By: BETH CHAPMAN / Community Columnist

Julie Ellis has been named director of the Shelby County Children’s Policy Council.

The Children’s Policy Council helps fill the needs of families and children of Shelby County by building networks and linking together people and organizations dedicated to the wellbeing of children.

Their mission statement is to value young people as our greatest resource by achieving greater collaboration among service providers and improving services to children and youth as Shelby County remains the leading county in Alabama that safeguards children’s health and overall wellbeing.

The Children’s Policy Council was created in 2000 by legislative act with one such council in each of Alabama’s 67 counties. By law, the senior Juvenile Judge chairs the council in each county. The law specifies certain mandated members to serve on the council. These include local representatives from the Department of Human Resources, the Department of Youth Services, Department of Public Health, Department of Mental Health, Department of Rehabilitation Services, Medicaid, Department of Public Safety, the Alcohol Control Board, the city and county superintendents of education, the county chief probation officer, the District Attorney, local legislators or their designees, the Chairperson of the County Commission, the sheriff and seven persons appointed by the council from the community. The Alabama Children’s Policy Council also includes five persons appointed by the Governor.

Prior to her appointment, Ellis worked as the Mental Health coordinator and assistant to Probate Judge Jim Fuhrmeister. In that position, she served as the primary contact between law enforcement, hospitals, social workers and Shelby County families to determine the need of an evaluation for mental health treatment and services through the Court.

Ellis is married to Corley Ellis. They have one son, Jamison, and they live in Columbiana.