On Aug. 16, Georgia Essentials for Childhood hosted its annual virtual meeting, bringing together more than 180 participants. The initiative’s core agencies led the meeting: the Division of Child and Family Services Prevention and Community Support Section, the Department of Public Health Injury Prevention Program, and Prevent Child Abuse Georgia. These leadership partners engaged participants in Inclusive Conversations centered on Georgia Essentials’ mission: fostering a statewide well-being ecosystem for children and families.
During the meeting, attendees heard updates from Georgia Essentials’ five working groups: Programs and Practices, Policy, Data, Systems and Structures, and Norms and Narratives.
The reports highlighted this statewide collaborative effort’s progress, achievements, and plans. Project Coordinator for Georgia Essentials Beth Florence also shared the initiative’s evolution and A Vision for Child and Family Well-being in Georgia: Our State’s Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Plan (CANPP), 2020-29, which serves as a framework for Georgia Essentials’ work.
One significant development announced by Florence is the change in the role of the Regional Ambassadors for Georgia Essentials.
“These ambassadors, one from each of Georgia’s 14 DFCS regions, will transition from executing specific regional plans to actively participating in discussions about our current status, future goals, and the achievement of our objectives for the children and families of Georgia,” Florence added.
While upstream prevention efforts and commitment to child and family well-being are ongoing throughout the state, Georgia Essentials and the state plan aim to unify and elevate the work of Georgians around the six aspirations for our children and families:
- Family mental health
- Physical health
- Family resilience
- Economic stability
- Access to early care and learning
- Awareness of factors that improve overall well-being
“Through collective effort and diverse perspectives, we can effectively advance our goals for the well-being of Georgia’s children and families,” Florence said.
For more information about Georgia Essentials, visit tinyurl.com/ GAEssentials or email [email protected].