Turner County Connection

Helping to Build Healthy Families

330 Gilmore St.

Ashburn, GA 31714

229.567.9066

Fax: 229.567.2877

Turner County Connection

Vision

The vision for all families and children in Turner County is that all children will grow up in a safe and healthy environment and become

productive citizens.

Turner County Connection

Mission

The mission of the Turner County Connection is to develop, coordinate and deliver a

broad range of needed health, social, and educational services to at-risk youth and

families in Turner County.

Turner County Demographics

1. Population- 9,474 individuals (2005)

2. Persons below poverty level- 22.4% (2003)

3. Per Capita income- $20,368 (2003)

4. Children below poverty- 33.6% (2003)

5. Unemployment rate- 6.9% (FY 2005)

6. Population receiving Medicaid-41.8% (2005)

7. Adults, 25+, who did not graduate high school-32.3%

8. No local hospital

9. Three full time practicing physicians

Basic Organizational Chart of TC Connection

Expanded OrganizationalChart

Turner County Connection

TCC Executive Committee

Standing Committees

Budget/Finance Committee Planning/Evaluation Committee

Public Relations Committee

Parent Involvement

TC ConnectionHealth Network

Safe Schools/Healthy Students

Child AbuseCouncil

Pregnancy/AbstinenceEducation

High SchoolCompletion

21st CCLC

Collaborative Partners of the Turner County

Connection

• Turner County Schools

• Turner County Health Dept.

• Moultrie Technical College

• Ashburn-Turner Co. Chamber of

Commerce

• Turner Co. Extension Office

Collaborative Partners

• Turner County Boys Club

• Turner County Department of Family and

Children Services

• Department of Juvenile Justice

• Turner Co. Council on Child Abuse

Major Components of Turner County

Connection

Educations

Current Services Provided through

Turner County Connection

•After School and Summer Enrichment•Mental Health•Early Intervention and Parent Education•Mentoring/Tutoring•Abstinence Education•Linkage of Families to Community Resources•Dental Education and Treatment•Health Education and Health Screenings

Health Component

Turner County Health Network Committee

Representatives on Health Network

Committee

• Turner County Connection• Mental Health• Coastal Plains EOA• Dept. of Family and Children’s Services• Health Plus Physician• Tift Regional Hospital• Phoebe Family Medical Center- Physician

Representatives on Health Network

Committee, (cont.)

• Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital• Turner County Health Dept.• Senior Citizens• Turner County EMS• Ashburn Health Care- Nursing Home Administrator• Retired Physician• Raines Pharmacy- Pharmacist

Representatives on Health Network

Committee, (cont.)

• R&M Drugs- Pharmacist• Local Optometrist• Local Dentist• Turner County Commissioners• 21st Century Community Learning Center• Turner Alternative Services Center• Families for Awareness of Children Extraordinaire (FACE)

Health Initiatives

• Community Wellness Initiative

• Comprehensive Case Management Initiative

• South Georgia Regional Dental Health Initiative

Community Wellness Initiative

• Wellness packages for local employers (Fee based on size of business)• Wellness packages for local faith community (Free)• Educational information• Community Health Fair

South Georgia Dental Health Initiative

Serves Five Rural South Georgia Counties

Ben Hill County – Fitzgerald, Georgia

Irwin County – Ocilla, GeorgiaTurner County – Ashburn, Georgia

Wilcox County – Abbeville, Georgia

Worth County – Sylvester, Georgia

Dental Health InitiativeGoals

• Increasing the number of individuals who have access to dental clinic services

• Increasing the number of individuals who receive preventive dental screenings

• Increasing the community residents’ awareness of the importance of dental health and preventive dental care

Rural Smiles Clinic

• Located in Ashburn, Georgia• Dental Clinic open on Fridays• Staffed by volunteer dentists• Full time staff: Dental Hygienist Administrative Assistant

• Serves low income, uninsured patients from five county area

Sustainability Planning

• Building Local Capacity/Resources

• Federal Funding

• State Funding

• Local Businesses

• Other Corporate Donations

• Private Foundations

Sustainability Planning(con’t)

• Individuals

• Volunteer Resources

• Other In-Kind Resources

• Charging Participation Fees

• Fund Raising Projects

Contact Information

Brenda Lee, Network Director 330 Gilmore Street Ashburn, Georgia 31714 (229) 567-8762 Fax: (229) 567-2877 blee@turner.k12.ga.us or June Cowart, R.D.H. (229) 567-9292 (phone and fax) jrruralsmiles@alltel.net