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April proclaimed as Child Abuse Prevention Month
L to r: Dulce Lima, Carol Brewton, Stephanie Floyd, Yolanda Harper, Kynslie Fitzgerald (reigning America's Ideal Miss Georgia Princess), Kelli Altman, Chandra Cox, Rachel Stewart, Becky Anderson, Marcella Hernandez, Miriam Guadalupe-Hernandez, Taisha Whit
L to r: Dulce Lima, Carol Brewton, Stephanie Floyd, Yolanda Harper, Kynslie Fitzgerald (reigning America's Ideal Miss Georgia Princess), Kelli Altman, Chandra Cox, Rachel Stewart, Becky Anderson, Marcella Hernandez, Miriam Guadalupe-Hernandez, Taisha White, and Rose Morris.

April has been proclaimed as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Georgia, and the Tattnall County Commissioners at their Monday, April 1, 2024, meeting acknowledged this observance with the passage of a proclamation. 

"Children have a right to be safe and to be provided with an opportunity to thrive, learn, and grow. Child abuse and neglect can be prevented by supporting and strengthening Tattnall County families," said Chairman Jackie Trim.

Kellie Altman, Director of the Tattnall and Evans Departments of Family and Children Services (DFCS), reported that since January 1, 2024, to April 1, 2024, 55 cases of abuse or neglect have been reported in Tattnall County. Of those reports, 34 were opened and assessed while the others did not rise to the level of an active safety concern, she added.

"Tattnall County currently has 27 children in foster care, and seven of those children are placed in Tattnall County. The other children are placed outside of the county and a few out of state with approved relatives," said Altman.

"Tattnall County currently has seven foster homes, and we are in need of additional homes. If you would like more information on how to become a foster or adoptive parent, please call 1-877-210-KIDS," she said.

"There are now ten open Family Preservation cases in Tattnall. These are cases that do not warrant children to be placed outside of the home, but the family was found to be in need of some services, such as counseling, parenting, etc. These services prevent out-of-home placement for children and are to help preserve and strengthen the family," Altman explained.

Tattnall County is fully staffed with five Child Protective Services Case Managers, who are Yolanda Harper, Stephanie Floyd, Carol Brewton, Janet Hogans, and Dulce Lima; and Margaret McRae as Supervisor. They cover Tattnall and Evans counties and assist as needed in Toombs County during on-call rotation.

A special guest at the commissioners' meeting was Kynslie Fitzgerald, reigning America's Ideal Miss Georgia Princess, who recently donated 132 Easter baskets to DFCS for foster children in Tattnall and Evans counties.