The Unity in Community
Hon. James R. “Jim” Kramer
Juvenile Judge
205.669.3730
Barbara R. Williams, MA
Children’s Policy Council Coordinator
205.669.3831
CPC OFFICERS:
Vice Chair: Susan Johnston - 205.663.6301 x 201
Secretary: Liz Stewart – 205.510.2780
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS:
Education: Dorann Tanner - 205.682.5630
Early Care & Education: Laura Bloom – 205.665.6385
Economic Security: Michelle Watkins – 205.678.8331
Health: Bonnie Bradley - 205.558.2106
205.Mental Health & Safety: Liz Stewart - 205.510.2787
Parent involvement & Skills: Carol Williams - 205.663.6301 x 208
LEGISLATIVELY APPOINTED MEMBERS:
Dept. of Human Resources – Kim Mashego, Director
Dept. of Youth Services - Jonathan Davis, Regional Coordinator
Dept. of Rehabilitation Services - Sharon Hammer, Director
Dept. of Public Health - Reba Brannan, Area Nutrition Director
District Attorney - Robert E. Owens, Jr.
Chilton-Shelby Mental Health - Melodie Crawford, Executive Director
Shelby Co. Board of Education - Randy Fuller, Superintendent
CountyCommission - Alex Dudchock, County Manager
Shelby Co. Sheriff’s Office - Chris Curry, Sheriff
Shelby Co. Juvenile Probation - John Miller, Director of Court Services, CPO
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board - Robert Gautney, Agent
Dept. of Public Safety - Sgt. Tim Sartain, Public Information/Education Unit Field Director
State Legislators Rep. Mike Hill, District 41
Rep. Kurt Wallace, District 42
Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin, District 43
Rep. Greg Canfield, District 48
Rep. April Weaver, District 49
Rep. Jim McClendon, District 50
Sen. J. T. “Jabo” Waggoner, District 16
Sen. Slade Blackwell, District 15
Sen. Cam Ward, District 14
CHILDREN’S POLICY COUNCIL HISTORY
The Children’s Policy Councils (CPC) of each county in Alabama were created in 2000 by legislative act from the reorganization of the legislatively mandated Juvenile Justice Coordinating Committees. By law, the senior Juvenile Judge or District Judge chairs the council in each county. The law specifies certain mandated members to serve on the council. These include local representatives from the Dept. of Human Resources, the Dept. of Youth Services, the Dept. of Public Health, the Dept. of Mental Health/Mental Retardation, the Dept. of Rehabilitation Services, the Medicaid Agency, the Dept. of Public Safety, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, the county and city superintendents of Education, the county Chief Probation Officer, the district attorney, local legislators or their designees, the chairperson of the county commission, the sheriff, and seven persons to be appointed by the council from the community including state and local government officials, practicing attorneys, community organizations, business and industry, and representatives of any other agencies or organizations providing services to families and children in the county. The Department of Children’s Affairs was created by Gov. Don Siegelman to over see the affairs of children, ages 10-19, in Alabama. This duty also included providing oversight and technical assistance to the local Children’s Policy Councils in each of the state’s 67 counties. Each year the local CPC provides an Annual Report to the Dept. of Children’s Affairs which includes an annual assessment of the needs of the children and their families in the county. This report is then past on to the Governor and Legislators so that they can address the needs of the children of the state. The local Children’s Policy Councils are governed by the Alabama Children’s Policy Council, whose members are comprised of the commissioners of the state agencies serving children and families. The chairperson of the Alabama Children’s Policy Council is the Commissioner of the Dept. of Children’s Affairs. The Vice-Chair is the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. The Alabama Children’s Policy Council also includes five persons appointed at-large from the community.
The Shelby County Children’s Policy Council operates as an open participation council and welcomes all persons and organizations interested in the betterment of services for children of all ages and their families.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the local Children’s Policy Councils (CPC) is to promote collaboration among agencies and service organizations serving children, to fill gaps in services identified in the annual needs assessment and to develop a comprehensive plan of service delivery to children and their families to avoid duplication of services. Each local council is required to meet at least quarterly during each calendar year. By Alabama law, the voting members of each council are the mandated members plus seven at-large members appointed by the council. It is up to the local CPC chairperson to decide whether or not to include others interested in the affairs of children on the council as non-voting members. The work of the local CPC is usually done through the following committees: Health (including mental health), Safety, Education, Early Care and Education (ages 0-5), Economic Security, and Parent Involvement and Skills. The focus of each committee is as follows:
Health – Children’s physical well-being in the county, (ages 0-19).
Mental Health / Safety – Children’s mental well-being and the ability to live free of abuse, neglect, crime and drugs.
Education – Children learn the skills necessary to become productive citizens.
Early Care & Education (0-5) – Children (0-5) are provided opportunities to fully develop emotionally, socially,
physically and cognitively and are ready to succeed.
Economic Security – Children grow up in a financially stable home where the child’s basic needs can be met.
Parent Involvement & Skills – Parents and guardians participation and effectiveness in fostering an environment for children to become mature, responsible and independent adults.
Any person interested in the needs and concerns of children may serve on a working committee in the local CPC. Please contact the chairperson listed for each committee. If unavailable, contact Barbara Williams at 205-669-3831.
ANNUAL REPORT TO THE DEPT. OF CHILDREN”S AFFAIRS
By law, the local CPC is required to deliver to the Dept. of Children’s Affairs on July 1st an Annual Report which consists of a County Resource Directory of Services for families and children, a Needs Assessment of the needs of children under the topics noted in the committees, minutes of each CPC meeting, a list of committee members, a list of CPC members and the accomplishments of each council during the year. The Dept. of Children’s Affairs collates the data from all county CPCs and sends its report to the Alabama Children’s Policy Council for approval. With approval, the final report is delivered to the Governor of the State of Alabama and the Legislature by October of each year. Decisions on funding and programs for children’s issues and affairs are decided in part from this annual report. Funding for children’s services in each county are generated from the Children First Trust Fund, part of the tobacco settlement awarded to the State of Alabama.
Shelby County Children’s Policy Council, under the leadership of the now Alabama Supreme Court Justice Patti Smith, became a notable leader in advocacy and services delivered to children. According to the annual ALABAMA KIDS COUNT book published by VOICES For Alabama’s Children, Shelby County leads the state in the well-being of children as measured on several indicators. This Number One rating has continued for many years because of the hard work of the dedicated people working for children’s issues in Shelby County and their influence on state leadership as a whole. With the advancement of Justice Smith to the Alabama Supreme Court, District Court Judge James Kramer has risen to the challenge as the new Chairperson of the Shelby County Children’s Policy Council. With his enthusiasm and leadership and the continued hard work of the agencies and community organizations supporting the children of Shelby County, we will continue to be the leader and innovator of programs and services for children in Alabama.
If you wish to be a partner in this wonderful collaboration to make a difference in the lives of the children of Shelby County, please contact:
Barbara R. Williams, MA
Coordinator
Shelby County Children’s Policy Council
Shelby County Juvenile Court
P. O. Box1253
Columbiana, Alabama 35051
205-669-3831
Fax 205-669-3704
br.williams@alacourt.gov
