Leaders focused on supporting Georgia’s families gathered to discuss the state’s plan to implement strategies around child abuse and prevention.
A Vision for Child and Family Well-Being, Georgia’s Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention Plan [CANPP], released in 2020, continues to gain momentum among prevention professionals.
On May 9, Prevent Child Abuse Georgia and the Prevention and Community Support Section with the Georgia Division of Family and Children’s Services attended a Georgia Executive Children’s Cabinet meeting led by co-chairs Joy Hawkins, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement and Amy M. Jacobs, Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning Commissioner.
DFCS Prevention and Community Support [PCS] Director Karsten Hartman started the presentation, explaining the process of developing and launching the CANPP, the backbone agencies involved, and the implementation of the state plan across all 14 DFCS regions of Georgia.
The Georgia Essentials for Childhood is charged with the implementation of the CANPP, Hartman said.
“And all of [50] participating agencies contribute resources and staffing,” Hartman said.
During the survey portion of the plan, similar themes, regardless of demographics, resulted, he said.
This led to the organization of six main pillars – economic stability, family mental health, family physical health, family resilience, societal factors, and early care and education.
“We were so honored to be a part of this conversation with the executive leadership of the Children’s Cabinet,” said PCA Georgia Executive Director Jennifer Stein. “Our state plan aligns with the mission and vision of their organization to ensure children are safe, healthy, and learning.”
Questions from the assembled cabinet members helped connect these prevention partners with the ongoing work of the Georgia Essentials for Childhood Work Groups, Stein said.
“I see a lot of alignment, a huge amount of alignment,” Jacobs said. “A plan for a child and family well-being – that’s what resonates with me.”
Continuing to build on established partnerships is critical to informing policies friendly and supportive to families across the state, Stein said. For the past two years, members of the Georgia General Assembly received copies of the plan, Stein added.
“We continue to increase awareness while implementing action around the plan’s goals,” she said. “The work is ongoing; we are forever grateful for the support you [Children’s Cabinet] provide. We are happy to help and assist in any way.”
Read more about Georgia’s Vision for Child & Family Well-being, the state’s child abuse and neglect prevention plan at TinyUrl.com/GACANPP.