Appalachian Children’s Center, Inc.
Executive Director
Andrea Gibby
The mission of the Appalachian Children’s Center, Inc. is to be an advocate for the safety of all children and to reduce the trauma of child abuse victims and their families by facilitating a multidisciplinary team approach to prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution, and treatment of child abuse in the Appalachian Judicial Circuit of Fannin, Gilmer, and Pickens Counties.
Appalachian Family Law Information Center (AFLIC)
Coordinator
Hannah Towns
The Appalachian Family Law Information Center (AFLIC) was developed to assist residents of Pickens, Gilmer, and Fannin Counties who wish to represent themselves in domestic legal matters or educate themselves about domestic issues. AFLIC has legal form packets and instructions available to assist in the following areas (some of which are available on-line): divorce (both with and without children), contempt, legitimation, child custody and visitation modifications, modification of child support, and name changes.
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
Executive Director
Melanie Davis
The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a trained community volunteer appointed by a judge to speak up for the best interests of an abused or neglected child involved in a juvenile court deprivation proceeding. The ultimate goal of a CASA volunteer is to help make sure the child has a safe, permanent home.
North Georgia Mountain Crisis Network, Inc.
Executive Director
Erin Pritchett
706-632-9024 Administration
706-632-8400 Crisis Hotline
706-632-1007 Fax
The North Georgia Mountain Crisis Network, Inc.’s (NGMCN) mission is to provide safe shelter and support services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault; promote community awareness and education to help prevent and break the cycle of violence; provide an environment of encouragement, compassion, and support for all we serve. Our agency serves Fannin, Gilmer, and Pickens counties by providing a twelve-bed shelter at a confidential location as well as providing outreach support services victims and survivors at the local, state, and federal levels.
Family Connection
Fannin County Executive Director
Sherry Morris
Gilmer County Coordinator
Tiffany Watson
Pickens County Coordinator
Jacque Elwarner
Pickens Family Connection, Gilmer Family Connection, and Fannin Family Connection are integral parts of the state-wide network of 159 counties participating in Family Connection and local community-wide collaborations between social service agencies, organizations, and individuals dedicated to improving the lives of children and their families. Participation in Family Connection is encouraged and open to all members of the community. Youth, parents, business, and government leaders are invited to join. Through these collaborations, successful community initiatives have been born, such as Community Thrift Stores, Community Emergency Shelter, Family Advocate program, Rural Home Ownership Loan Program, the Extreme Teen Abstinence Program, and Kids Day Out.
Visitation Centers
Gilmer County Coordinator
Tabitha Stallings
706-273-4744 phone
The mission of the Visitation Centers is to provide a safe, secure, and structured alternative for the exchange and/or the visitation of children between custodial and non-custodial parents in a neutral environment that promotes healthy interaction between members and prevents the victimization of any person. Children and families are referred to the Center’s services by the Pickens, Gilmer, and Fannin Departments of Family and Children Services (DFCS) or as the result of Pickens County Superior Court, Gilmer County Superior Court, or Fannin County Superior Court mandating supervised visitation between custodial and non-custodial parents or supervised exchange between custodial and non-custodial parents. In addition, DFCS and the Juvenile Courts of Pickens, Gilmer, and Fannin Counties order supervised parental visits between biological parents and their children who are in foster care because of neglect and abuse. These visits also target siblings and allow them to visit with one another. The Center also conducts drug screens, offers parenting classes, and drug/alcohol assessments.
Prevent Child Abuse Pickens
Executive Director
June Ash
Prevent Child Abuse Pickens is committed to raising the value society places on children and to preventing abuse and neglect so that all children can grow to their full potential. Every child deserves to be cherished and nurtured in a safe environment. Harming a child in any way is unacceptable. Prevent Child Abuse is committed to strengthening families and preventing child abuse and neglect by providing families with the information, support, and resources necessary to be successful in raising children. Furthermore, Prevent Child Abuse is committed to engaging communities in the development and implementation of prevention strategies and programs. Prevent Child Abuse targets these areas, where the need for prevention services is greatest: Advocacy; Children’s programs; Community involvement; Parent programs; Professional education; Strategic partnerships. Through statewide programs like a toll-free Helpline, Healthy Families Georgia, and First Steps, Prevent Child Abuse is helping break the cycle of child abuse in Georgia.
Victim Witness Assistance Program
The Office of the District Attorney Appalachian Judicial Circuit Victim Witness Assistance Program solemnly promises to provide an all-inclusive range of services that will help the victim stay informed and educated about his or her case. Services will be rendered with absolute respect, compassion, dignity, helping the victim to feel whole again. If you are a victim of a criminal case, you may be entitled to services. Services include providing general information about the criminal justice system and specific information about your case; employer intervention; creditor intervention; referral to social service agencies; accompaniment to court; advocacy for restitution; and assistance in filing compensation application. To see if you qualify for these services, call 706-635-5122.