The Atlanta Hawks and Fulton County Parks and Recreation Unveil Renovated Basketball Court at Cliftondale Park

Parents, kids, Fulton County employees and Atlanta Hawks players packed the Cliftondale Basketball Court on Saturday, August 20, 2016 along with County and State elected officials to share in the celebration of the renovation of the basketball court.                                          
The project is one of several community-focused court dedications completed in partnership with the Atlanta Hawks and Fulton County Parks and Recreation.  This unique partnership was the brainchild of Fulton County Commission Chairman John H. Eaves.    

“It was a great day from start to finish,” said Chairman Eaves.  “I was especially thrilled to see how excited the kids were to meet former Hawks’ great Dikembe Mutombo and the others who are part of this great team.  We now have another excellent basketball court and a lasting partnership with the Hawks.”

During the event District 6 Commissioner Emma I. Darnell thanked the Hawks for their commitment to community and gave the kids a special message.  “We love you, we believe in you and we expect great things from you,” said Commissioner Darnell.  She urged the children to remember while having fun on the court they have support in reaching their dreams through partnerships like this one.  

During the event, Atlanta Hawks Forward Thabo Sefolosha addressed the kids and encouraged them to be leaders and to listen to their parents, drawing a lot of laughter from parents attending the event.  

Once the ribbon cutting was over, the Westlake High School Marching Band kicked off the day’s festivities with several musical selections.  Kids attending the ribbon cutting participated in interactive games with the Hawks Fan Experience team. They also decorated basketballs with youth artists from the Fulton County Arts and Culture program as well as watched the dancers from the South Fulton Arts Center’s 2016 Summer Teen Art Intensives.    

Last year the NBA franchise, through its Atlanta Hawks Foundation, renovated court facilities at Fulton County’s Welcome All Park and will be renovating one additional Fulton County park in the near future.  “The state-of-the-art renovation of the Cliftondale Park Basketball Court is a shining example of what public/private partnerships can accomplish. The generosity of the Atlanta Hawks Foundation working with the Fulton County Parks & Recreation Department made this wonderful addition to our community possible. This collaborative effort will positively impact the lives of families and children for years to come,” said Tony Phillips, Director of Fulton County Parks and Recreation.

With seven total court renovations completed since 2015, the Hawks have pledged to refurbish a total of 25 courts in five years.

Fulton County to Host MARTA Bus Operator Recruitment

The Fulton County Workforce Development Division is assisting MARTA with its bus operator recruitment.  MARTA wants customer-focused applicants to apply for this opportunity. 

To apply for bus operator positions, Applicants must:

·         Create an applicant profile at www.itsmarta.com  and apply for the Bus Operator position

·         Submit applications by Friday, September 2, 2016

·         Send an email to Jason.Lane@fultoncountyga.gov following application submission. The email must include the name and phone number of the applicant with MARTA BUS OPERATOR in the subject line

·         Wait for further instructions indicating that they can move forward in the application process.

·         Be at least 21 years old

·         Pass all pre-employment background screenings related to the bus operator position  (Customer Service test and Physical Exam which include drug and alcohol testing)

·         Possess excellent customer service skills

·         Meet all applicable licensing requirements

Additionally, a valid Georgia Class ~A~ or ~B~ CDL driver’s license or GA CDL permit is required with a Passenger Endorsement.  If candidates do not have the required licensing, they may visit the Department of Motor Vehicles to test for the Passenger Endorsement. Candidates must provide proof that they passed the test.

Applicants who meet selection requirements will be notified by MARTA and invited to an interview at the Adamsville Career Center.  The Adamsville Career Center is part of the Workforce Development Division of the Department of Housing and Community Development. The Career Center is located within the Adamsville Regional Health Center at 3700 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA.

Fulton Board Signs on to Discount Healthcare Plan for Citizens

In a unanimous vote today, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners is making discounted healthcare services available to residents by teaming up, at no cost to the county, with the Coast2Coast Rx Discount Card Program.   In fact, according to the contract with parent company Financial Marketing Concepts, Inc. of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Fulton County will receive a “royalty of $1.25 for every claim paid by the company”.  In addition to discounts on prescriptions, the card will provide discounts on dental, vision, hearing, the Diabetes Savings Program, imaging and lab tests and even veterinary services for pets. 

 

Once the program is up and running, residents will be able to learn about and print their cards online.  Cards will also be available at Fulton County health centers, government centers and libraries.  They will be accepted at participating pharmacies.  Details of other healthcare providers participating in the program will be made widely available to the public through what the company says will be a broad “newspaper, radio, television and internet” campaign. 

The resolution was sponsored by District 4 Commissioner Joan Garner—a passionate healthcare advocate and the Commissioner overseeing the County’s core principle that “All People are Healthy.”  It was co-sponsored by District 5 Commissioner Marvin Arrington, Jr. 

“The Coast2Coast Discount program ensures all people are healthy by increasing access to services that may have otherwise been unaffordable for Fulton County residents,” says District 5 Commissioner Joan Garner. “We know that the costs of prescriptions, lab tests, and medical supplies can often be barriers for those who are on low or fixed incomes. I’m glad that our board unanimously voted to make this program a reality, and I hope that all Fulton County residents will take advantage of this great opportunity.”

Coast2Coast Rx says other healthcare services may be added to its discounted services list.  The company reports the average discount for its “cardholder base in 2013 was over 65%.”  It says the cards of Fulton residents will be assigned a unique Group Code so they can be tracked anywhere they are used at participating pharmacies, including those anywhere in the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico.

Fulton County Police Department Coffee with A Cop at the Aviation Cultural Arts Center

Meet Fulton County Police Officers for Coffee With A Cop‬ on Thursday, August 18, 2016 from 9am to 11am, located at the Aviation Community Cultural Center, 3900 Aviation Circle, NW, Atlanta, GA 30336. 

No agenda or speeches, just a chance to ask questions, voice concerns, and get to know the officers in your neighborhood.

For more information, please contact Officer R.S. Pittman at (404) 612-3001.

Fulton County to Kickoff Program to End Senior Hunger and Improve Health Outcomes

Fulton County Aging & Youth and the National Foundation to End Senior Hunger (NFESH) will kick off “What A Waste: Reducing Hunger and Improving Health among Fulton County Seniors” to enhance the health and wellbeing of vulnerable seniors in Fulton County on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at 11:00 a.m., located at the Sandy Springs Neighborhood Senior Center, 6500 Vernon Woods Drive, Sandy Springs, GA.

The program  is designed to directly improve the health and well-being of vulnerable seniors living in Fulton County by assisting select senior centers and others, similar senior meal providers in improving the nutrition services that they currently furnish to seniors who are now receiving meals and in expanding their services to reach other vulnerable older persons who are in need but excluded from services due to budgetary and other resource constraints.

The funding for “What a Waste” is being provided through the Community Services Program (CSP).   Through “What A Waste”, NFESH will work with the Sandy Springs Neighborhood Senior Center and the Roswell Neighborhood Senior Center to evaluate the program and make recommendations for operational and policy changes.

Based on the organization's track record with other jurisdictions, their recommendations have assisted senior meal programs in: lowering their food costs; improving their menus; and refining the nutrient content of meals to ensure that seniors have regular access to the much-needed nutritious foods.

For more information, contact Darrell Jackson, Deputy Director, Aging and Youth Services Department at 404-613-7944.

Fulton County Health Department Partners with Fulton Schools to Help Homeless Youth

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners has renewed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness and the Fulton County School System to enable the health department to provide routine health services to homeless Fulton County students.  Central to the agreement, Fulton’s Health Department will offer vision, hearing and dental exams, nutritional services and immunizations to homeless students.  The health department will also provide the necessary documentation of these services required for enrollment in Fulton County Schools.  The renewal of this partnership will allow the health department to provide these vital services to the homeless student population estimated by Fulton County School officials to be more than 1,500 children and youth during fiscal years 2013--2016.

These services are aligned with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.) that requires that homeless children and youth have equal access to the same free public education provided to other children and youth.  The McKinney-Vento program was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1987 and is administered through the U.S. Department of Education.

“Access to key health services and immunizations is essential for every student,” states Fulton County Board of Commissioners Chairman John Eaves.  “Fulton County is committed to ensure that youth who are homeless do not slip through the cracks.  We are proud to have partnered with the school system for nearly a decade to make a difference in the lives of these special students.”

Echoing Chairman Eaves’ sentiment, Fulton County District Health Director Kathleen Toomey, M.D., M.P.H.  adds,“ Access to education is also a key social determinant that impacts public health.”

Sara Blake Smith, LCSW, who serves as the homeless student liaison for Fulton County Schools says,“We view this long standing cooperative agreement as a great community service.”

The Fulton County Schools Homeless Student Liaison will identify the students in need of these services and refer the students to the Fulton County Health Department.  The health department then provides the services.  Parents, teachers and school counselors seeking information on health services for homeless students in Fulton County can contact the Fulton County School Homeless Student Liaison by calling 470-254-0470.   For more information on immunizations and other health screenings required for students to enroll in Fulton Schools, please contact the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness at 404-612-1211 or visit www.fultoncountyga.gov/dhw-home. Hours of operation at Fulton County’s 14 Health Centers are 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Count Down to Fulton County Police Department’s 2016 National Night Out

The Fulton County Police Department, in partnership with Fulton County agencies and local neighborhoods are joining forces with thousands of communities across the nation to celebrate and participate in National Night Out 2016.

Join Fulton County Police at their “National Night Out” on Tuesday, August 2, 2016, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., at the 112 Mega-Plex located at 5495 Old National Highway, College Park, GA 30349.

The Atlanta Dream WNBA Basketball Team will join the FCPD NNO for the fourth year in a row to support the event and encourage youth and families to join in the partnership of building stronger and safer communities as well as bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community they serve.  
National Night Out (NNO) is an annual crime and drug prevention event.  Each year the Fulton County Police Department shares information with Fulton County residents about ways to form partnerships to help make their neighborhoods safe places to live, work and play. 

The event is organized to heighten crime awareness and support for crime and drug prevention efforts sending a message to criminals that neighborhoods are working together and fighting back against crime.  The event also strengthens neighborhoods and police and community partnerships.

“National Night Out is a priority for our department because it is about community and making it stronger and a safer place for Fulton County residents to live.  Our National Night Out is an award winning initiative and the police department and the community look forward to this event every year,” said Interim Police Chief Gary Stiles.

Other Fulton County agencies participating in the event include; the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Fulton County Marshal’s Department, Office of Behavioral Health Services, Health and Wellness, and the Fulton County Fire Rescue Department will also be on hand for kids to enjoy and learn about police and fire safety.

Several companies and businesses from the community are also participating in the event.  Visitors can talk to representatives from local homeowners associations;  enjoy live entertainment, food and fun activities for the kids.  

For more information about Fulton County Police Department’s “National Night Out” contact Captain Hattie Cotton Tukes at (404) 612-5310, Officer Delancey-Pittman at (404) 613-3005 or Public Affairs Manager, Jolene Butts Freeman at (404) 234-8945.