Baldwin County School District to Receive $20,000 Early Learning Leadership Collaborative Grant

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Photo by Byron Wellman, School & Community Relations Coordinator, Baldwin County Schools

The Baldwin County School District is selected to receive a $20,000 grant from Georgia’s Early Learning Leadership Collaboratives (ELLCs) to support local communities in developing strong, cross-sector leadership teams that work with children and families across all parts of the early learning continuum.  

“We are excited to be working with our partner organizations and developing a team of community members to help us address the socio-emotional needs of our students,” said Superintendent Noris Price.  

Through Preschool Development Grant funds, six Georgia communities will have the opportunity to bring together community members to form an ELLC. Baldwin County has been chosen as one of these communities to receive a $20,000 grant to focus on building an effective network of local leaders who are committed to championing the needs of children and families in our county. 

Supporting this work, the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) has partnered with Georgia State University’s Child Welfare Training Collaborative to offer a community-based training and action planning opportunity, focused on understanding how to support children and families experiencing trauma.

“Our Collaborative strategy for FY20 is to enhance and support early childhood health and education opportunities for families to ensure educational success and healthy outcomes,” said Janet Cavin, Baldwin Family Connection executive director, who was selected to the team to receive this training in the Baldwin community. “This grant funding is going to give the Early Learning Center (ELC) teachers, staff and parents an opportunity to receive trauma-informed training and resources. The ELC houses our Pre-K and Headstart programs as well as the Montessori Childcare Center.”

The other team members selected to receive this training are:

  • Lori Smith, director of the Early Learning Center;
  • Carey Dyer, Baldwin County Health Department assistant nurse manager;
  • Mindee Adamson, Communities in Schools Early Learning Center site coordinator;
  • Crystal Johstono, School Based Health Care Clinic nurse;
  • Ola Scott Little, Baldwin County Schools social worker and homeless liaison; and
  • Carrie Brown, Early Learning Center family services manager.

“Childhood trauma can cause detrimental effects on a child’s mental and physical health and can be an impairment to learning,” said Cavin. “We are hoping that the ELC will be the pilot program and eventually have the rest of the school system and then the entire community become trauma informed.”

Read the story on the Baldwin County School District website.

Contact:
Janet Cavin
Baldwin County Family Connection Coordinator
478-457-2000
baldwinfamilyconnection@gmail.com

Byron Wellman
School & Community Relations Coordinator, Baldwin County Schools
478-453-4176
Byron.Wellman@Baldwin.K12.GA.US

Bill Valladares
GaFCP Communications Director
404-739-0043
william@gafcp.org

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Georgia Family Connection Partnership (GaFCP) is a public-private partnership created by the State of Georgia and investors from the private sector to assist communities in addressing the serious challenges facing children and families. GaFCP also serves as a resource to state agencies across Georgia that work to improve the conditions of children and families. Georgia KIDS COUNT provides policymakers and citizens with current data they need to make informed decisions regarding priorities, services, and resources that impact Georgia’s children, youth, families, and communities.