Historical Perspective

1998 - 1999

• Local agencies and volunteers establish Pickens County Family Connection, and receive State funding for a Coordinator and operational support.
• Completion of the 1999-2004 Pickens County Strategic Plan for the Advancement of Children and Youth (five year plan). Describes challenges facing children and youth in Pickens County, and how agencies will work together to help identified children and youth overcome these challenges, and achieved specific measurable outcomes.
• PCFC establishes the Community Thrift Store. The Thrift Store, now operated by the Pickens County Community Resource Association, is thriving today, with a 4,000 square foot facility and $200,000 in annual revenues, which are donated back to several community programs for children and youth.

2000 - 2002

• PCFC becomes a non-profit corporation with continuing annual State funding.
• Establishes the Emergency Night Shelter for homeless families, which remains operational today.
• Works with the Jasper Optimist Club and Pickens County Schools to procure State funding support for Mountain Mentors. Today 60 volunteers mentor 60 students who need extra adult support to deal with academic and social challenges in their lives.
• Establishment of the Pickens County Youth Leadership Council, which provides leadership training and opportunities to 25 youth.

2003 - 2005

• Completion of first PCFC Results Evaluation (FY03), which describes the progress identified children and youth are making toward specific measurable outcomes
• Completion of the 2004-2007 Pickens County Strategic Plan for the Advancement of Children and Youth.
• Funding and implementation of the Medicaid Family Advocate Program. Family Advocates in each elementary and middle school help parents of children with academic difficulties to provide stronger, more consistent academic support and nurturing to their children. Program was successfully implemented through 2006, when change in Medicaid structure eliminated funding. Funding from Communities in Schools is continuing a portion of the program, now operated by Pickens County Schools
• Creation of the Pickens County Family Connection website

2006 - 2008

• Publication of the Pickens County Resource Directory
• Pickens County Anti-Drug Summit – Brought community-wide awareness of the methamphetamine problem, and raised $20,000 for drug prevention programs
• Establishment of the Pickens County Anti-Drug Coalition, which combats the substance abuse epidemic in Pickens County by providing the most current information to the entire community and procuring preventive as well as rehabilitative resources for citizens affected by substance abuse.
• Extension of the annual celebration of Red Ribbon Drug Prevention Week to include the community as well as the schools
• Organized the Pickens County Alcohol and Drug Recovery Celebration, an annul event in September
• Established a Partnership with the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce to expand and enhance Youth Leadership Pickens
• Expanding membership and participation in Pickens County Family Connection
• Continuing annual Results Evaluations of strategies to improve outcomes for children and youth
• Completion of the 2008-11 Strategic Plan for the Advancement of Children and Youth, with enhanced community input and participation