About the Forsyth County Community Connection

Our Mission

The mission of Forsyth County Community Connection is to identify community strengths and needs; develop goals and community strategies; provide a structure for planning, evaluation, and financial responsibility in order to implement a community agenda for children, youth and families.

Our Vision

Forsyth County will be a community where all children and youth are healthy and safe, supported by strong, self-sufficient families.

Collaborative Vision

The collaborative vision for Forsyth County is happy, healthy children and youth with age-appropriate skills nurtured and supported by strong, stable, and self-sufficient families.

Overview

The Forsyth County Community Connection is a private, non-profit Family Connection Partnership and United Way of Forsyth County agency. The collaborative network consists of members from the board of education, local government, private and public service providers, law enforcement, community churches, business partners, families, and youth. These representatives from all facets of Forsyth County life have identified the community's needs and resources and developed a community-wide strategic plan to address the needs by making the most of the community's strengths and opportunities, thereby touching the lives of all 150,000 Forsyth County citizens

Timeline





  • 1991, Georgia Governor Zell Miller wants to address the factors that rank the state among the lowest in areas of child and family well-being and spear-heads the Family Connection initiative
  • 1993, representatives from the Forsyth county school system and the juvenile justice system realize the need for a forum which encourages the exchange of information and resources among community agencies – the Cumming/Forsyth County Council on Youth is created and incorporated October 1994
  • 1993, first funding from United Way of Forsyth County
  • May 1995, first annual Rising Star Luncheon recognizes students making personal improvements
  • July 1997, after three failed attempts for inclusion, Forsyth County’s collaborative begins its strategic planning process as a Family Connection Partnership; an executive director is contracted
  • April 1998, the collaborative is designated as a 501 C(3) non-profit agency by the IRS
  • July 1998, implementation and evaluation of the community plan begins; the plan expands to over 50 different programs, activities, and services
  • January 2000, a lease is signed between Georgia Baptist Health Care Foundation and the collaborative to renovate the former hospital facility into a family resource center; expands to include offices for 17 different social service agencies and public meeting spaces
  • July 2000, First Annual Golf Tournament fundraiser
  • January 2002, Board of Directors retreat changes the name to Forsyth County Community Connection to better reflect the role in community and revises mission and vision statements
  • October 2003, Forsyth County Family Center sold to HeadStart as managing partner
  • March 2004 community-wide strategic plan adds third goal of family stability and self-sufficiency to those of child health and safety and students succeeding in school