About Us
Connecting People. Strengthening Communities.
For more than 30 years, Connecting Henry has brought people, organizations, and resources together to strengthen families and improve quality of life throughout Henry County.
We believe no single organization can meet every community need alone. The strongest solutions happen when people and organizations work together. By fostering collaboration, sharing resources, and building strong partnerships, Connecting Henry helps our community identify challenges, develop solutions, and create opportunities for children, families, and individuals to thrive.
Since our collaborative efforts began in 1996, Connecting Henry has served as a trusted community leader dedicated to improving the lives of children, families, and individuals throughout Henry County. In 2004, we became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, allowing us to expand our impact and continue serving as Henry County’s local hub for collaboration and community engagement.
Today, we remain committed to bringing people together to address local challenges, strengthen community partnerships, and create a stronger, healthier, and more connected Henry County.
Our Mission
To identify, strengthen, and connect community resources in order to develop collaborative solutions that meet the evolving needs of children, families, and individuals throughout Henry County.
Our work is centered on understanding what our community needs, bringing the right people to the table, connecting people and resources, and helping turn collaboration into lasting solutions.
Our Vision
We envision a Henry County where every child, family, and individual has access to the resources, support, and opportunities needed to achieve stability, well-being, and long-term success.
Our Values
Everything we do is guided by a shared commitment to serving our community through:
Collaboration
We believe the best solutions are created when organizations, leaders, and residents work together.
Compassion
We serve our community with empathy, respect, and a commitment to helping others.
Integrity
We build trust through transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship.
Innovation
We embrace creative, community-driven solutions to meet changing needs.
Equity
We strive to ensure every individual has access to opportunities, resources, and support.
Community
Strong communities are built through meaningful relationships, shared responsibility, and collective action.
What We Do
Connecting Henry serves as a community convener, connector, and catalyst for positive change throughout Henry County.
We bring together nonprofit organizations, schools, businesses, healthcare providers, faith-based organizations, government agencies, community leaders, and residents to address challenges that no single organization can solve alone.
Our work includes:
- Connecting residents with community resources and services
- Building partnerships that strengthen organizations and community initiatives
- Facilitating collaboration across the public, private, nonprofit, and faith-based sectors
- Supporting community planning through data-informed decision-making
- Promoting programs and initiatives that improve health, education, family stability, and economic opportunity
- Identifying emerging community needs and developing collaborative solutions
Everything we do is centered on one purpose: helping create a stronger, healthier, and more connected Henry County for current and future generations.
How We Work
We Connect People and Resources
Many community needs are complex, and addressing them often requires more than one organization or service. Connecting Henry helps bring the people, information, resources, and organizations together so that our community can respond more effectively.
We Build Partnerships
Strong communities depend on strong relationships. We work across sectors to strengthen communication, share knowledge, identify opportunities, and encourage organizations to work together toward common goals.
We Use Data to Understand Community Needs
Strong communities are built on informed decisions. Data helps us better understand the needs of Henry County, identify emerging challenges, measure progress, and guide collaborative solutions.
By combining reliable local, state, and national data with the knowledge and experience of community partners, we can identify priorities, address service gaps, and help ensure resources are directed where they are needed most.
We Support Collaborative Solutions
Our role is not to duplicate the work of organizations already serving our community. Instead, we help strengthen the connections between them.
When organizations work together, communities grow stronger.
Georgia Family Connection Partnership
Connecting Henry proudly serves as the Henry County Collaborative for the Georgia Family Connection Partnership (GaFCP), Georgia’s statewide network dedicated to improving outcomes for children, families, and communities through local collaboration.
Established in 1991, the Georgia Family Connection Partnership is the nation’s only statewide network of county-based collaboratives, bringing together thousands of partners across all 159 Georgia counties. Through this network, communities identify local priorities, build partnerships, and develop collaborative solutions that improve the lives of children and families.
As Henry County’s local collaborative, Connecting Henry convenes organizations and community leaders to address challenges that no single agency can solve alone.
Through our bi-monthly Community Collaborative meetings, partners:
- Share information and resources
- Identify emerging community needs
- Identify service gaps and reduce duplication of efforts
- Increase awareness of available programs, services, and community resources
- Coordinate services and strategies
- Develop collaborative approaches to strengthen families
- Work together to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families
Our collaborative includes representatives from nonprofit organizations, schools, healthcare systems, faith-based organizations, businesses, government agencies, civic groups, and engaged residents—all working toward the shared goal of building a stronger Henry County.
Together, we align resources, foster innovation, and encourage collective action so every child, family, and individual has the opportunity to thrive.
Our Impact
Through collaboration, Connecting Henry helps strengthen the entire community by:
- Building relationships that expand access to services
- Connecting residents with trusted community resources
- Supporting collaborative initiatives that improve health and well-being
- Helping organizations work together more effectively
- Encouraging data-informed planning and community problem-solving
- Creating opportunities for children, families, and individuals to thrive
Behind every partnership, program, resource, and conversation is an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life.
When organizations work together, communities grow stronger.
Our Community Work
Connecting Henry works alongside community partners to address issues that affect the health, stability, and well-being of Henry County residents.
Our collaborative work includes initiatives that support areas such as:
- Maternal and infant health
- Family stability
- Health and well-being
- Education
- Economic opportunity
- Community resource access
- Emergency assistance
- Community planning and problem-solving
Our role varies depending on the initiative. We may serve as a convener, connector, community partner, resource navigator, or facilitator of collaboration.
The goal is always the same: bring the right people and resources together to help our community respond to its evolving needs.
Meet Our Staff
Our dedicated staff is passionate about strengthening Henry County through collaboration, community partnerships, and meaningful connections.
Barbara Coleman
Executive Director
Barbara provides leadership for Connecting Henry’s mission, fostering partnerships and guiding collaborative initiatives that improve the lives of children, families, and individuals throughout Henry County.
Kaitlynn Cassidy
Administrative Support Specialist
Kaitlynn supports the day-to-day operations of Connecting Henry, assists community members and partners, coordinates communications, and helps ensure the organization remains a welcoming resource for the community.
Get Involved
Strong communities are built through collaboration—and there are many ways to be part of the work.
Whether you’re looking for community resources, interested in becoming a board member, attending a Community Collaborative meeting, partnering with Connecting Henry, volunteering, or supporting our mission through a donation, we’d love to connect with you.
You can get involved by:
- Attending a community event or collaborative meeting
- Exploring local resources and services
- Connecting with community partners
- Becoming involved in collaborative initiatives
- Learning more about community needs and opportunities
- Supporting Connecting Henry through donations
- Volunteering your time and expertise
Together, we can continue building a stronger, healthier, and more connected Henry County.
Let’s Connect
Whether you’re a resident, nonprofit organization, business, healthcare provider, school, faith-based organization, government agency, community leader, or potential partner, there is a place for you in the work of strengthening Henry County.
Every connection has the potential to make a difference.
We look forward to connecting with you.
About Georgia Family Connection
Georgia Family Connection, a statewide infrastructure for aligning efforts across sectors, comes together through two distinct but connected change-makers: a statewide network of Collaboratives in all 159 counties and Georgia Family Connection Partnership (GaFCP). Each strengthens the other—and together, they form Georgia Family Connection.
We work toward measurably better outcomes across five key result areas:
The Georgia Family Connection statewide network—the only one of its kind in the country—works alongside children, families, and communities to help them thrive by crafting local solutions that maximize resources and make systems more effective and efficient. This network cultivates collaboration among community service providers, reducing duplication of efforts and allowing everyone to do more with the resources available.
Collaboratives equip local service agencies and organizations with the tools and methods they need to be more effective, helping them develop and work together on integrated strategies to improve child, family, and community well-being. We fill in service gaps in our communities by functioning as an incubator for direct services to families and children when a need isn’t being met. We also respond to urgent situations by maintaining strong relationships and the infrastructure necessary to deliver timely support.
GaFCP unites the statewide network in a shared framework that promotes consistent, ongoing collaboration and peer learning—equipping Collaboratives to draw on communities’ collective wisdom and experience across the state. GaFCP develops effective partnerships with state leaders, private enterprises, and other stakeholders to link the network with public and private funding, resources, talent, and innovation. GaFCP also empowers leaders across Georgia by making data accessible and providing practical tools, training, and technical assistance to support informed decision-making.
