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Cherokee County Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS)

PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

BETWEEN 

THE CHEROKEE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

AND

THE CHEROKEE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES

This agreement entered into on this May 21, 2020, by and between the Cherokee County Board of Education, hereinafter referred to as the “School Board” and The Cherokee County Department of Family and Children Services, hereinafter referred to as “DFCS.”

WHEREAS, the School District’s mission is to educate the emerging generation through learning environments designed to increase the performance of all students; and,

WHEREAS, one of the School District’s Priority Areas is Family, Partner and Community Engagement; and,

WHEREAS, DFCS’ mission is to strengthen Georgia’s families – supporting their self-sufficiency and helping them protect their vulnerable children and adults by being a resource to the families, not a substitute.   Cherokee County DFCS is committed to treating others with dignity, respect, and in a professional manner; and,

WHEREAS, one of the DFCS’s priorities is to serve people as close to home, family and community as possible to deliver services to their customers as if they were their own family, with dignity and respect, and to build relationships through interactions with clients and colleagues with loyalty, integrity and maturity; and,

THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and conditions set forth herein the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

The parties agree that the foregoing recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by reference.

ARTICLE II

The School District will:

  1. Review existing and emerging protocols and practices to ensure continued compliance with Georgia Statute as it relates to the “mandated reporter” status of identified School District employees.

  1. Utilize appropriate School District staff to deal with juvenile cases screened out by DFCS as they relate specifically to school attendance and truancy.

  1. When appropriate, involve school staff in Family Team Meetings sponsored by DFCS for families currently under that agency’s supervision.

  1. Maintain open communication channels, provide necessary school/School District contact information, and commit to meeting regularly with DFCS leadership in order to enhance inter-agency cooperation and collaboration.

  1. Pursue potential joint grant opportunities in both parties’ best interests.

 

ARTICLE III

DFCS will:

  1. Review existing and emerging protocols and practices to ensure timely, appropriate investigations are conducted regarding child abuse referrals generated by schools/School District.

  1. Identify appropriate staff to serve with the School District and other agencies on the Cherokee County Truancy Panels.

  1. When appropriate, involve departmental staff in school/School District-based training and/or informational sessions.

  1. Maintain open communication channels, provide necessary departmental contact information, and commit to meeting annually with School District leadership in order to enhance inter-agency cooperation and collaboration.

  1. Pursue joint grant opportunities in both parties’ best interests.

  1. Accept all children/interested participants for participation within its programs without regard to their gender, race, political affiliation, age, national origin or handicapping condition or any other discrimination recognized and prohibited by State or Federal Law. Children/participants with handicaps must be provided all necessary levels of supervision and must be included within the activities of the partnering organization. As a result of this partnership agreement, DFCS must adhere to all local, State or Federal laws regarding education.

ARTICLE IV

The term of this contract is May 21, 2020 through May 21, 2021. This contract shall automatically renew for additional terms not to exceed five years unless either party notifies the other at least 60 days prior to renewal date.

ARTICLE V

This contract may be terminated by either party upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other party with or without cause. All notice of this contract shall be given to the Superintendent of Cherokee County Schools at PO Box 769, Canton, Georgia, 30169, and to the Director of the Cherokee County Department of Family and Children Services at 105 Lamar Haley Parkway, Canton, Georgia, 30114.