MONDAY MEMO #15
- Resilient Georgia
- Jan 27
- 5 min read
Happy Monday, Partners! This week’s resources showcase opportunities to build resilience and advance mental health initiatives across our state, including funding opportunities, DECAL Family Peer Ambassador program, Justice Day at the Capitol, and resources for Workforce and Youth. Before we dive in, here are some updates and reminders from the RG Team:
RG Highlights
2025 Power of Healing Blog Series Launch: We are so excited to kick off this 2025 blog series with a personal and inspiring post from our very own Alex English titled "Healing from Anxious Attachment: My Path to Secure Relationships." Alex reflects on her journey of overcoming an anxious an attachment style through therapy, education, and self-awareness and shares how it has made her a better parent. She models how to foster secure relationships and break generational cycles of insecurity. Thank you, Alex, for your insight on this topic as we embark on this journey to inspire healing, growth, and resilience! Check out the full blog for more practical tools on attachment theory.
January Round Calls: This month’s Round Calls are scheduled this week as follows. Please ensure at least one member from your coalition is able to attend!
Round 1: Friday, January 31st 10am
Round 2: Tuesday, January 28th 11am
Round 3: Thursday, January 30th 1pm
Round 4: Tuesday, January 28th 2pm
Round 5: Wednesday, January 29th 1pm
Coalition Spotlights
Resilient Coastal Georgia’s Vira Salzburn is hosting the following free Community Resiliency Model (CRM) Workshops on Zoom February 24, March 17, and April 21 from 11:30AM-1PM. CRM helps create “trauma-informed” and “resiliency-informed” individuals and communities that share a common understanding of the impact of trauma and chronic stress on the nervous system and how resiliency can be restored or increased using this skills-based approach. Register here.
Resilient Communities of Southwest Georgia is excited to share six months of training opportunities. Check out the RSWGA Training Calendar. Each month, the coalition will implement a different trauma-informed, resiliency based training. Training includes Connections Matter, Path to Becoming Trauma Informed, QPR and more. Register for any of the trainings here.
Education
DECAL is recruiting new Family Peer Ambassadors to support families with young children in licensed childcare or early intervention programs. Ambassadors—fathers, mothers, custodial grandparents, foster parents, stepparents, or guardians—receive training on child development, quality early care, and statewide resources, which they then share with families at community events. They also provide feedback on DECAL’s family-focused websites and tools. While volunteer-based, participants receive stipends for their involvement. Applications are open until February 10th and interested folks can apply here. Watch the program overview video here.
Funding Opportunities
Early Literacy Alignment Mini Grant The Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning and the Georgia Foundation for Public Education are launching the second round of Early Literacy Alignment Mini-Grants. These competitive grants provide up to $5,000 for 6-month projects to support partnerships between public elementary schools and Quality Rated childcare providers, focusing on literacy-based professional development and smoother transitions for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. Applications close on February 10, 2025. School leaders in districts with populations over 35,000 are encouraged to apply. Learn more and apply here. Please share with your school partners!
Spreading Love Through the Media Funding:The Greater Good Science Center, with support from the John Templeton Foundation, is offering grants of $5,000 to $50,000 through its Spreading Love Through the Media initiative. This three-year effort aims to address social challenges like polarization and loneliness by showcasing the transformative power of love in fostering compassion, altruism, and social cohesion. Grants will support nonfiction media projects—articles, videos, podcasts, and more—exploring love in its many forms. Applicants will receive funding, guidance from scientific advisors, and participate in a collaborative cohort during the 18-month program. Applications are open until March 24, 2025, with an informational webinar on January 28.
Professional Development
Justice Day - Justice Reform Partnership Join The Justice Reform Partnership for the 14th Annual Justice Day at the Capitol: Rooted in Justice, Thriving Together on Tuesday, February 25 from 9AM-3:30PM at Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA (across from the State Capitol). This free public event will feature expert panels, advocacy opportunities, and discussions on justice and equity in Georgia’s criminal legal system. Focused on community-rooted solutions and reform, it will highlight ways to strengthen families and communities. The event will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person. Breakfast and lunch will be provided and you can register here.
Workforce
"Workforce Trends: Behavioral Health in Focus": Motivo is excited to invite you to read their report on some of the emerging trends in clinical and professional development for therapists. Their goal in creating it was to uncover the key drivers and challenges that therapists face, so that we’re better equipped to support the next generation. Drawing on real, lived experiences, this report captures the voices of professionals navigating today’s challenging mental health landscape to deliver insights from the front line. Please share widely!
2025 Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health Recognition Webinar: Join Mental Health America January 23rd at noon for an info session about the 2025 Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health Recognition, a leading certification program for employers committed to improving employee mental health and well-being. Now in its sixth year, the Bell Seal features updated survey questions informed by employer feedback and industry best practices. This webinar is designed for business leaders, HR professionals, and workplace wellness advocates, whether you’re new to the program, a current recipient, or exploring certification for the future. The Bell Seal is open to organizations of all sizes and industries. Please share widely!
Caring for Nonprofit Worker Mental Health in Uncertain Times Workshop: Join Mind Share Partners on January 30th at 1PM for a virtual workshop designed for nonprofit leaders and employees to address the unique challenges of funding anxieties, burnout, and post-election concerns, offering strategies to support workplace mental health. For those outside the target audience, contact connect@mindsharepartners.org for more information.
Youth
Youth Policy Accelerator Application: The YPA is a youth leadership program from Mental Health America that equips 10 outstanding young adults with the skills, relationships, and experience to advance federal youth peer support policy.
YPA members are young adult leaders (18-25) with diverse backgrounds and identities interested in the intersection of policy change and youth peer support. The YPA has two parts.
Part I: Foundations of Youth Peer Support and Policy Members - explore the foundations of policymaking and youth peer support, learn from leading experts in the field, build community within the cohort, and co-create policy and research priorities.
Part II: Application and Learning Opportunities - Members apply their skills with expert feedback. This includes opportunities to meet with legislators, conduct original policy research, lead a national youth peer support policy coalition, participate in presentations and panels, and more. Youth can apply here.