MONDAY MEMO #17

Resilient Georgia
Feb 10
5 min read

Happy Monday! As we approach Valentine’s Day, we recognize that this time of year can be both joyful and challenging, especially for those who are grieving. We’re sharing this resource from Kate’s Club on navigating love and loss. This week’s memo includes resources for youth in foster care, caregivers, and couples, professional development opportunities, and suicide prevention tools. But before we dive in, here are some updates and highlights from the RG Team to keep you informed and engaged!

RG Highlights

Ignite! The Art of Coalition Building – Pilot Training : Join us on March 5th from 1-3pm for a pilot session of this coalition-building training, based on Frances Dunn Butterfoss’s Ignite! We hope at least one representative from your coalition can attend! Zoom invite has been sent and you can find more information on the flyer attached.
Using the RG Logo? Please share with us before publishing any promotional materials featuring our logo!
WE’RE HIRING! Resilient Georgia is seeking a Part-Time Administrative Assistant to support our team (20-25 hrs/week, $20-$25/hr). Reporting to the Internal Operations Manager, this role includes calendar management, team scheduling, and administrative support. To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to kchambers@resilientga.org with ADMIN APPLICATION in the subject line. Please share!
NEW RESOURCE! Coalition Onboarding Guide—a helpful resource for new and veteran coalition leaders, providing key background on Resilient Georgia, collaboration tools, and engagement opportunities.
Positivity and Relaxation Training (PART) Program: Don’t forget to sign up for this FREE 9-week stress reduction program led by Resilient Coastal Georgia’s Tara Jones starting in March for coalition leads. More information on the attached flyer. Sign up here.
We’re excited to share our Infant and Early Childhood Professional Development Webpage, which offers free on-demand training modules approved by DECAL. Additionally, there are two free resources from the CIS Pediatrics! The IECMH Resource Guidebook helps professionals navigate infant and early childhood mental health resources, while the Wellness for Early Childhood Professionals Course offers 13 lessons on self-care, resiliency, and self-determination theory. Please share with your networks!
New Blog! Funding to Launch Statewide Youth Prevention Program We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a two-year grant in partnership with CWC Alliance to support the launch of a statewide initiative aimed at combating the opioid crisis through youth prevention programs. Check out our latest post or attend this week’s Lunch and Learn with CWC Alliance this Thursday Feb 13th at 12pm.

Coalition Spotlights

ARCHI has two upcoming events! On February 19 from 10-11AM they are hosting a webinar on Navigating Georgia’s Healthcare Landscape under new federal policies featuring health systems and policy experts. Then on February 28 from 8:30-10:30 AM, explore The Impact of Environmental Extremes and their effects on health and communities. Please share with your networks!

Resilient Coastal Georgia: Join Chatham County Safety Net on February 19 at 11:30AM for a virtual talk with Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber on the Columbia Protocol, a widely adopted suicide risk assessment tool. She will share how this tool is transforming suicide prevention efforts in schools, courts, and healthcare settings by providing a standardized approach to assessing and reducing risk. Zoom Link.

Foster Care

Bloom Beyond Leadership Council Bloom Fosters is seeking young leaders (ages 16-26) with experience in Georgia’s foster care system to join its new Bloom Beyond Leadership Council. This paid opportunity ($100 monthly stipend) offers participants the chance to influence programs and services for transition-aged youth, engage in leadership training, and network with peers and professionals. The commitment includes monthly virtual meetings (~2 hours), bi-annual in-person team-building events, and professional development. Applications are due by Sunday, February 16. Interested individuals can apply online here. Please share widely!

Parents, Caregivers, and Couples

The Secret to Raising Confident Children? Quality Time With Parents: This article in the New York Times reports on studies showing that setting aside just 10-15 minutes a day for an engaged interaction can make a big difference.

Parental stress: A pressing issue affecting children's health: This article from The Atlanta Voice details the Surgeon General’s advisory regarding the impact of parental stress on children and families. Factors such as financial challenges, rising childcare costs, and societal expectations contribute to this stress, which can adversely affect both parents' and children's mental health. Addressing these issues requires comprehensive support systems, including accessible mental health resources and community assistance.

Youth Online Safety Resources for Caregivers: The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) provides guidance on navigating digital spaces safely, while Sound It Out Together offers tools to help parents and caregivers have meaningful conversations with preteens and teens about mental health and social challenges. Additionally, Seize the Awkward encourages open dialogue between friends about mental health, equipping young people with resources to support one another. These tools offer practical ways to foster safe, supportive, and informed conversations both online and offline. Feel free to share!

ELEVATE for Couples: Elevate is a relationship education program designed to strengthen couple relationships and promote family health and stability. As of September 2024, nearly 1,400 couples have participated, including 426 couples receiving state-assisted services, reinforcing the program’s impact on families facing adversity. Now in its final year of federal grant funding, Elevate is hosting its last round of workshops through June 2025, offering couples the chance to enhance communication, connection, and resilience. The program is also preparing for future funding to expand its reach. Please share with your networks!

Professional Development

Justice Conversations 2024: Check out the recording of the 6th annual Justice Conversations hosted by Georgia Appleseed featuring an engaging discussion on Housing, The Law, and Child Well-Being, with an esteemed panel. This conversation highlighted the critical importance of housing safety and stability in Georgia.

Peer Mentorship Opportunity Give an Hour's Peer Mentorship Program offers free, virtual group sessions led by trained facilitators with lived experience to support justice-impacted individuals. These sessions provide a safe space to share challenges, learn coping strategies, and build resilience, addressing mental health needs crucial for successful reintegration and employment. Check out their website for more information.

VIRTUAL Conference on Trauma & Embodiment: The Center for Trauma and Embodiment is hosting its 6th annual International Conference on Trauma & Embodiment from April 4–6, 2025. This fully online event features three keynote speakers, 15 breakout sessions, and movement breaks, with three months of access to the content. Register here!

CTIPP's Community Advocacy Network: These calls hosted by the Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice take place on the third Wednesday of every month. This month’s meeting will be February 19th from 2-3PM. The meeting is free and open to all; registration is required. For more information and to register, click here.

Suicide Prevention

The Community-Led Suicide Prevention (CLSP) Academy offers community coalitions a comprehensive online learning experience to enhance suicide prevention efforts. Teams of 3-5 members will engage in interactive sessions, exploring the CLSP framework through presentations and activities. The series begins with a preparatory session on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, from 12:30 to 2:30 PM ET, followed by four sessions in June. Pre-registration is now open; interested teams can secure their spots and receive updates by completing the pre-registration form. For more information, visit the CLSP Academy page.

Check out Chatham County Safety Net’s recorded community suicide prevention training and evidence-based strategies to support local prevention efforts. Additionally, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center provides a webinar on research-backed strategies for reducing suicide risk, while S AMHSA offers specialized approaches for underserved youth, ensuring that prevention efforts reach those most in need. These resources equip communities with the tools to implement effective, inclusive, and sustainable suicide prevention initiatives. Please share!