In a second site visit for the Georgia Family Support Network, hosted by the Prevent Child Abuse Georgia Athens-based council Brightpaths, more than 20 prevention partners from across the state enjoyed a tailgate-themed gathering on Oct. 16.
A well-established family resource center, Brightpaths provides services to seven counties through First Steps, Healthy Families, parenting support, and community education. The family resource center model can vary, depending on the community, but consistently upholds a family-centered approach to child abuse and neglect prevention.
“Brightpaths is a shining example of how members of the Georgia Family Support Network continuously strive to embed the Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening and Support, moving organizational practices towards high quality,” said PCA Georgia Executive Director Jennifer Stein. “It was a special treat speaking with their center’s staff and hearing impactful stories about families being served.”
Brightpaths Executive Director/CEO Sallie Starrett, Program Director Jennifer Henderson, and Program Manager Tiara Smith provided an overview of the center’s history, programs, and initiatives.
Starrett said the center has served the community for nearly 40 years. It has 21 full-time staff members, several contract employees, and a robust group of volunteers, including a regular rotation of college interns.
“Our goal is to prevent all forms of neglect,” Starrett said. “Our main focus is to encourage parent and child interaction.”
Brightpaths’ facility is in a well-traveled area and is on the public and university bus lines, making it easier for clients to access services. The center is well-networked with local partners, including the University of Georgia, the UGA Extension Service, two hospitals, school systems, libraries, and many more. Another strength of the center is its advisory board, which has representatives from many community partnerships.
Its First Steps programs connected with the parents of 1,446 newborns at St. Mary’s and Piedmont hospitals. Its home visiting program through the Healthy Families model served 213 families in FY 2024. Most of Brightpaths’ programs are bilingual, reflecting the service-area demographics. Programs and classes offered are free, and childcare is typically provided onsite to reduce barriers to participation.
“We have great community partnerships,” Henderson said. “It [community engagement] really comes down to relationships with our partners.”
Active in Georgia since 2018, the GFSN, a part of the National Family Support Network, is now housed with Prevent Child Abuse Georgia and led by GFSN Coordinator Melody Weaver.
Membership in the GFSN opens access to Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening and Support for organizations that work with families, with the five protective factors embedded in its infrastructure.