EXERCISE PARTICIPANTS* Gordon County Domestic Violence* Family Resource Center* Highland Rivers Community Service Board* Calhoun City Schools* Gordon County Schools* Boys and Girls Club* DFCS* Public Health* Area on Aging* Good Samaritan* Tallatoona Human Resources Development Council* Calhoun Affordable Housing–“The Bridge”* Red Cross* Voluntary Action Center
By Amy Zajac
Correspondent
CALHOUN, Ga. — In an elaborate role-playing exercise, Leadership Calhoun/Gordon County trainees tried recently to identify where the area’s homeless, jobless, sick, aging and abused people best could find the help they need.
Roberta Charbonneau, Family Connection of Gordon County coordinator, worked with Leadership Calhoun personnel to prepare scenarios for the session.
“The goal of the collaborative in developing this session for the leadership class is to have relevant scenarios that represent the struggles of Gordon County residents,” Ms. Charbonneau said.
The Gordon County Chamber of Commerce-sponsored session on March 24 brought the leadership trainees together with representatives of 14 community resource agencies.
“Whether citizens are dealing with unemployment, grief and loss, behavioral issues with children, domestic violence or homelessness — it’s tough to know where to turn for help,” Ms. Charbonneau said. “But we encourage folks to pick up the phone and make that first call. Our agencies work together to assist our families with whatever they’re struggling with.”
All the scenarios, she said, were “real-life situations for the trainees to resolve.”
After an hour of quizzing agency representatives, the trainee teams presented their findings and were critiqued by them.
Trainee Byron Sutton, assistant fire chief with Gordon County Fire/Rescue, said he learned more about social resource agencies in Gordon County.
“Besides the variety of assistance available to our citizens, what impressed me most about our social resource agencies is how well each agency knows what the other agencies are able to provide,” he said.
He said the available online social resource software was very useful.
“Having the ability to input data into this software by one agency and have those notes available for viewing by another agency helps make sure those citizens who need help receive the necessary assistance. … I must say, I’m very proud to be a part of a community (that) cares enough about its citizens to provide such valuable resources, especially during this time of economic hardship.”
Sharon Alexander, chief financial officer with the Gordon Country chamber, said the “extremely successful” leadership program is in its 23rd year.
Amy Zajac is based in Gordon County. Contact her at azajac10@yahoo.com.