-at-Large

Manager of the Clarke County Health Department

CEO of Advantage Behavioral Health

Dean of the University of Georgia College of Education

Public Safety Representative

Local Director ofDepartment of Family & Children Services

Manager of theDepartment ofJuvenile Justice

Board of Directors:

WIT Partner Agencies, Organizations & Businesses:

“What is different about the WIT approach to using data and

information is that it is designed to make the responsibility for child development a joint one and it is

designed to follow children through to their successful entry into a

productive economic and civic life.”

Dr. John O’LooneyWIT Data & Evaluation Strategic

Action Team ChairUGA Carl Vinson Institute of

Government

Clarke County School District • Athens Technical College • Gainesville State College - Oconee Branch • University of Georgia • UGA College of Education • UGA Office of Service-Learning • UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government • UGA College of Environment & Design • UGA Department of Horticulture • UGA Masters of Public Administration Program • UGA College of Public Health • UGA Cooperative Extension • UGA Fanning Institute • UGA College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences - Office of Academic Affairs • UGA Cooperative Extension • Clarke County Mentor Program • Books For Keeps • Boys & Girls Club • YWCO • Bright Beginnings Preschool • Community Connection • OneAthens • Athens Area Community Foundation • Free IT Athens • Alston & Bird LLP • Rites of Passage • Girl Scouts • The Cottage Child Advocacy Center • Project Safe • Athens Land Trust • Children First • Junior League of Athens • Athens-Clarke Literacy Council • Athens Area Habitat for Humanity • Goodwill of North Georgia • Georgia Conflict Center • Confluence • Central Presbyterian Church • Catholic Center at UGA • Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church • Athens Area Chamber of Commerce • Athens Banner-Herald • OnlineAthens.com • Flagpole Magazine • Cox Media • Zebra Magazine • Fairway Outdoor Advertising • Beech Haven Baptist Church • Athens Farmer’s Market • WXAG • AT&T Graduation Project • Connect2Athens • Athens Regional Medical Center • ARMC Mind Body Institute • St. Mary’s Hospital • St. Mary’s Wellness Clinic • Advantage Behavioral Health Systems • Northeast Health District (ACC Health Dept.) • Timothy Baptist Church • Mercy Health Clinic • N.E. Georgia Nurses Foundation Clinic • Athens Neighborhood Health Center • Family Counseling Service • GHSU/UGA Medical Partnership • Junior Achievement • CCSD Office of Early Learning • Early Headstart • Headstart • Quality Care for Children • Little Ones Academy • Prevent Child Abuse Athens • Nancy Travis Hope for Babies • UGA Hodgson School of Music • UGA Lamar Dodd School of Art • Girls Rock Camp Athens • R.E.M. • Widespread Panic • ACC Arts Division Lyndon House Arts Center • AthFest (music & arts organization) • Nuci’s Space • Athens Arts Council • Governor’s Office for Children & Families • Georgia Family Connection Partnership • Communities In Schools (CIS) of GA • CIS National Office • Clinton Global Initiative • Athens-Clarke County Unified Government • ACC Police Department • Clarke County Department of Family & Children Services • Athens Housing Authority • Georgia Department of Labor • Family Counseling Service • ACC Department of Human & Economic Development • Athens-Clarke County Juvenile Court • Athens-Clarke County Library • Clarke County Department of

Juvenile Justice • Clarke County Department of Family & Children Services •

Get Involved!

Call 706-369-9732 or email info@witathens.org for Volunteer Opportunities

21

Join a Strategic

Action Team!

Become a Mentor or

Tutor!Become a Neigh-borhood Leader!

What Can You Do to Help?

22

Get Involved!

Attend a Benefit Event!

Talk to a Child about

College!

Family Connection-Communities In Schools of Athens

Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: _____________________________________________ e-mail: ________________________________________________________________________________

Donate to Whatever It Takes!

Donate online at www.witathens.org/donateMail your donation to: FC-CIS of Athens, PO Box 1904, Athens, GA 30603-1904

YES! Enclosed find my tax-deductible donation to help all Athens children succeed!

______$1,000______$500

______$250______$100

______$25______$ Other___________

We will do Whatever It Takes to ensure that every child in Athens is healthy, safe, engaged in the community, and on course to graduate from a post-secondary education.