Family Resource Center
The FRC serves on several boards including:
Community Advisory Board
In each county in which the multi-level response system is implemented, the department of children’s services shall facilitate the formation of an independent local advisory board, which shall not be a part of the department, and which shall be composed of appropriate community representatives, including representatives from families in the community, local public agencies, including schools, health departments and other health care providers, juvenile court, district attorney general and law enforcement officials, and other available community-based resources. Each local advisory board shall recommend ways to bring together the department, families, and available resource providers within that community and shall assist with the development of community-based resources that may be needed by families. The local advisory board may review individual cases, in its discretion, to the extent that such review may be done without jeopardizing the confidentiality of the records or the confidentiality obligations of those who provided the information. The department shall collaborate with the local advisory board and the community to identify or develop local formal and informal services for children and families.
Douglas Cherokee Economic Authority Board
Purpose: Douglas- Cherokee Economic Authority, Inc. is a Community Action Agency serving six (6) rural Appalachian counties in East Tennessee. The purpose of the agency is to help families living in poverty to improve their lives by providing them with assistance and services that they are not able to provide for themselves. The focus of the agency is to help people help themselves.
Role: Chairman of the Board serves as President of the Corporation, and works closely with the Executive Director as needed. Acts as the official representative of the Board and has authority to sign contracts and agreements. Presides at meetings of the Board and maintains order. Maintains a meeting atmosphere that allows all members to feel free to speak.
Foster Care Review Board
Purpose: To review, analyze, and make recommendations to the court regarding foster care and/or juvenile cases to reunify parent/child.
Role: To govern foster care review board meetings by advocating for the child and encouraging parents to complete requirements of permanency plans whereby helping parents to keep or gain back custody of the their children, and to ensure stability once they exit DCS custody.
Jefferson Academy Advisory Board
Jefferson County offers an alternative school for both middle and high school students. Overall school policies and functions are presented to the advisory board for recommendations and approval.
Jefferson Academy Conduct Review Board
The Conduct Review Board was set up by the Jefferson County Board of Education. This board was set up to review cases of students who are attending the counties alternative school. The board is presented with the student’s behavior and then offers suggestion to the student, family and school principal to ensure success of the student’s education.
Jefferson County Head Start Policy Council
Purpose: To be a quality-focused organization in order to bring about a greater degree of social competency in children and self-sufficiency of families.
Role: Serve as a community representative–to know about the services available in the community and connecting families with services available to help them be self-sufficient.
Serve as liaison between the grantee agency, DCEA, and Head Start. Grantees and delegate agencies must establish and maintain a formal structure of shared governance.
Jefferson County Health Council
Purpose:To facilitate access to quality healthcare to all residents of Jefferson County while encouraging wellness, prevention and education through collaboration with other organizations.
Role:
Serving as an advocate for the community on health-related issues. Assessing the health status of the community and prioritizing the health needs. Creating a plan of action addressing identified health needs and serving as a catalyst in meeting those needs. Forming community partnerships to accomplish the goals and objectives of the action plans. Acting as a liaison between the community, the Jefferson County Health Department and other health and medical related services at the county, regional, state, and national levels.
Jefferson County Interagency Council
Purpose: Collaboration of local agencies to keep participating agencies informed of availability of resources and ways to connect families with services in Jefferson County.
Role: Facilitate monthly council meetings with a “focus” speaker from one agency/month to keep current information available.
Jefferson County Library Board
Purpose: The mission of the Jefferson County Library System is to serve the county as a resource center by providing library materials which satisfy information needs, assist in reaching educational goals, and promote the creative use of leisure time. The library will provide programs and services for the public and will make the leisure time. The library will provide programs and services for the public and will make the county residents aware of the resources and services provided. The Jefferson County Library Board will provide these services in the major communities across the county, while maintaining a geographic balance.
Role: Trustees, in the capacity of trust upon them, shall observe ethical standards with absolute truth, integrity, and honor. Responsibilities are limited to making policy, planning and goal setting, adopting budgets, authorizing payments, serving on board work committees, evaluating the directors, and encouraging effective service programs.
Jefferson County Parent Involvement Coordinator
Purpose: Parent involvement is essential in order to help children develop and achieve their greatest potential. Therefore, we will strive to work together using unique and innovative approaches to guide and strengthen the growing relationship between home and school. The entire process of education is improved when the home and school work together as a team.
Role: Work closely with school to make sure they are engaging parents in the following ways.
PARENTING:
Assist families with parenting and child rearing skills, understanding child and adolescent development, and setting home conditions that support children as students at each age and grade level. Assist schools in understanding families.
COMMUNICATING:
Communicate with families about school programs and student progress through effective school to home and home to school communications.
VOLUNTEERING:
Improve recruitment, training, and schedules to involve families as volunteers and audiences in other locations to support students and school programs.
LEARNING AT HOME:
Involve families with their children in learning activities at home, including homework and other curriculum-related activities and decisions.
DECISION MAKING:
Include families as participants in school decisions and advocacy through, school councils, committees, action teams, and other parent organizations.
COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY:
Coordinate resources and services for students, families, and the school with businesses, agencies, cultural and recreational groups, health services, faith based organizations, government and military agencies, and provide services to the community.
Jefferson County Pre-K Advisory Committee
Purpose: Develop a pre-kindergarten implementation plan to meet the needs of the four-year-old population residing within the geographic area served by the Local Education Agency (LEA), with the first priority being those four-year-olds who are at-risk.
Role: Develop and monitor local eligibility for pre-k. Council will play a major role in the planning, design, and on-going guidance of the pre-kindergarten program.
Jefferson County Schools Homeless Liaison
Purpose: The purpose of the Tennessee Homeless Education Program is to develop educational programs that meet the unique needs of homeless children and youth. Because homeless children face many obstacles to an appropriate education, such as lack of transportation and resources, frequent school changes, loss of school records, and emotional stress, special programs are necessary.
Role: Facilitate the enrollment, attendance and success of homeless children and youth in Tennessee schools. All school districts in Tennessee are required to provide needed services to homeless children. Provide community resources that are available to each family.
Jefferson County YOUth Subcommittee
Purpose: The YOUth group (You Thinking Healthy) is a subcommittee of the Jefferson County Health Council. Its focus is on childhood obesity prevention and the promotion of heart healthy behaviors. Our objective is to promote a community wide approach on health issues that are geared toward youth.
Role: Update advisory members on Health Council news. Develop and implement programs dealing with exercise and nutrition to Jefferson County schools.
Mental Health Integration Team
Purpose: A coalition has been formed to serve our youth and families through the collaboration of Jefferson County Schools, Jefferson County Mental Health Agencies, and Community Service Resources. The coalition will issue a call to action for schools and agencies to unite and lead in the development of socially and emotionally healthy students.
Role: Provide a commitment of unity to network schools with mental health services and community resources.
Create school environments that are proactive in promoting mental wellness.
Provide identification, referral, and follow-up services for students and families.
Facilitate smooth transitions for students who are entering and exiting the classrooms due to involvement with community services.
Promote parental involvement in collaboration with mental health providers.
Maintain an open and on-going communication between service providers and schools.
Continue to provide professional development training for teachers, counselors, and service providers promoting mental health.
TeNNderCare Advisory Board
Purpose: TENNderCARE is a full program of check ups and health care services for children who have TennCare. These services make sure babies, children, teens and young adults receive the health care they need. Outreach staff raise awareness with TennCare covered families about the benefits of preventive health and how to obtain a free annual check up (EPSDT), and provide assistance with scheduling and accessing TennCare transportation. Parents and eligible children are informed through strong partnerships with medical providers, schools, social service agencies and community organizations.
Role: Our role as the advisory board is to help find outreach opportunities in the community to increase program awareness.
Boards are set up to insure the safety and health of our students in this county.