Emanuel County Family Connection Assesses Progress

August 7, 2025 Print This Post

Since 1991, the Georgia General Assembly has invested in the only statewide network of its kind focused on improving outcomes for children and families. Georgia Family Connection Collaboratives serve all 159 counties in Georgia and function at the county level with a locally designated fiscal agent and a governing body comprised of a diverse group of community partners with a hired coordinator who shares the goal of improving outcomes for children and families in their communities through collaboration.

Emanuel County Family Connection meets on the third Thursday of each month August through May at the Sudie Fulford Center on the campus of East Georgia State College. Members of the governing board include Pam Carr, vice chairperson; Malissa Hancock, parent representative; Trena Houston, parent representative; Matt Jarrell, member at large; Candy Powers, member at large; Ann Rogers, secretary and treasurer; and Petite Garrett, chairperson. The Collaborative itself has a wide variety of occupations represented at each meeting. The county’s coordinator is Tammy Allen, who is beginning her fifteenth year with Georgia Family Connection.

A called meeting of Emanuel County Family Connection’s executive board with the coordinator and Sunny Rogers, Georgia Family Connection Partnership regional manager, was held July 31, 2025. This working meeting was to conduct an annual review of our county’s success and adherence to Georgia Family Connection standards.

In Emanuel County, the focus of Family Connection is on the improvement of literacy and nutrition for our community’s children and their families. One program that relates directly to literacy is the annual Scavenger Hunt for Books, which is held during the summer and highlights local businesses and agencies for the book giveaway. This year’s Scavenger Hunt reached 106 children.

Another activity is the sponsorship of reading nights at the primary and elementary levels for children and their families. Ferst Readers, an organization that provides books and written instruction for families, is quite active in our county with 349 children receiving free literacy materials monthly. Emanuel County Family Connection receives funds for this project through their October Character Costume program and local donations.

Emphasis on healthy children through sound nutrition is promoted throughout the school year as well as during summer months. Allen conducts cooking classes and provides nutritional advice and opportunities through the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program.

Using the mobile kitchen, the Charlie Cart, Allen visits classrooms to teach safe food preparation skills and during the summer conducts two cooking camps, Chopped Junior and Advanced Chopped Junior.

Emanuel County Family Connection uses social media and the local newspaper to promote upcoming events and celebrate activities.

Read the story on emanuelcountylive.com.