Grayson County Schools’ Family Resource and Youth Services Center (FRYSC) coordinators recently came together with state and school officials as Grayson County Judge Executive Kevin Henderson signed a proclamation designating the week of Feb. 6 - 10 as “Family Resource and Youth Services Center Coordinators Appreciation Week.” Across the state of Kentucky over 850 Family Resource and Youth Services Centers work in the schools directly to provide support to children and families.
Family Resource and Youth Services Centers are located in each of the Grayson County Schools to remove non-academic barriers to student achievement, bridge the gaps to needed resources, and collaborate between school and community for the success of students, families, and the community.
Recent surveys report that educators, parents, and community partners believe that the Family Resource and Youth Services Centers are a necessary component of Kentucky educational programming. The FRYSC programs are vital to students, empowering families, and helping to improve schools.
Local coordinators Barbara Allen, GCHS YSC; Kim Cannon, Caneyville/Lawler FRC; Ann Brooks, Clarkson FRC and Shalee Watson, Leitchfield FRYSC work within each school to support student and family needs. Coordinators collaborate with local resources including the Grayson County Alliance Food Pantry, Community Action, the UK Extension Office, Adult Education, churches, businesses, and other civic groups. These partnerships ensure children and families have access to food, clothing, weekend food, housing, utilities, holiday assistance, prevention programs, and more. The services that are provided in the school are each uniquely specific to the individual child or family’s needs. The motto of the FRYSC is "whatever it takes," and each coordinator makes that a guiding principle in their center.
Shown in photo above, front l - r: State Rep. Samara Heavrin, Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson, and State Sen. Steve Meredith. Back: Shalee Watson, Kim Cannon, Barbara Allen, Ann Brooks, and Josh Baldwin.