The speakers have been announced for the eighth annual Human Services Priority Brunch in Carbon County.

The brunch on April 7 will provide an update from various agencies on community partnerships already in place to help school-age children; as well as what needs to be done to better serve the children of the community.Local speakers who will address the attendees are Tim Tkach of the Aevidum program; Becca Shaffer and Rebekah McFadden, who will speak on the Student Assistance Program; and Carbon County Judge Joseph Matika, who will speak about the Children's Roundtable.Jennifer Swails, deputy secretary of the budget, will also be in attendance to speak to the audience about things on the state level.The event, which is open to all county agencies and the public, will be held at the Whispering Pines, Penn Forest Volunteer Fire Company 1, 1387 Route 903, Jim Thorpe. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. Brunch begins at 9, and the discussion will start at 9:30.It is sponsored by the Carbon County Interagency and Family Collaborative Board.The brunch committee strongly encourages agencies and the public to attend to educate themselves and help with finding solutions.The cost for the brunch is $5 per person, which will benefit an annual grant given by the collaborative board at the brunch to one school to be used in the creation of an Aevidum program, which aims to bring support to students within the school.Tickets are still available for the event, Carbon County Commissioner Wayne Nothstein said.To register for the brunch, make checks payable to Interagency Council of Carbon County and send payment and the names of those attending and agency to Carbon County Interagency and Family Collaborative Board c/o Mindy Graver, Penn State Extension Office, 529 Lentz Trail, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229; or contact Nothstein at 570-325-3611.For more information, contact Graver at 570-325-2788, ext. 2, or email

mjg26@psu.edu.The annual brunch has covered various topics, from problems the court systems face to children and families.