The West Georgia Resource Network revolutionizes the way those in need and organizations that can help interact in the West Georgia area.  Introduced by the Community Foundation of West Georgia, the network offers area nonprofit organizations, governments and churches help in managing their caseloads with more efficiency and effectiveness, while helping local residents in need locate assistance.  

Help with food, housing, shelter, utilities, education and training, child and adult care, physical and mental health services, substance abuse help and protective services are just some of the resources local residents can find on the West Georgia Resource Network Web site (http://www.wgaresourcenetwork.org/). 

“We think that once local service organizations begin using West Georgia Resource Network, they will wonder how they ever served the community without it,” said Kim Jones, president of the Foundation.

Tara Hafer, secretary of First Baptist Church in Carrollton, agrees. “I use this program almost every day as we have so many people who come in for different types of assistance, especially food.  I can’t imagine how we met all their needs before using the network," she said. "The food we give out is donated so we want to be sure we help those most in need and have enough food to go around.  The Resource Network allows us to check names so that we can give priority to first-time recipients, then assist our repeat visitors.  I just type in the recipients’ names and immediately know if they already have received assistance from us or other locations. This saves me hours of time each week as I don't have to search through lots of paperwork.  All the information is right there on the network.”

Local agencies already using the system include Bowdon Area United Christian Ministries, Tanner Health Sytem, St. Margaret’s Community Outreach, the Franklin Housing Authority, H.A.R.T.S., Glenloch Baptist Church and Carrollton Housing Authority.  Here are some of the many benefits many local service organizations already have found the Network can do.

• Enter and share information about people receiving aid.  Just this one feature will:
• Reduce paperwork
• Allow organizations to see intake and past referral information
• Provide “real time” information about each person
• Reduce duplication of services provided by participating agencies.
• Refer clients to other agencies through the Network.
• Quickly share information about availability of services.
• Track client case notes and manage assignment of case managers.

Anyone with questions about the Resource Network may contact the Foundation office at info@cfwg.net or 770-832-1462.