Our Programs
Mike Angstadt
Executive Director
Columbus
Anne Elizabeth Shepherd Home
Reality House
Weracoba Second Chance Home
Chattahoochee CASA
Children's Tree House
T.R.U.S.T.
Child Support Recovery Visitation Program
Community Counseling
LaGrange
Bradfield
Connections
Coleman Community Center in LaGrange
Adult Parenting
Circle of Care
Comprehensive Awareness Program
Children's Advocacy Center of Troup County
Supervised Visitation
Parents As Teachers
Troup County Prevention Coalition
Community Counseling
Magnolias Campus in LaGrange
Annette Boyd Group Home
GA Farm Bureau Second Chance Home
Moore Specialized Foster Care
Macon
Georgia Industrial Children's Home,
A Campus of TCYFS
Meriwether County
Youth Leadership & Services Program Alabama
Lee County CASA
Other Programs
Challenge Ropes Courses
Education Services
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Our Leadership
TCYFS Board of Directors
Kenneth Gordon
President
Frank "Chunk" Newman
Vice President
Arthur Bickerstaff
Secretary Cathy Smith
Treasurer
Patrick Crews
Past President Markette Baker
Greg Brown
Rep. Debbie Buckner
Bobby Doerr
Jerry Fulks
Linda McMullen
Barbara Miller
George Moore
Cheryl Myers
Alice Owens
Stacey Poydasheff
W.B. "Bill" Shedd
Cindy Sparks
Bill Stump
Greg Tapley
Al Zachry |
Our Leadership
TCYFS Foundation Board
Arthur B. "Skin" Edge, III
Vice President
Gene Kemp
Secretary/Treasurer Jerry Fulks
Liaison to the
TCYFS Board of Directors
Nancy Durand
Clifton Fay
Susan Prather |
| Featured Article |
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Columbus area educator
and Chattahoochee CASA volunteer, T. L. Blythers, has recently written and released her first book- Mika Dika: Foster Kid
Mika Dika is a well-written and beautifully illustrated children's book about a young girl who enters the foster care system and endures many challenges while waiting on a permanent home. Blythers commented, "As an advocate, I see that their voices are being lost in the throes of the system. I want to build a higher hedge of protection around all children, not just foster care kids." This is Blythers' first book and it is slated to become a series. Visit www.MikaDika.com to learn more.
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Jessica Lynn Boyd
On Sunday, July 4, 2010, we were saddened to learn of the death of a former resident of the Anne Elizabeth Shepherd Home, Jessica Lynn Boyd. With no "next of kin" a memorial service was organized by our staff to celebrate her life. We are grateful to Cox Funeral Home and Pastor Doug DeCelle of First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange for their assistance with the arrangements. Jessica is survived by her infant daughter. She was five days old at the time of her mother's passing.
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Robert Wilson at his Pre-K Graduation at St. Thomas Day School. Robert is the son of Barber and Tiffany Wilson. Tiffany is the Marketing and PR Coordinator at TCYFS | |
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| DID YOU KNOW? | |
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Twin Cedars offers both indoor and outdoor ropes courses.
If you are interested in teambuilding activities for your organization or company please contact Mike Angstadt at 706.298.0050
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Twin Cedars'
2009
Annual Report
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to view the report. | |
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NEEDS LIST
The new Child Support Recovery Visitation Program in Columbus is in need of the following items
Books
Coloring Books
Crayons
Gently Used Toys
Kitchen Set
Children's Table and Chair Set
Board Games | |
If you are interested in making an in kind contribution please call Brooke Daniel at 706.327.9612 ext 1 | |
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CLICK HERE
for more information about
ADMISSIONS
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Welcome
New TCYFS Staff
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Denise Arnold
CR Advocate
Annette Boyd Group Home |
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Hope Herald
An Enews about Hope for a Brighter Tomorrow
2010: The TCYFS Year In Review
2011: Looking Ahead |
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Dear Friends,
One way we like to share successes of the children in our care and those being served through our community based programming is through our monthly Hope Herald Newsletter. By utilizing news articles and photography, we provide a true look inside our organization, the programs we operate, the children we care for, our staff who work on the front lines, and the volunteers who enhance our services. For this January 2011 edition, we have included some of our favorite stories from 2010 and a preview of what's ahead for 2011. We appreciate your interest in our programs and hope that you'll continue to read about and share our work with others.
Many blessings for the New Year,
Mike Angstadt, Executive Director
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Fall Into our Favorite Photos
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Bradfield Residents Put Their Best Boots
Forward For Equine Therapy
With the help of the Muscogee County Rotary Club, Bradfield residents are participating in equine-assisted therapy. For 6 weeks, residents will experience equine-assisted therapy at Bally Cor Farm in Hamilton, Georgia. This experience offers residents a therapeutic alternative to the traditional clinical setting. Participants are working with horses to learn new skills to initiate change in their lives. 
Long term benefits can include an increase in self esteem and emotional stability, and enhanced social skills and independence. In addition to a grant from the Muscogee County Rotary Club, the Newcomer's Club of LaGrange has offered significant contributions to support the purchase of boots necessary for the program. This program will help residents find a renewed confidence in themselves lost through their experiences with abuse.
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Angstadt Chosen to Serve As Hague Commissioner
Twin Cedars' Executive Director, Mike Angstadt, has been selected to serve the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. The Convention is an international treaty created to ensure that intercountry adoptions are in the best interests of children, and to prevent abduction, exploitation, sale or trafficking of children. The Convention and the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA) require the accreditation or approval of private organizations or individuals who provide adoption services to children and families. As 1 of 8 Commissioners, he will help oversee approval for organizations seeking accreditation to provide International Adoption Services. Angstadt has served as Twin Cedars' Executive Director since 1995 and has led more than 30 peer review teams throughout the US, Canada and the Philippines seeking national accreditation from COA. Angstadt has presented at the First International Convocation of the Child in Ulyanouvsk, Russia and plans to return in June of this year. |
Twin Cedars Announces Name Change
Beginning July 2010, Twin Cedars Youth Services, Inc. will officially change its name to.....
Twin Cedars Youth & Family Services, Inc.
As we work more and more with families, our focus has grown not only to include children, but also families they have come from and endeavor to return to. Twin Cedars began to broaden their depth and breadth of outreach in 1999 with the establishment of Second Chance Homes to serve teen mothers and their babies with no viable living arrangements. Today, we continue to serve families through programs such as Parents As Teachers, Circle of Care, and TRUST (Teaching Reaching Understanding Strengthening Together). Our mission is to provide programs and services empowering children, youth and families to achieve optimum potential.
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Charlie House |
Charlie House nominated for Georgia CASA'S Karen N. Sibley Volunteer of the Year Award
Charlie has served as a CASA volunteer since 2003. When Chattahoochee CASA was formed under the Twin Cedars umbrella in July of 2009, Charlie was instrumental in program development as well as taking cases and volunteering to assist in United Way site reviews. Over the past year, Charlie has advocated for six children involved in juvenile court deprivation hearings and to date has helped three of those find permanency.
CASA Coordinator Rosalind Alston stated, "Other volunteers look up to Charlie and respect his experience and enthusiasm of the program in which he believes can make a difference for our community's most vulnerable children. Charlie is a strong candidate for this award and we look forward to supporting him in every way possible as he continues his volunteer advocacy work for children in need."
 
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Shannon Gonzales
Staff members, therapist, mentors, and friends from Anne Elizabeth Shepherd Home will all gather in Columbus this weekend for Shannon Gonzales' high school commencement. This is a overwhelming accomplishment considering that Shannon has been in foster care since age 4. Since coming to live at the Anne Elizabeth Shepherd Home, she has touched many lives. As a victim of abuse, Shannon has received therapeutic treatment, education services, and independent living skills to help her move on to the next chapter in her life. With plans to live close to her long time mentor, Cortney, Shannon is feeling happy, but nervous. This transition means leaving many of the people she has grown to call family. Shannon will serve as a shining example to other girls at our AESH campus as they too work to overcome abuse and earn their education while in foster care.
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Shannon and her faithful mentor Cortney. |
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Shannon preparing for graduation. |
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Extreme Ministries Visits
Georgia Industrial Children's Home
 | | Extreme Ministries Work Week was held May 30th-June 5th |
Extreme Ministries, a Mobile Ministry group out of Cropwell, Alabama, brought their special brand of service ministry to GICH from May 30th through June 5th. Jeff Huey and Jason Jones, leaders for Extreme Ministries, coordinate mission trips for churches throughout the southeast and have been doing so for fifteen years. The mission group of approximately 35 folks (teenagers and adults) hit the ground running. The primary project was to complete a cinder block building that had been remained unfinished for several years. The group primed and painted the interior and installed tile in the bathrooms and showers as well as the toilets and sinks.
In addition, Extreme Ministries, installed ventilation fans and painted the ceilings in Anderson cottage, putting the final renovation elements in place for that cottage. The deck on Lions cottage needed serious rehab as did the two wheel chair ramps, one on Baldwin Cottage and the other on Mumford Hall. And, we now have five picnic tables under our pecan trees as well.
Jeff and Jason and Linda Finley, the GICH Program Director, have worked together for about three years. Linda said, "I've known these guys and worked with their group for years. I was so pleased when they called in February and said they wanted to come over and see what they could do for us." This is the beginning of a great relationship. We are already planning our next "Extreme" experience. What a tremendous blessing for our campus.
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T.R.U.S.T Offers Support Group Meetings
T.R.U.S.T. is an early intervention program aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect by assisting young parents in meeting their needs and the needs of their their children. Caring staff provides parenting education through the Nurturing Program, as well as emotional support and links to various community services yielding a reduction in the incidences of child abuse and neglect in Muscogee County. This month T.R.U.S.T. staff began offering monthly support group meetings for clients. These meetings allow for young mothers to build relationships with peers who are dealing with the same circumstances, increasing their support network. These meetings will also further increase parenting knowledge and skills introduced by our staff during individual home sessions.
(From L-R) Baby Adam is 24 days old. Lateisha Robinson, TRUST provider, offers instruction to participants.
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Canoeing and Kickball...
Anne Elizabeth Shepherd Home Girls
Enjoy Camp Viola
The girls of the Anne Elizabeth Shepherd Home celebrated the month of July with several field trips. While visiting Camp Viola, located in Mountville, the girls were able to enjoy an array of summer activities. With the help of Camp Viola staff, the girls learned safety tips for canoeing. They also enjoyed kickball, volleyball, swimming and hiking. AESH Staff provided a wonderful bbq lunch. For those who attend our on -site school at Ault Academy, some summer activities may help residents complete physical education credit hours. Residents also enjoyed field trips to the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coke in Atlanta.
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2010 TCYFS Satisfaction Survey
In January of 2010, Twin Cedars' Leadership Team decided to accomplish a job satisfaction survey of Agency employees. Tom Slater, TCYFS Director of Administrative Services and Human Resources conducted the survey and has provided a thorough report. The results were posted for all employees to review. We would like to share the overwhelming results. Of 12 factors that were rated, nearly 73% of all employees were extremely satisfied with their jobs. This is an overwhelming percentage given that this is the first survey of this kind for our organization. While the typical response rate for a survey is 30% or less, our company participation rate was 42%. Based on the overall rating of 12 factors there is little doubt that the vast majority of our workforce is highly satisfied across the spectrum of 12 rated areas and hold TCYFS in high regard.
"Working part time for CASA/Twin Cedars has been a wonderful experience for me. Not only is the work rewarding on a personal level, but I also can say I genuinely like working with the TCYFS staff. I also am happy that the CASA program hired from within its own volunteer pool, which means I am now working for the very place I use to volunteer my free time. How lucky for me. Great partnership all around." 
~ Alaina Barnett Chattahoochee CASA Part Time Volunteer Supervisor 7 months of Service
"I have enjoyed working with the Maintenance Team at Twin Cedars. It has been a great opportunity to use my skill set to indirectly help children in need."
~Eric Scott
TCYFS Maintenance Team
3 Years of Service
'It is very satisfying to know we have been good stewards of the funds entrusted to us for the care of our children. Our goal is to maximize the usage of the funds directly for their care. In doing so, we can make a positive contribution to their lives."
~J. David Overby Chief Financial Officer
7 Years of Service |
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Coleman Community Center Staff Members
Put Servant Leadership Into Practice
 While many office parties this Holiday Season included a "Dirty Santa" gift exchange or a catered luncheon, the Twin Cedars staff at the Coleman Community Center celebrated differently, by adopting foster children served through the Family Visitation Center. Through their artwork, children created Holiday "wish lists" which were prominently displayed at the Family Visitation Center. Gifts ranging from toys to pajamas were purchased by TCYFS staff members and then distributed at a pizza party at the Coleman Center. Executive Director, Mike Angstadt commented, "Although gifts were distributed earlier this week, staff continue to knock on my door sharing their positive thoughts about taking part in this special party. All would like to ensure this becomes a tradition we celebrate each year." By forgoing a traditional office party, Coleman staff members have gone the extra mile to make a difference in the lives of children and families. |
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Looking Ahead in 2011
As we move forward into a new year, Twin Cedars continues its mission, "to provide programs and services empowering children, youth and families to achieve optimum potential." The year 2011 brings new challenges and new opportunities for our organization. Beginning January 1, 2011, Twin Cedars expanded services into Lee County Alabama. With approval from our Board of Directors, we have launched
| | | CASA established in Lee County Alabama |
Lee County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) to advocate for children involved in Juvenile Court Deprivation hearings. With the support from a local Lee County Advisory Board, free office space has been secured during our first year of operation. The local chapter of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority will also support the program, as CASA is their National Philanthropy. Lastly, a $50,000 start up grant has been secured to help with necessary operating funds.
Through a contract with DHS' Division of Child Support, we are now offering services to custodial and non-custodial parents living in the Columbus and outlying counties. The newly established
Child Support Recovery Visitation Program
will offer the following: *Case Intake and Assessment
*Group Parenting Assessment
*Supervised Visitation
*Counseling *Mediation/ Parenting Plans
*Monitored Visitation 
 | | Dorothy Wells Knight |
As a recipient of the Dorothy Wells Knight Unitrust, Twin Cedars received a donation that will serve as a springboard to purchase a facility that will house our Community Counseling program in Columbus. Twin Cedars plans to name the building the Dorothy Wells Knight Community Center. To date, a location has been identified and due diligence is in process. We are in high hopes that the purchase and needed renovations will be completed by Spring of 2011. |
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