UGA Cooperative Extension is a collaboration between UGA CAES and UGA FACS.
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Our Impact
Positive life experiences and nurturing care are critical to a child's brain development during the first five years. The parent is the child's first, most influential teacher. Columbus Extension was positioned to meet criteria of Governor's Office for Children and Families to receive $875,000 in Maternal, Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting federal funds to develop a community plan and implement three evidence-based home visiting programs, central intake system, expand the early childhood system of care, and create a welcoming culture for every family and child at birth through age five years. Columbus Cooperative Extension implemented a community plan to address six benchmark areas: evidence-based home visiting programs; central intake and community outreach systems; critical areas of poor outcomes for infants, young children and their families; a proven track record of managing grants and meeting deliverables; a sound fiscal agent; and a city reputation for effective public-private partnerships. The program is voluntary and free. Three home visiting programs were selected: Parents As Teachers, Healthy Families Georgia and Nurse-Family Partnership. Sixteen people were hired, trained in model implementation, data collection/entry, curricula and began working to fulfill contract deliverables and maintain model fidelity. They have conducted home visits, community education programs, peer group education, community awareness events, projects and outreach to engage community partners, support all expectant and new parents and their children under age five years.
