Thursday, October 16, 2008

Berrien County Collaborative Receives Learn and Serve Grant

The Georgia Learn & Serve grant will help facilitate community-based projects designed and administered by our high school students. The GLS funding will support a Walking Arboretum, Exceptional Children's Rodeo, and Farm Day in Berrien County.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

***CASA Director Position for the Alapaha Judicial Circuit***

Job Announcement:

The Berrien County Collaborative will be hosting the new CASA of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit program. This position is grant funded and will serve Atkinson, Berrien, Clinch, Cook, and Lanier Counties. The position will be based out of the Berrien County Collaborative's YES Center in Nashville Georgia.

DESCRIPTION: The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Coordinator recruits, screens, selects, trains, and supervises volunteers to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates in the Juvenile Court. CASA Coordinators are responsible for cultivating and maintaining professional intra- and inter-agency relationships, as well as providing community education and awareness of the CASA Program.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

- Engages actively in all aspects of volunteer management, including recruitment, training, supervision, assessment, case assignment, retention, and recognition.
- Delivers exemplary customer service, expeditiously and professionally, to all parties related to or inquiring about the CASA Program.
- Assists in identifying, building collaborations with, and referring CASAs to appropriate community resource agencies.
- Attends and participates in staff meetings, including program development and strategic planning sessions.
- Partners with the Program Supervisor and other CASA Coordinators to develop and implement public relations, marketing, recruitment, and community outreach/education plans.
- Facilitates case support or other program-related meetings and completes all required set-up and follow-through activities.
- Serves as liaison between CASA Coordinators and other groups and agencies to facilitate communication, reimbursements, event participation, procedural improvements, or other items of necessity.
- Assists in the development of both orientation training and in-service training modules, and the continual monitoring of training improvements. Monitors changes or revisions to laws to maintain accurate training materials and information.
- Adheres to CASA Program administrative policies, and assures Program compliance with Alapaha Judicial Circuit and Administrative Office of the Court (AOC) policies and procedures.
- Contributes to the completion of the CASA newsletter, including suggesting or composing articles, providing volunteer recognition entries, and proofreading.
- Demonstrates understanding of and promotes Model Court concepts and principles to potential volunteers, network providers, partnering agencies, and community agencies.
- Attends and participates in State-level CASA and Support Council meetings, committees, or events as required.
- Compiles and provides required documentation and statistics for monthly and quarterly reports.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES
- Designs and composes communications and/or outreach materials including correspondence, newsletters, and flyers.
- Represents the CASA Program by participating in community outreach events and promoting program awareness through a variety of methods such as presentations, fairs, external training sessions, and private speaking engagements.
- Research and write grants to support CASA program.
- Participates in the planning and implementation of special events.
- Completes related duties and projects as necessary.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a behavioral/social science or a related field, and three years of professional work experience. Related work experience includes the fields of social work, criminal or juvenile justice, mental or behavioral health. OR, any equivalent combination of experience, training and/or education approved by Human Resources.

SELECTION PROCESS: Skills assessment testing may be administered. There will be panel interviews.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: The Berrien County Collaborative offers a competitive compensation and benefits package to include medical, dental, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, retirement and deferred compensation plans, paid vacation and sick leave, as well as other benefits.

HOW TO APPLY: This position is open until filled, with the first screening of applications the week of October 20th, 2008. Submit cover letter and resume, describing your skills and experience relative to the position under recruitment, to matt.jansen@berrien.k12.ga.us.

The Berrien County Collaborative is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Friday, October 10, 2008

Berrien Academy PLC's Legislative Breakfast

Correction - Penny Houston will not be the Key Note for this event. Several of our local and state government representatives will be in attendance for the Legislative Breakfast for the student presentations.

The Berrien Academy PLC will be hosting a legislative breakfast Thursday, October 30th, 2008 @ 9am. The morning will also showcase several of our student projects and presentations. If you would like to attend, please contact Vanne Tucker at 229-686-6576.

Berrien Academy PLC's Legislative Breakfast

The Berrien Academy PLC will be hosting a legislative breakfast Thursday, October 30th, 2008 @ 9am. Representative Penny Houston will be the Key Note speaker for the event. The morning will also showcase several of our student projects and presentations. If you would like to attend, please contact Vanne Tucker at 229-686-6576.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Georgia Graduation Rate Rises

ATLANTA (AP) Officials say Georgia's high school graduation rate has risen to its highest level ever. Schools Superintendent Kathy Cox said Tuesday that the final graduation rate for 2008 reached 75.4 percent, an increase of three percentage points from 2007 and the first time it passed 75 percent of students graduating on time. Gov. Sonny Perdue said the progress from just over 60 percent in 2002 ``has been nothing short of remarkable.''

2006 graduation rate: 70.8
2007 graduation rate: 72.3
2008 graduation rate: 75.4