Minutes of Lowndes County
Children’s Policy Council 

February 4, 2009

District Judge Terri Bozeman Lovell called the Lowndes County Children’s Policy Council meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. on February 4, 2009, at the Lowndes County Law Library.

The meeting was attended by Judge Terri Bozeman Lovell, District Judge; Mel Brackman, Lutheran Ministries; Allen Butler, SKIP, Inc.; Gloria Jean Canty, SKIP, Inc.; Charlie Colvin, River Region United Way; Sam Cooper, BancorpSouth; Angela Daniel, All Kids; Lakeisha Griffin, Helping Lowndes Families Initiative; Katina James, STEP; Liletta Jenkins, Department of Children’s Affairs; Vera Larkin, Children’s Rehabilitation Services; Rebecca Leadingham, Montgomery Area Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy; Katanga Mants, Auburn Extension Services,  Mary Anne Martin, Alabama Character Initiative; Audrey Peterson, DHR; Gloria Simmons, Family Service Center; and Shakirah Tajuddin, DHR.

Judge Bozeman Lovell welcomed Council members and introduction of members and guests followed.  The members approved the minutes of the December 3, 2008, meeting. 

The members were notified of their committee assignments and then spent the majority of the meeting reviewing the 2008 Lowndes County Needs Assessment and seeing what areas had been addressed and which areas needed additional organization and work.

Mary Anne Martin and Mel Brackman announced that Enrich Winners Walk Tall will be returning to Lowndes County this year and that will further our goal of making Lowndes County a Community of Character. 

The members agreed to merge the annual health fair into the Lowndes County School System’s Kid Check Program and that the health committee would follow up with Nurse Coker about our assistance. 

Lakeisha Griffin gave an update on the Helping Lowndes Families Initiative and invited those interested to contact her about being involved or accepting referrals. 

Liletta Jenkins encouraged our members to take part in the CPC Annual Conference either in Montgomery on March 13^th or in Selma on April 3^rd.  Registration forms were distributed at the meeting. Some of the topics to be covered at the conference will be the Juvenile Code Revision, Kids Count, PRIDE Surveys, and the Annual Needs Assessment. 

Angela Daniel distributed information regarding All Kids and encouraged everyone to submit requests for new forms that include the new poverty level increases.  Angela also gave an update on the Kid Check programs and encouraged our continued support. 

Members and guests made announcements regarding upcoming events and activities in the community. 

The meeting concluded at 4:40 p.m.