MISSION STATEMENT:
To assess and identify the current needs of Gilmer County families, and to coordinate and enhance the development of prevention programs addressing the needs; thus providing opportunities for the delivery of these services.
ABOUT US:
Family Resource Networks (FRNs) are organizations that understand and are responsive to the needs in West Virginia communities. Partnering with citizens and local organizations, the FRNs develop, coordinate and administer innovative projects and provide needed resources. Across the state of West Virginia, there are 47 FRNs that represent all 55 counties. FRNs not only work on securing funding for their organization, but assist other organizations in obtaining funding to continue providing services and programs to benefit their communities. FRNs recognize the value and importance of collaborative partnerships in effecting change.
FRNs can have a wide and varied scope of work, and often choose to focus efforts on the issues most pressing and relevant to their local service area. FRNs do not provide direct services but rather work collaboratively with partner agencies to implement and support new or existing programs or projects. All FRNs are tasked with the same primary objectives, however, they have flexibility in how they choose to address and meet these objectives. This flexibility in function serves FRNs well by allowing them to be responsive to the needs and opportunities of their communities and residents.
Some examples of FRNs primary work areas include: substance abuse prevention, community development, early childhood programs, child abuse prevention, economic development, foster care placement, resource development, and food or non-food essentials assistance. Even though FRNs may have many differences, they all share a commonality: a vision to improve the quality of life for all West Virginians. The Gilmer County FRN’s primary work areas include: substance abuse prevention, child abuse prevention, and community/resource development.
The Gilmer FRN is the fiscal agent and primary coordinator of the Gilmer County Wellness Coalition. The coalition currently meets every second Tuesday of the month at noon by Zoom, and is open to anyone interested in joining prevention efforts across the county. Our coalition has been successful in securing a permanent Prescription Drug Drop Box located at the Gilmer County Sheriff’s office open to the public during hours of operation. Through our grant funding, the coalition has been successful in organizing several trainings throughout the county, including Narcan/Naloxone training for emergency personnel and the recent training of Gilmer County Schools personnel in evidence-based curriculum Too Good for Drugs for grades 4 through 12 and Second Step for grades 3rd and under. Curriculum for educators was also secured with coalition funding. Curriculum is designed to aid in social and emotional skill development proven to aid youth in being safe and substance free. Other annual activities of the coalition include the Hooked on Fishing derby hosted every year at Cedar Creek State Park during the “free fishing” weekend, partnership with the City of Glenville to organize National Night Out every August, coordinate Paint the Town Blue to honor local law enforcement officers and much more. The coalition is preparing activities currently for Alcohol Awareness month during the month of April, including informational table toppers to encourage parents to talk to their children about alcohol, and a “Brown Bag Campaign” for local businesses. As substance abuse touches most families within Gilmer County, the Coalition encourages you to reach out to find out how you can be more involved!
The Gilmer FRN receives a Partners In Prevention grant annually to promote Child Abuse Prevention within Gilmer County. As April, Child Abuse Prevention Month, approaches, the FRN is busy planning multiple activities throughout the county. These activities include “pinwheel planting”, pinwheel crafting activities with youth in child care facilities and pre-school, presenting proclamations to the County Commission and Glenville City Council, and setting out self-help information for parents at participating locations including the local DHHR office. A portion of this grant supports Community Resources, INC’s weekend backpack feeding program in Gilmer County. Other activities the FRN has organized under this grant are local community resource fairs, health and safety fairs, donating feminine supplies to our local high school, partnering to provide the first Little Free Library in Glenville City Park, supporting holiday projects, providing a fatherhood initiative to inmates in FCI Gilmer, and organizing local community trainings such as Understanding the Framework of Poverty and Youth Mental Health First Aid.
The Gilmer FRN Thrift Store has become an important resource to many families and organizations in Gilmer County. Though the hours of operation are limited, the store is ran by trainees through the Senior Community Service Employment Program, or the SCSEP. The SCSEP is a grant based program for individuals 55 or older meeting eligibility requirements which typically allot trainees 15 hours a week. Our devoted trainees and volunteers sort donated goods to price them and place them in designated areas. The funds generated from the FRN Thrift store are budgeted to go back to the community. Projects supported by the Gilmer FRN thrift store include purchasing backpacks and limited school supplies for the backpack giveaway, supporting local holiday projects including the Holiday Teen Shoe Box and Santa's Angels, as well as assisting community organizations such as the schools with clothing needs for students. The FRN also assists low income community members and families and families that have been impacted by disaster and are in need of items.
FRNs can have a wide and varied scope of work, and often choose to focus efforts on the issues most pressing and relevant to their local service area. FRNs do not provide direct services but rather work collaboratively with partner agencies to implement and support new or existing programs or projects. All FRNs are tasked with the same primary objectives, however, they have flexibility in how they choose to address and meet these objectives. This flexibility in function serves FRNs well by allowing them to be responsive to the needs and opportunities of their communities and residents.
Some examples of FRNs primary work areas include: substance abuse prevention, community development, early childhood programs, child abuse prevention, economic development, foster care placement, resource development, and food or non-food essentials assistance. Even though FRNs may have many differences, they all share a commonality: a vision to improve the quality of life for all West Virginians. The Gilmer County FRN’s primary work areas include: substance abuse prevention, child abuse prevention, and community/resource development.
The Gilmer FRN is the fiscal agent and primary coordinator of the Gilmer County Wellness Coalition. The coalition currently meets every second Tuesday of the month at noon by Zoom, and is open to anyone interested in joining prevention efforts across the county. Our coalition has been successful in securing a permanent Prescription Drug Drop Box located at the Gilmer County Sheriff’s office open to the public during hours of operation. Through our grant funding, the coalition has been successful in organizing several trainings throughout the county, including Narcan/Naloxone training for emergency personnel and the recent training of Gilmer County Schools personnel in evidence-based curriculum Too Good for Drugs for grades 4 through 12 and Second Step for grades 3rd and under. Curriculum for educators was also secured with coalition funding. Curriculum is designed to aid in social and emotional skill development proven to aid youth in being safe and substance free. Other annual activities of the coalition include the Hooked on Fishing derby hosted every year at Cedar Creek State Park during the “free fishing” weekend, partnership with the City of Glenville to organize National Night Out every August, coordinate Paint the Town Blue to honor local law enforcement officers and much more. The coalition is preparing activities currently for Alcohol Awareness month during the month of April, including informational table toppers to encourage parents to talk to their children about alcohol, and a “Brown Bag Campaign” for local businesses. As substance abuse touches most families within Gilmer County, the Coalition encourages you to reach out to find out how you can be more involved!
The Gilmer FRN receives a Partners In Prevention grant annually to promote Child Abuse Prevention within Gilmer County. As April, Child Abuse Prevention Month, approaches, the FRN is busy planning multiple activities throughout the county. These activities include “pinwheel planting”, pinwheel crafting activities with youth in child care facilities and pre-school, presenting proclamations to the County Commission and Glenville City Council, and setting out self-help information for parents at participating locations including the local DHHR office. A portion of this grant supports Community Resources, INC’s weekend backpack feeding program in Gilmer County. Other activities the FRN has organized under this grant are local community resource fairs, health and safety fairs, donating feminine supplies to our local high school, partnering to provide the first Little Free Library in Glenville City Park, supporting holiday projects, providing a fatherhood initiative to inmates in FCI Gilmer, and organizing local community trainings such as Understanding the Framework of Poverty and Youth Mental Health First Aid.
The Gilmer FRN Thrift Store has become an important resource to many families and organizations in Gilmer County. Though the hours of operation are limited, the store is ran by trainees through the Senior Community Service Employment Program, or the SCSEP. The SCSEP is a grant based program for individuals 55 or older meeting eligibility requirements which typically allot trainees 15 hours a week. Our devoted trainees and volunteers sort donated goods to price them and place them in designated areas. The funds generated from the FRN Thrift store are budgeted to go back to the community. Projects supported by the Gilmer FRN thrift store include purchasing backpacks and limited school supplies for the backpack giveaway, supporting local holiday projects including the Holiday Teen Shoe Box and Santa's Angels, as well as assisting community organizations such as the schools with clothing needs for students. The FRN also assists low income community members and families and families that have been impacted by disaster and are in need of items.
