By Maya Quinn, editor
The Greene County Children’s Policy Council (CPC) met on Monday, August 26th at 10:00 am in the W.M. Branch Courthouse. Members discussed upcoming initiatives for Greene County’s youth and families as well as progress within each committee.
Attorney Tonjula Carey, district judge-elect, opened with a meditation for policy council members. The theme cautioned against burnout and reminded attendees to take time to replenish themselves. This can be done by setting boundaries, gently slowing down, and permitting ourselves to clear away what no longer serves us.
Program Director of Community Outreach and Engagement from the Alabama Department of Family and Childhood Education, Nichole McCants, informed attendees with updates from the Alabama Children’s Policy Council. She announced that a conference would be held September 21-22, 2026. The event will feature a guest speaker and opportunities for attendees to earn Continuing Education Units approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors. Judge Lillie Jones Osborne will be awarded the Champion for Children Award at the event for her CPC work: Little Library, Little Outdoor Pantry, and Read Greene Read. Greene County will be featured in the CPC newsletter for these initiatives.
McCants also detailed the results of the Greene County needs assessment for the upcoming year. The top three categories are mental health, parental involvement and family engagement, and substance use. She encouraged the council to visit Alabama Family Central online for resources that are curated by county and can upload their own agency.
Following Nichole McCants updates, the floor was opened for updates from the council’s committees: early care, education, health, strengthening family, safety, parental involvement, and economic security.
Judge Osborne gave updates for early care and education, informing attendees that the council paid for children to attend other camps instead of hosting and coordinating their own. She stated that the One Book, One Community reading of Imagine That and The Square Nosed Pig was a huge success. The next reading event will be held in December, and the council is searching for community members to come read their favorite stories.
The council also partnered with Eutaw Housing Authority to give all children a school supply-filled backpack to begin the year. They are currently in search of mentors for students at Robert Brown Middle School starting in September. The council hopes to send every student to the Legacy Museum in Montgomery this year as well.
Following Judge Osborne’s updates, Mildred Morgan with Strengthening Families reported eight families graduating from their spring session. She stated that to hold a session this fall, the program needs four more volunteers to lead the parent and teen class.
Safety Committee leader Jeremey Rancher plans to speak with student athletes about drinking and substance abuse during homecoming weekend, on October 9th. He wants to organize regular sessions throughout the school year during periods when teens will be out of school or out late to deter dangerous behavior.
The floor was then yielded to the council’s agencies and supporters. Alabama Department of Public Health representative Janise Norman came to remind the council of her Safe Sleep Initiative. The program includes safe sleeping arrangements for infant families and safe sleep training sessions. She can be reached at (205) 759-6166 or Janise.Norman@adph.state.al.us
The council is eager for project ideas that meet the needs of children and families in Greene County. The next meeting will be held on October 19th. To learn more about the policy council and its resources, visit: https://www.alcpc.org/
Featured Image: Nichole McCants and Judge Osborne