Upson County Family Connection

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Upson County Family Connection

Georgia Family Connection is a statewide initiative that cultivates public and private collaboration at the local level.

Located in all 159 counties, Georgia Family Connection is the largest statewide network of its kind in the nation. Collaborative organizations are committed to our mission of improving conditions for at-risk children, families, and communities. They work closely with communities to:
•foster relationships with local partners,
•increase policymakers’ awareness of local issues,
•implement proven programs and practices, and
•leverage additional funding to support community plans. Each collaborative organization brings together—at the same table—the social worker, the nurse, the sheriff, the teacher, the minister, the business person, the public servant, and parents, then let them figure out the best way to help their kids thrive. We discuss our visions for our communities, assess the needs in our counties, then decide how our organizations can best work together to meet those needs. Together we set an agenda that establishes our priorities and allocates resources to achieve results for families and children. We measure results for our work by tracking locally selected indicators of child well-being using Georgia KIDS COUNT data. KIDS COUNT is a state and national effort funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation to track the status of children. We believe that local decision-making—grounded in reliable data and best practices—will drive the change we want to see in our communities. Georgia Family Connection, created by the state and private funders in response to Georgia ranking 50th in the nation in child well-being in the 1991 KIDS COUNT report, develops initiatives to combat child abuse and neglect, teen pregnancy, multiple teen births, and truancy. We also work to keep children and youth in school, and support them in graduating on time. We believe that empowering ourselves with data, sharing information, and combining our efforts with other counties will strengthen the state as a whole over time. While Family Connection is dedicated to working at the local level to build stronger communities, Georgia Family Connection Partnership (GaFCP) is committed to working at the state level to provide support, data, and best practices to the county collaborative organizations and state partners to improve outcomes for children and families. GaFCP, a public-private nonprofit created and funded by the State of Georgia and private foundations, also manages Georgia KIDS COUNT. We want our kids to be healthy, ready to start school and do well when they get there, we want our families to be stable and self-sufficient, and we want them to live in strong communities. We’ve been making that happen for more than 20 years.

03/05/2026

Free Food Resources!

03/05/2026

🎓 ULHS Senior College Fair – On-Site Acceptances! Please Share!

Seniors who are still deciding on their next step after high school — this event is for you! Join us for a special Senior College Fair where you can meet with college representatives and even receive acceptance on the spot.

📅 April 3, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Upson-Lee High School Media Center

This is a great opportunity to ask questions, explore college options, and possibly walk away accepted the same day!

📲 Scan the QR code on the flyer to sign up and reserve your spot.

Parents are encouraged to remind their seniors to take advantage of this opportunity!

🎓

03/04/2026

Thomaston-Upson Schools Families,

Knowledge empowers families! Join us for an open conversation about va**ng to better support, protect, and guide our youth.

Dinner will be served. Register by Friday, March 20th so we can prepare for all attendees: https://forms.gle/M6oVJmzZA77Bj9SD7

03/03/2026

Way to go Mrs. Earnestine!!

Brightmoor Hospice is proud to recognize Mrs. Earnestine “Tine” Zellner as our final nominee for Influential African American Citizen of Upson County.

This nomination comes from Ashanti Brawner, Parent and Family Engagement Coordinator with Thomaston-Upson County Schools:

"I would like to nominate Mrs. Earnestine “Tine” Zellner as an Influential African American in our community. She is a true pillar of service and leadership in Thomaston Upson. Before retiring, she faithfully served patients at URMC for 46 years, demonstrating unwavering dedication, compassion, and professionalism throughout her career.

Beyond her professional career, Mrs. Zellner has poured into our community in meaningful and lasting ways. She has been an active and influential role model in the Thomaston-Upson Schools Community Mentor Program, investing her time, wisdom, and encouragement into our scholars. Even in retirement, she continues to serve, providing guidance, mentorship, and positive influence to the next generation.

Mrs. Zellner’s lifelong commitment to service, mentorship, and community advancement makes her a deserving nominee for this recognition. Her impact extends beyond her profession, she has strengthened our community through both her career and her continued dedication to our youth."

02/26/2026

Community Food Bank! FRIDAY, February 27th, 2026

02/26/2026

On Friday, sheriffs from across Georgia joined officials at the state Capitol in support of Georgia Senate's priority of $409 million to build a new mental health facility so those

02/26/2026

Please share this information within the community!

01/26/2026

It’s Community Manager Appreciation Day, and I want to take a moment to honor our City Manager, Russell Thompson.

I battled with what I should say about a man that so many of this city’s decisions flow through. A man who is often judged, misunderstood, and critiqued, while very few people truly understand the weight of the job or the heart of the man who carries Thomaston like a calling, not a career.

Over the years, I’ve watched Russell.
Not just in meetings.
Not just in public.
But in the day-to-day moments that most people never see.

I’ve watched him wrestle with issues for days.
Problems that keep him up at night.
Things that never make the news, but still make a real difference for this city.

I’ve watched his door stay open.
And I mean truly open.
Not just for the privileged
Or me or staff...
But also for the unseen and unheard.

I’ve seen the little old ladies walk in.
Sometimes confused.
Sometimes upset.
Sometimes just needing someone to listen.

Even with a full agenda, he never rushes them.
Never treats them like an interruption.
He listens.
He explains.
He makes them feel important.

And they always leave smiling.
Because they were seen.
Because they mattered.

I've watched him treat staff like his own. Not as a number or a means to an end but like a father who is always thoughtful of his children even when it stresses him out.

I’ve watched him navigate politics with fairness.
Show restraint when misunderstood.
Carry criticism without letting it harden his heart.

I’ve watched his heart for this City show up long after the cameras are gone.
After the meetings end.
After the recorders are off.
When no one is watching.

To staff, he is steady.
Fair.
Consistent.
He creates space for people to lead, to think, and to do their jobs without fear.
And when he lacks the words to ease the heaviness of our world’s…
He makes us laugh. Turning sorrow into joy.

And because of that, it has been an honor to not just work under his leadership, but to serve beside him.
To see leadership modeled with integrity.
To be trusted.
To be supported.
And to be challenged in ways that make me better.

So today, I just want to say thank you, Russell.

Thank you for leading by example.
Thank you for carrying weight most will never see.
Thank you for showing up for this city with dedication, fairness, and heart.

Public service can be a thankless job.
But today, we see you.
And we appreciate you more than you will ever know.

01/09/2026

Sign up for the first session in this free four-part series of conversation surrounding the topic of resilience and what makes a strong community. Hosted at the Church of Joy in Williamson on January 22 from 11:30 to 1:30 with lunch provided.

Address

Atlanta, GA

Telephone

+16789720243

Website

https://upson.gafcp.org/

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