Historical Perspective

The Collaborative established in 1998 in its start-up year. It hired a Coordinator. In 1999 the Coordinator position vacated and a new one was hired. That position is still held by the same person. Some of the main partners then are currently involved: Prevent Child Abuse Pickens, Department of Family & Children Services, Health Department and Board of Education. Several other community service organizations are typically present at the collaborative meetings that are held 10 months out of the year, with none in July and November. Domestic violence organization, CASA, Children’s Advocacy Center, Juvenile Court, Fatherhood Program, Family Advocates, Tech Prep, DJJ, and faith representation are but a few of the usual partners at the collaborative table. The Collaborative made great strides during its years since its 1999 implementation year in its governance and systems change. Early in 2002, the group moved from being a Meet and Confer body to a duly authorized Corporation, called, Pickens County Family Connection, Inc. A Board of Directors was established along with creating and approving its own Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation. PCFC Board is comprised of service and non-profit agency heads with allowance for family representation. Later in 2002 PCFC obtained a non-profit status as a 501(c)3. The collaborative, before and after becoming a non-profit, board-governed entity, was led by the Executive Director of Prevent Child Pickens. In the 2003 Board elections, she willingly relinquished the position of leadership. The Board meets at least 10 times a year, usually just before each collaborative meeting. The regular collaborative meetings are primarily for the purpose of resource-sharing and discussion of needs.

Out of a discussion of needs for the community back in 1999 PCFC convened a small Task Force in August of that year that eventually opened the now very successful Community Thrift Store. The Thrift Store Task Force developed into its own entity as a non-profit corporation, Pickens County Community Resource Association, Inc. Since opening in January 2000 the Thrift Store has generated hundreds of thousands of local dollars with over $400,000 being returned to community service organizations and agencies in the form of grants and donations. A new larger and more efficient Thrift Store building is now under construction with opening date set for April 2004.

Another need that Family Connection’s partnership helped to open in April 2002 is the Community Emergency Night Shelter. The Shelter has provided temporary housing and food to 47 adults and 32 children. The Shelter is governed by Pickens County Community Resource Association, Inc. and is co-managed by PCFC Executive Director and PCCRA President and now PCFC President. Currently, PCFC is involved in a tri-county initiative to open a children’s emergency shelter. PCFC Executive Director is the Team Leader for this initiative.

Targeted Case Management was fully implemented in 2002 and now offers a Family Advocate to each of the three elementary schools with a fourth advocate co-serving the two middle schools. Hundreds of Pickens’ children have now been served by a Family Advocate. A Consumer Satisfaction Survey conducted in the spring of 2003 of the Family Advocates’ work showed that the families receiving the services are very pleased and believe that their lives have been significantly improved by having received the services of the Family Advocate.

In the Fall of 2002 a Youth Coordinator was hired through Family Connection to establish a youth council, oversee the Mentoring Program and to deliver the drug prevention/Life Skills training. Some of the Targeted Case Management money and grant money from the North Region Division of MH/DD/AD are used to support the Youth Coordinating services. Since its inception Family Connection has managed a Saturday School Tutoring program that serves youth who are behind in their studies or who might be referred to Saturday School by the Attendance Support Team or Juvenile Court. The Appalachian Superior Court has provided some of financial support for the Saturday School Program.

At present, organizationally, PCFC has a Board of Directors, with four officers: President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer and four additional Board members and an Executive Director/Coordinator. The Executive Director is hired by the PCFC Board of Directors, answers to the Board and is paid through the Family Connection Annual Grant. The Executive Director oversees the programs and activities of Targeted Case Management (Family Advocates), Youth Coordinating Activities (Mentoring) and Saturday School Tutoring and manages the PCFC grants and money. The Board of Education serves as the Fiscal Agent for PCFC for its Targeted Case Management and Family Connection Annual Grant.