J oin the N etwork
Please join us as we work together sharing information and services to help build a strong, vibrant, healthy community. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month at 9am at Dawsonville City Hall. If you can't make it, we are happy to make announcements for you. Contact Nancy Stites at 706-265-1981 if you have questions or need more information.

Our next meeting will be June 5th, 2018                          
~ Dawson  County Family Connection News ~
Celebrity Waiter Breakfast at
Longhorns's June 1st from 7:30am-9:30am
We hope you will be a part of our 10th Annual Celebrity Waiter Fundraiser !!! there are two ways to show your support:
1) you can be a SPONSOR and/or
2) you can COME OUT AND ENJOY a great breakfast with some great people!
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All proceeds to benefit our work to prevent child abuse and neglect in Dawson County!
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Sponsorships start at $100.00 and are tax deductible!
Breakfast is $10.00/person (Tickets available in advance and day of breakfast at the door.)
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For more information contact us at 706-265-1981 or [email protected]. 

THANK YOU to these sponsors of

Celebrity Waiter 2018!

 






Our Office Has Moved!

Family Connection has moved offices!  But not to worry...we didn't go too far!  Family Connection now shares a location with voter registration in
"The Chapell Building". Our contact information is:

Physical Address:                 Mailing Address:
96 Academy Avenue             PO Box 872
Dawsonville, Ga 30534         Dawsonville, Ga 30534

Nancy Stites- Coordinator
706-265-1981 Ext. 60080

Nancy Chambers-"Be The Key" Coordinator
706-265-1981 Ext 60082

Rebecca Bliss-Administrator
706-265-1981 Ext 60081
Civic Breakfast

Family Connection held a "Civic Breakfast" May 1st at the GRHOF. Civic Dinners (or Breakfast in our case) is a platform that brings people together to have conversations that matter. Our topic was "Nurturing Communities" and included questions like: "What does your ideal community look like?" and "What role can you play in the healthy development of children in your community?" The relaxed atmosphere of friends coming together to discuss a subject over a nice meal, led to some free flowing conversations that were enjoyed by all.  Thank you to all who attended. Civic Dinners will send us a summary of your responses and we will share when we receive!



For more information about Civic Dinners, go to https://about.civicdinners.com/
"Parents, don't be afraid to make a call, text, or message your child's friend's parents before they attend a party at their house. You are the key to keeping your child alcohol free. Don't be afraid to make the call!"



~Upcoming Events ~
 
May 12-  Meals by Grace
May 25- Last Day of School-It's SUMMER!
May 28- Family Connection Office will be closed in
              observance of Memorial Day 

June 1- 10th Annual Celebrity Waiter Breakfast
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July 28- Stuff the Bus at KROGER
~In Other News ~
May is....
NATIONAL FOSTER CARE
Month!
There are more foster kids in the Georgia system today than ever before. In 2013, 7,600 children were in state-sponsored foster care. Now, it's 15,005 with a recent spike. The new director at Georgia's Department of Family and Children Services said they are reaching out to help more children in crisis; asking people to consider changing the blueprint of a child's life - as a foster family. (read rest of article here)

BECOME A FOSTER PARENT!
Dawson County is in DIRE need of families willing to take the hand of a child in need! The main requirement to becoming a foster parent is having a heart for children in need, and a willingness to open your home to them. Is that person you? Ready to take the next step?
1. Visit fostergeorgia.com and follow the "Become a Foster Parent" prompts
2. Attend IMPACT training May 12th thru June 8th at Christ Family Church in Dahlonega.
3. MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A CHILD'S LIFE
For more information contact: Blake Bramblett 706-864-1658
HELP THOSE HELPING OTHERS!
The Dawson County Foster Closet is a ministry to help support Foster Families in Dawson County and other surrounding counties in North Georgia. The Foster Closet provides clothes for Foster Families and Kinship Families to help ease the financial burden of having new children in the home. We provide other necessities as we are able such as books, toys, car seats, bedding, diapers, and wipes as well as coordinate with other Foster closets in the area to ensure that Foster and Kinship placements go as smoothly as possible.  
For more information contact: (470) 297-9496
[email protected]
May is...
MENTAL  HEALTH  AWARENESS
Month!
One in five children in the United States have a serious debilitating mental disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness of the impact it can have on the emotional, physical, and mental well-being of families and communities, while also sharing information about treatment options. One of the biggest problems surrounding mental illness is many people's reluctance to discuss the issue, according to health experts.                 

CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH
May10th in CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY. As part of Georgia Parent Support Network and Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities' 2018 Children Mental Health Awareness Day at the Capital, Voices will be hosting a video presentation and panel discussion on ending the youth suicide crisis. The panel will begin at 11:00 AM on May 10, 2018 To Join the live stream panel
FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP
Thursday, May 10th & 24th
6:45-8:15 PM
595  Dahlonega Highway
Cumming, GA 30040 
NAMI Family Support Groups are open to adults 18 and older who are family members or caregivers of adults, children or adolescents living with a mental illness, regardless of diagnosis.Our group offers much needed emotional support where one can speak openly and honestly without fear of rejection or being judged.


RECOVERY SUPPORT GROUP
Thursday, May 10th & 24th
6:45-8:15 PM
595 Dahlonega Highway
Cumming, GA 30040 
Too often, mental illness is an isolating experience, accompanied by profound anxiety. NAMI Connection is a group program for adults 18 and over who are living with a mental illness. These groups provide a safe place that offers respect, understanding, encouragement, and hope.

 



 

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Call us at 706-265-1981