Get ready for FCCS's FamJam 2012 and Mayor Coleman's Neighborhood Pride Block Party!

Franklin County Children Services and the City of Columbus have teamed up to bring a fun-filled day of entertainment to Central Ohio. While the City of Columbus celebrates its bicentennial with a Neighborhood Pride Block Party, FCCS invites everyone downtown to Columbus Commons, 160 S. High St., on Aug. 18 for the annual family enrichment festival.

Click here for the official FamJam Flyer.

Free refreshments will be provided by community partners Ohio Packing Company, Save-a-Lot, Kroger, Karn Meats, Ezzo Sausage and AT&T Pioneers. Cool down with a frozen treat from Whit's Frozen Custard or the Sunny 95 Ice Cream Van. Beverages from the Dr. Pepper Snapple Bottling Company and OXYWater will quench your thirst.

A Day of Entertainment and Activities

Local musicians and dancers will be featured on the main stage. Kids can have their faces painted, play games on the lawn, climb up the Columbus Recreation and Parks climbing wall, romp in the bouncy houses or take a ride on the Commons Carousel, and more.

Dress the kids in swimsuits and bring towels. The Columbus area settlement houses will have inflatable waterslides for them to play on.

Walk With a Doc! Dr. David Sabgir and Columbus Public Health's Healthy Places Program will lead a one mile walk to Scioto Mile and back with stops for health information and screenings. The walk will begin at 10 a.m. next to the stairway by the main stage.

FCCS will sponsor games throughout the day. Kids can play and win prizes.

Where Eagles Fly Karaoke will let adults and kids sing their favorite songs.

Columbus Public Health's Imagination Play will help the kids create, build and use their imaginations.

More Than 60 Exhibitors

More than 60 community partners will host information booths and free giveaways throughout the day. Central Ohio safety forces will have their big fire trucks and SWAT teams and police specialty units will be on display next to the Columbus Division of Fire's Safety House.

Parents will find educational and informative tips at the FCCS literature table. There will be giveaways for kids and 4,000 pairs of flip-flops to hand out.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office will have tours of their SWAT vehicles, command trailer and will sign up your child for an ID card.

Learn how to be 1, 2, 3 ready with the American Red Cross and tour their Emergency Response Vehicle.

Prepare for the next disaster with information from the Franklin County Emergency Management Agency and Community Emergency Response Team.

Visit with Columbus Police Officers and Firefighters, and meet McGruff the Crime Dog and other mascots.

Exhibitors Include:

200 Columbus AAA American Red Cross Angie's List AT&T Pioneers BuckeyeKids Child Support Enforcement Agency City of Columbus Public Service Department COAAA Columbus Art Walks Columbus City Schools Columbus Comets Columbus Division of Fire Columbus Division of Police Columbus Legal Aid Columbus Public Library COSI COTA COWIC CRPD Climbing Wall Deaf World Against Violence Everywhere Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Fire Fighters Against Drugs Fire Safe House Fire Trucks Franklin County Animal Control Franklin County Auditor's Office Franklin County Children Services Franklin County Clerk of Courts Franklin County Sheriff's Office Franklin County Treasurer's Office

Franklin County Veterans Service Commission Gladden Community House Green Spot Healthy Children, Healthy Weights, Columbus Public Health Imagine Academy of Columbus Just Walk with A Doc Program La Presna Publications Lady Butterflies Local Matters Lowe's MetroParks Molina Health Care MORPC Mt. Carmel College of Nursing Mt. Carmel Crime & Trauma Assistance Program Ohio Attorney General's Crime Victim Section Ohio Department of Natural Resources Ohio National Guard OXYWater Roll Sole4Soles St. Vincent Family Center Sunny 95 Ice Cream Van Target Where Eagles Fly Karaoke Whit's Custard Xclaim! Dance

FamJam Tips:

Arrive with an empty stomach from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Food and beverages are provided for FREE while supplies last.

You may bring a cooler, lawn chair or blankets for open seating areas, but no tents or staked tarps are allowed. No alcoholic beverages or weapons are permitted.

Plenty of inexpensive parking is available at nearby garages. Or take a COTA bus to S. High and Rich Streets. Ride your bike to FamJam! A free bicycle corral, staffed by volunteers, will be glad to watch your bike while you roam the party.

FamJam 2012 Event Map: (Click here for a printable version)

Other FCCS News:

Back to School Supply Drive

Times are tough. Thousands of FCCS children need help getting their school supplies. The FCCS Volunteer Department is taking donations of new school supplies to help agency children. Any donation, from a package of pencils to a backpack full of supplies will help make a child's first day of school a wonderful experience.

The need is great this year, so we are relying on your kindness to help make this year's school supply drive the best ever.

Supplies can be dropped off at FCCS, 855 W. Mound St. Columbus, OH 43223, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information, contact the FCCS Volunteer Department at (614) 275-2690.

Click here for a list of suggested school supplies

2011 Report to the Community : Pathways for Families

Franklin County Children Services 2011 Report to the Community is available online. It is titled Pathways for Families and features photos and stories about FCCS children and families.

Click here to read it.

For a printed copy, call (614) 275-2523.

Upcoming Events

Sat. Aug 11 - Stuff the Bus

The Hilltop Kiwanis will collect school supplies for FCCS children from 10a.m. - 2p.m. at Hoge Memorial Church, 2930 W. Broad St. in Columbus. Please help by dropping off book bags, pens, pencils, note pads, paper, glue, crayons, folders, rulers and any other school supplies.

Last year the Stuff the Bus program provided nearly 1,000 book bags to Children Services kids and six area elementary schools. For more information, go to www.hilltopkiwanis.com or email hilltopkiwanis@gmail.com .

Sat. Aug. 18 - FCCS's FamJam and Mayor Coleman's Neighborhood Pride Community Block Party

For more information, call (614) 341-6085 or email fccsoutreach@fccs.co.franklin.oh.us .

Fri. Sept. 28 - Children's Day at COSI

FCCS is celebrating Children's Day at COSI from 5p.m. - 9p.m. FCCS Children and families will receive free admission, the general public will get a reduced rate. Kids will enjoy free refreshments, entertainment, a balloon artist, face painting and the exhibits and movies at COSI. For more information, call (614) 341-6017 or email fccsoutreach@fccs.co.franklin.oh.us .