In the News

Summer Camp feeds, educates, exercises 191 kids

This is the 20^th year we have had a Summer Program in the Washington-Wilkes community.  This year the City of Washington, Wilkes County, Washington Wilkes Parks and Recreation Department (WWP&RD), the Wilkes County Board of Education, Wilkes County Community Partnership (WCCP, a Family Connection Collaborative), and Communities in School of Georgia (CISGA), along with other partners, will sponsor the 2018 Annual Summer Program

Indoor activities like drum demonstrations and outdoor activities as well kept some 191 young people engaged during Wilkes County Community Partnership's Summer Camp held in June and July. The Wilkes County Community Partnership's 2018 Summer Camp, funded by the above mentioned partners, served 191 youths June 04-July 03 from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Reese Booker Center and Park; at Third Shiloh's Reverend G.L. Avery Center; and at the Washington Wilkes Parks and Recreation Department.

JumpStart visits the Augusta Canal

The Wilkes County JumpStart Program sponsored a field trip for parents and children to visit the Augusta Canal where they were given a museum tour, watched a film about the canal, and actually got a boat ride on the Augusta Canal. JumpStart is an early intervention, home visitation program for families and their children, ages 0-36 months, providing parent education, parent support/group connections, life skills, health, nutrition and wellness, family resources, information and referral, service coordination, advocacy, GED, and job training support. This is a Wilkes County Community Partnership (formerly Family Connection and Communities In Schools of Wilkes County) program, which is primarily funded by Promoting Safe and Stable Families, and supported by the City of Washington. On the Augusta Canal as pictured above are (l-r) Home Parent Educators Shakeema Young and Roxeann Cobb along with (seated) parents Shalonda Morgan, Anna Graves, Shalonda Milton, Dari Jenkins, Deidra Wynn-Young, Rhonda Turner, Jazquanna Williams, Telisa Ferguson, and their children.

Jordan honored for more than 20 years on the job

Family Connection and Communities In Schools of Wilkes County (FCCIS) celebrated the retirement of Horace L. Jordan at the Washington Wilkes Parks and Recreation Department where Jordan was greeted by a host of family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, board members, church members, youth, and community leaders. Jordan has served in various capacities in the FCCIS organization for more than 20 years.

Out-of-School Youth earn GEDs, learn skills through WIOA program at ATC Career Center

The Family Connection and Communities in Schools of Wilkes County (FCCIS) WIOA - ORBIT Program sponsored a brunch and workshop on Friday, June 2, at the Wilkes County courthouse for the Out-of-School Youth (OSY) who participate in the program.

The WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) Program is a workforce development program that promotes employability skill training and work ethics emphasizing attendance, goal-setting, teamwork, appearance, attitude, time management, organizational and communication skills, and respect through mentoring and leadership institutes. Many of the OSY participate in on-the-job training while attending the Athens Technical College Washington-Wilkes Career Center to complete their GED, and other certifications.

TPP program marches Saturday to help increase awareness

APC-TPP Training Coordinator Cassondra Wimberly and the Georgia Class A State Champion 4x100m Relay team - Tycoriah Danner, Secoriah Danner, Ta'aliya Booker, and Kiara Binns - lead the TPP awareness march from The Square to The Pope Center. The Wilkes County Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program works to reduce teen pregnancy, the incidence of STDs and STIs, and to improve adolescent health. And because May is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, a TPP march was held last Saturday.

Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month theme is 'I Can Wait' in Wilkes Co.

The Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) - Continued Change Initiative, led by the Augusta Partnership for Children (APC), the Richmond County Family Connection, had its April meeting in Washington - Wilkes on Friday, April 21, at the Church of the Mediator Parish House. Partners who attended this meeting are from the five regional counties of Burke, Jefferson, Richmond, Washington, and Wilkes. The sponsoring organization in Wilkes is Family Connection and Communities In Schools of Wilkes County.

Hosted by Athens Technical College

A "College for a Day" experience was enjoyed by a group of Out-of-School Youth (OSY) when they visited the main campus of Athens Technical College in Athens during March. OSY is a program of the Family Connection and Communities In Schools of Wilkes County's WIOA - ORBIT Program. The students, who are attending the Athens Tech Washington-Wilkes Career Center, had the opportunity to meet program chairmen and to check out various programs offered, such as welding, automotive technology, emerging technology, industrial management, etc. Those attending the outing were (front, l-r) Latasha Booker, Francene Wylie, Maya Mitchell, Sara Wilson, Tyrel Turman, Amethyst Wynn, Coretta Miller, (back) Jordan Thomson, Dequan Burley, Christopher Smith, Thomas Smith, Michelle Mike, Quandarius Dowson, and Darion Parks-Elder. WIOA is the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, managed regionally by East Central Georgia Work Source in Thomson, the primary funder for the program. To volunteer or receive more information, contact Youth Case Manager Latasha Booker at 706-678-4981.

Wilkes JumpStart HPEs get assistance with the creation of evaluation system

Community Support Specialist Marcell Johnson and Evaluator Valerie Hutcherson of the Georgia Family Connection Partnership met last week with Wilkes County JumpStart Program HPEs (Home Parent Educators) to assist in the creation of an effective evaluation system.

Interns work onsite for FCCIS

Za'Kia Booker and Alexandria Malone, both W-WCHS seniors on track to graduate this May have been working in the administrative offices of Family Connection and Communities in Schools of Wilkes County (FCCIS) and at the JumpStart office in the Family Resource Center. Their internships are part of a collaboration between FCCIS and the high school's Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Program. Dr. Alicia M. Finnell is the CTAE director and facilitator for the Work-Based Learning.

WIOA-ORBIT Youths Receive GED 

Wilkes County Community Partnership (WCCP) congratulated Kirsten King (back) and Miranda Palmer (center) for achieving their goal of receiving their GED diploma in at the Washington-Wilkes Career Center Athens Tech Campus. Both Kirsten and Myranda participate in the WIOA-ORBIT Program. WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) funds provide workforce development through job and employability skill training, emphasizing work ethics, education, goal-setting, teamwork, appearance, attitude, time management, organizational and communication skills, respect, mentoring, and leadership for Out-of-School Youth (OSY), ages 16-24. They are congratulated by WIOA Youth Case Manager Latasha Booker (left) and GED Instructor Coretta Miller (right).

Mitchell, Tate, Parks-Elder noted for academic gains at Athens Tech

Coretta Miller, Adult Education Coordinator (left) and Latasha Booker, WIOA Youth Case Manager (right) congratulate (l-r) Maya Mitchell, Caitlyn Tate, and Davion Parks-Elder for their academic gains.Three WIOA-ORBIT students in the GED program were recognized by Athens Technical College's Washington-Wilkes Career Center for their academic gains.

The Family Connection and Communities in Schools of Wilkes County's WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) influences kids in our community to join these programs with the intentions of improving the quality of life for all citizens of Washington-Wilkes.

The WIOA-ORBIT Program provides workforce development assistance and mentoring to out-of-school youth, ages 16-24. This program strives to promote education, leadership, employability skills, work ethics, goal-setting, time management, teamwork, organizational and communication skills, and respect.

Anyone interested in joining this program, volunteering, and/or providing resources, please call Latasha Booker at 706-678-4981.