Junior League Cobb-Marietta

Reconnecting Families newest community partner, the Junior League of Cobb-Marietta, will have a new president next year.The current president, Caroline Whaley, will be stepping down after an amazing year. As a huge advocate and supporter of Reconnecting Families, Caroline Whaley will truly be missed by Reconnecting Families.  

Through Ms. Whaley’s leadership, Junior League Cobb-Marietta supported nine community partners through their grant program. All of their active members served in the community through their placements or DIAD events. League training enhanced member’s knowledge of leadership while reflecting the Junior League in the best light. The Junior League also took on 3 special projects this year and served as a catalyst in the community for change. Junior League also put on a very successful Mistletoe Market, Mardi Gras Run, cookbook sales, and the Annual Giving Campaign. Next year, the Junior League of Cobb-Marietta will be partnering with eight community nonprofits.

           So, Congratulations Caroline Whaley on an incredible year and we look forward to seeing you in the community. 

129 & Counting Benefit Performance

On June 3^rd, 129 & Counting will be giving a benefit performance for a group called Reconnecting Families. This 90 minute show will include 25 songs that will span everything from doo-wop to sacred, and patriotic to good old barbershop. Last year, 129 & Counting did a similar show for the benefit of the YWCA to rave reviews (ask Dan or Linda Shelles). We are pleased to have the opportunity to do this show again for Reconnecting Families.

Reconnecting Families helps families to reconstruct themselves after mother's become sober.  Reconnecting Families helps fill in the gap. It’s all about making life better for the children, and giving them a real family life.

Reconnecting Families has been operating for about five years. The program is acting as a model for similar programs across the state.

We invite you to join us to support Reconnecting Families. Bring your family and enjoy an afternoon of fun music performed for you at a terrific setting. We will ask for a freewill donation during the performance…after all we’ll be in a church. Here are the details:

Sunday June 3, 2012 at 3:00 pm

The Sanctuary, First Presbyterian Church of Marietta, 189 Church Street, Marietta, GA 30060

 For more information, see the pictures. We hope to see you there!!

Welcome Twitter!

Reconnecting Families has officially entered the 21st century and has created a Twitter account! We are so excited for this new endeavor and would love for anyone with a Twitter account to follow us! Our Twitter name is @RFcobb and you can recognize us by our logo. Look forward to updates and pictures via our newest form of communication! Please retweet us and share our account with your friends and family!

Celebrating Families

From day one Celebrating Families has been a great program for the Family Depedency Treat meant Court and has played a crucial role for Reconnecting Families. Currently, Celebrating Families is in week 6 and ends on May 31^st. Celebrating Families works to break the trend of alcohol or drug abuse in families. Working with every member of the family, from ages 3 through adult, the program increases the odds of successful family reunification.  This therapy program genuinely cares about each and every family involved in the program, as well as every family member.   Celebrating Families curriculum is an evidence based cognitive behavioral, support group model written for families in which one or both parents have a serious problem with alcohol or other drugs and in which there is a high risk for domestic violence, child abuse, or neglect.

Celebrating Families organizes dinners for members of their program. Therapy starts for children age 3 and older. Reconnecting families wants to give a special thank you to Celebrating Families and First Presbyterian Church, as always, for providing dinner and a facility.

Above: Stan Graham volunteers as a babysitter for children under 2 years old.

A Community Partner and More...

On May 3rd, 2012 Reconnecting Families, Inc was proud to be invited to the Junior League of Cobb-Marietta Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet.  This beautiful dinner was held at the Marietta Country Club and  RF was proud to officially become a community partner of this strong and amazing organization.  A big thanks to Caroline Whaley and Jennifer Johnson Lynch, who as past presidents, have helped to forge this unbelievable partnership. 

In addition, we congratulate and look forward to the new president Allison Carter.

Thanks Ladies and cheers to a great 2012!

Below is Executive Director Brin Black accepting the grant fund and certificate:



A Happy Mother's Day to ALL!

Mother's Day is a time for us all to be thankful for the strong women who brought us into this world, taught us everything we know, and made us the people we are today.  It is also a special time to recognize the women of the Family Dependency Treatment Court.  These women are growing stronger, more confident and becoming the mother's God intended them to be.

Yesterday the women of a West Cobb Bible Study Group, better known as God's Groovy Girls, felt called to offer a Mother's Day luncheon for the mother's in FDTC.  It was, not only delicious, but also a huge success and touched the hearts of every mother in the room.  A huge heartfelt thanks to these amazing women for offering this special day to mother's who need it the most.  God's Groovy Girls are an example to every Mother.  Also, a big thanks to McEachern Methodist Church for hosting this lunch.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Congratulations Graduates!

On May 9, 2012, family, friends, court staff, counselors and the community celebrated the graduation of nine participants from the Juvenile Drug Court program. Congratulations to Andrew, Krysta, Melanie, James, Claire, Brian, Damien, Nick and Moses on their hard work and dedication to the program.

Reconnecting Families is very proud of these young men and women and we are overjoyed to see them graduate. The graduates were recognized for successfully completing the program and their commitment to changing their life for the better. Two graduates have plans to join the military while several other graduates plan to continue their studies by attending college. 

Thank you to Taqueria Tsunami and Cobb EMC for their support. Cobb EMC hosted us in their community room and Taqueria Tsunami, on the Marietta square, provided delicious tacos for everyone to enjoy.

We wish all the graduates continued success  and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for these inspiring individuals. Congrats again on your awesome accomplishment!

A Fun Summer Ahead!

We recently received exciting news when we were told 3 scholarships would be given to us for Camp High Harbour! This summer, Reconnecting Families will be sending 3 of our FDTC kids to Camp High Harbour on Lake Allatoona. These boys, ages 9-12, will learn new camp activities and skills that are valuable for life, while having a good time! They will enjoy swimming, arts and crafts, nature study, ropes course, campfires, songs and skits, climbing tower, field games, boat rides, hiking, archery, team sports, and so much more! We can't wait to hear all the fun stories these 3 boys come home with after camp! 


If you are interested in, or know of someone who would be interested in, attending any of Camp High Harbour's sessions this summer, visit their website at http://www.ymcapass.com/lakeallatoona1home.shtml 

Mother's Day Appeal

                                           MOTHER'S DAY APPEAL 2012


Dear Friend,

Now, more than ever, Reconnecting Families needs your support. Reconnecting Families cordially invites you to support our 5th annual “Mother’s Day” campaign, which now specifically supports our newly established Joan R. Murphree Memorial Scholarship program.

Reconnecting Families, Inc. is a nonprofit, charitable 501(c)(3) organization founded to enhance and expand the effectiveness of our Juvenile and the Family Dependency Treatment Court programs in Cobb County. Reconnecting Families enables children and parents to live an addiction-free life, while gaining the skills necessary to live healthy, financially-independent, and productive lives. The vast majority of our participants have little to no education and lack the skills required to financially support themselves or their families. Accordingly, education and scholarship opportunities are vitally important. For this reason, we are excited to announce the founding of the Joan R. Murphree Memorial Scholarship program, which will fund one scholarship for a Juvenile Drug Court participant and one for a Family Dependency Treatment Court participant.

Joan R. Murphree was a long-time guidance counselor at Marietta High School. Ms. Murphree touched thousands of high school students’ lives over decades, as their counselor, in-school mother, and friend, by encouraging young minds to achieve their highest in academics and in life. Ms Murphree was also a fond supporter of our programs, and she is singularly deserving of having this scholarship program named in her honor. Also, in furtherance of Ms Murphree’s love for Reconnecting Families, her daughter, Sara Clay, has continued her mother’s legacy by sitting as a member of our board.

Please take a few moments to read our blog (reconnectingfamiliescobbcounty.blogspot.com), where we regularly offer information and personal stories on our Family Dependency Treatment Court mothers, who are learning and growing into role models themselves. Drug addiction is such a powerful disease that can cause a loving mother to turn away from her own kids. Through our programs and these new scholarships, families can be reunited.

As Mother’s Day approaches, what better way is there to celebrate your own mother, than to help another family pursue its full potential? Please help a family learn a healthy lifestyle, while contributing to the betterment of the Cobb County community. Thank you for your consideration and continued support!

Warmest regards,

Justin O’Dell
Board Chair