Blount is guest speaker at CCLC July meeting
By: Barbara Sublet

The Concerned Citizens of Lincoln County met July 19 at the Lincoln County Public Library. President Al Bean opened the meeting with a silent prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Guest speaker was Nancy Blount, director of Family Connection. The department was started in 1999. Nancy realized children in Lincoln County would benefit from services provided by the Family Connection. At that time only a few counties had this facility but now all counties in Georgia have this available.

She first started with a grant of $25,000. Grants are available from several organizations and companies. No tax dollars from Lincoln County are used for the department.

In 2006, over $1,000,000 from grants was brought in to Lincoln County. This money is used in various ways to help make children's lives better in Lincoln County, such as a more stable home environment, mental health programs, etc.

Nancy believes any child is at risk and vulnerable from birth to adult. She has speakers talk to students at the school about the problems they had in home and communities growing up. Illiteracy, management and many others are available for 16 years and older.

Screenings are done if people are in need of help with telephone, electric and prescription bills. Nancy hopes to have a boys and girls club and a management customer service certificate for people who have dropped out of school to be able to be employed within Lincoln County.

Family Connection has a secret Santa program. Contact her office if you know of a need for this help.

Nancy have a very interesting presentation. She answered questions after her talk. CCLC members thanked her for taking the time to tell about her department.

Discussions were held about property tax, budgets of the departments, amount of employees in Lincoln County and the election.

All citizens of Lincoln County are invited to attend the meetings and give your input and ideas. The next meeting will be Thursday, August 16 with a guest speaker.