ATLANTA – State Representative Amy Carter (R-Valdosta) recently accepted an appointment from Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal to serve on the Georgia Children’s Cabinet. As the Cabinet’s General Assembly representative, Rep. Carter will work with state and community leaders to better align state programs and services for children so services are delivered in a more coordinated and efficient manner.
“My experience working with students daily allows me to see the challenges first hand that children face today, and my position in the state legislature requires me to understand the complex interworking of state government, placing me in a unique position on the committee,” said Rep. Carter.
Mrs. Deal chose to appoint Rep. Carter for this position on the Children’s Cabinet because of Rep. Carter’s expertise and commitment to children. Rep. Carter serves on both the House Education Committee and the Higher Education Committee. She is also a teacher in the Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education area at Lowndes High School.
The Georgia Children’s Cabinet consists of 32 members, including the heads of all state agencies that work with child populations, as well as select community, philanthropic, education, judicial, healthcare and business stakeholders. It focuses on improving outcomes for all children statewide through the Governor’s Office for Children and Families. This group will help coordinate state and community programs. It will also make recommendations to state leaders on ways the state can improve delivery of these state and community programs to children. The process is intended to help influence state decision making for early childhood education.
The goal of the Georgia Children’s Cabinet is to eliminate “gaps” and duplications of service. Members also work to increase efficiency and effectiveness of child welfare and juvenile justice resources, as well as ensure the health and education of children throughout their school-age years. Additionally, beginning this month, the Children’s Cabinet will merge with the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education, and assume its responsibility for a federal grant that helps facilitate the development and enhancement of high quality systems of early childhood education and care.
Representative Amy Carter represents the citizens of District 175, which includes portions of Lowndes County. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2006, and serves as one of Governor Deal’s House Floor Leaders. She is currently the Secretary of Higher Education Committee and serves as a member of the Appropriations and Education committees as well as the Small Business Development and Job Creation Committee.
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