Strong Communities

The Hall County Family Connection Network is committed to improving the well-being of Hall County's children, families, and communities. The Network works jointly with partners across the county to address the serious challenges facing Georgia's children and families.

The Hall County Family Connection Network envisions that all Hall County children will be healthy, ready to start and succeed in school, and have stable, economically self-sufficient families that live in strong communities.

Since 1995 Georgia Family Connection Partnership has measured the well-being of Georgia's children using Georgia Kids Count indicators. In 2005 the indicators were revised and expanded.

The fifth set of the revised Georgia Kids Count Indicators focuses on Strong Communities.

The level of connectedness, involvement, and trustworthiness among people living in the same neighborhood--social capital--is critical for the prosperity of communities. These social networks facilitate communication about education and job opportunities, access to credit, and potential child care options. Families living in communities with inadequate or unsafe housing face extraordinary challenges in providing the basic necessities of life. These disconnected families are vulnerable to an array of social and economic challenges, including unemployment, crime, teenage pregnancy, inadequate education, and access to public assistance.

In strong communities public spaces are cleaner, people are friendlier, voter participation is higher, and the streets are safer. Communities with strong connections provide a solid foundation necessary for the success of the children and families living in them.


For more information about this indicator area in Georgia see the Georgia Family Connection Partnership's Connected to Practice Series:
Best Practices--A Focus on What Works - Strong Communities (March 2008)


Georgia Kids Count Indicators - Strong Communities

(* Indicates Indicators highlighted in this report)

* Adult educational attainment
1. High school graduate
2. Bachelor's degree or higher Unemployment

* Unemployment

* Income Distribution / Cost of Living

* Poverty Status
1. Children living in poverty
2. Students eligible to receive free or reduced price meals
3. Families with children with annual incomes less than 150% of the federal poverty threshold

* Homeownership

* Crime
1. Violent crime
2. Other crimes

* Voter participation