MONDAY MEMO #19
- Resilient Georgia
- Feb 24
- 6 min read
Happy Monday and welcome to another edition of the RG Monday Memo! This week includes a variety of helpful resources, including healthcare resources, funding opportunities, professional development and career opportunities, and more! We want to take a moment to thank you all for your ongoing efforts to create a trauma-informed and more resilient Georgia. Your dedication makes this work possible. Before we dive in, here are some updates and highlights from the RG Team to keep you informed:
RG UPDATES
February Lunch and Learn Recording: Missed our first Lunch & Learn of 2025? Cammie Wolf Rice, Founder & CEO of the CWC Alliance, shared insights on opioid prevention and the launch of the Teen Opioid and Fentanyl Prevention Initiative in partnership with RG. The recording is now on our website!
NEW Blog! My Journey Towards Self-Compassion: Feeling and Healing Through Life’s Challenges:
In the latest installment of RG’s Power of Healing blog series, Resilient Coastal Georgia’s Tara Jones shares her journey of navigating divorce, parenting, and career growth while learning the importance of self-compassion. Through her work in resilience-building programs, she discovered that true healing comes from allowing yourself to feel. Her story is a powerful reminder that prioritizing self-care and practicing self-compassion is essential in our work.
As we round out Black History Month, we wanted to reshare RG’s Mental Health Resources for Black Communities—a dedicated webpage with resources to uplift and support the well-being of this community.
2025 State of the Nonprofit Sector Survey: The Nonprofit Finance Fund’s (NFF) Survey is now live! This national survey will gather critical insights on the challenges and opportunities nonprofits face. By participating, nonprofits can help policymakers, funders, and community leaders better understand the sector's needs and advocate for long-term sustainability. This year, a special analysis of the Georgia nonprofit sector will be included, making local participation even more impactful. Take the survey here by March 7th.
February 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! (No Update Call for Round 3 in lieu of our planning day earlier this month)
Coalition Highlights
Resilient Coastal Georgia: Tharros Place's Human Trafficking Awareness Stakeholder Meeting and breakfast will be Wednesday, March 12th at Savannah Tech's Eckburg Auditorium from 8:30-10AM. The event will include updates from Tharros Place and a special presentation from a representative of the Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign. Tharros Place is a residential facility in Chatham County that serves girls
Resilient Gwinnett: Mark your calendars for the Becoming a Resilient Gwinnett Summit, and be part of a powerful conversation about mental health and resilience on March 25 from 8 AM - 2 PM in Duluth. This event will bring together executives, practitioners, first responders, and community leaders to explore how we can collaborate to strengthen mental well-being and build a resilient community. Thank you to our partners at Gwinnett Coalition for their commitment to their community!
Funding
Identifying Coordinating Centers for Health Equity Research RFA: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is offering a new funding opportunity to support projects that advance health equity and dismantle structural racism through action-oriented research. The Health Equity Research for Action (HERA) program seeks to identify up to three grantees to co-design and lead this initiative, focusing on systems thinking, structural solutions, and policy impact. RWJF encourages collaboration among researchers, community leaders, and advocates to drive meaningful change. Applications are due March 26, 2025. For more details, contact Robyn Bussey at rbussey@psequity.org.
Community Coalition Grant Initiative: The Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy and the Get Georgia Reading Campaign have released the application for the 2025 Community Coalition Grant Initiative. The Deal Center will invest in projects that use the research-based pillars of the GGR Campaign as a framework for cross-sector collaboration, to advance developmentally responsive practices throughout a community. This initiative will fund projects that support the healthy development of Georgia’s children from birth to five, with up to $150,000 in grant awards, with individual amounts ranging from $10,000 to $24,000. Deadline is March 3rd.
Plans of Safe Care DFCS Grant: The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) is offering funding up to $200,000 through Georgia’s CAPTA State Grant to support agencies and organizations in developing, implementing, and monitoring Plans of Safe Care for substance-affected infants and their caregivers. Proposals must be developed in collaboration with local health care systems, child welfare agencies, and family support providers, with a required statement of support from DFCS leadership. Applicants must attend an informational webinar on March 3rd from 10-11am (Webinar #1 Registration) or March 6 from 3-4pm (Webinar #2 Registration) to receive the access code needed for submission. Proposals are due by March 31, 2025, at 12:00 PM. Please share this opportunity with your networks!
Healthcare
Rural health care is ‘trendy.’ Medicaid expansion is not-AJC: According to the AJC’s article, rural healthcare has become a growing focus, with states like South Carolina investing millions in clinics like Clemson Rural Health to address gaps in underserved communities. However, Medicaid expansion remains a contentious issue, particularly in Southern states, leaving many low-income individuals without coverage. While programs like Clemson’s provide critical services to uninsured populations, broader Medicaid eligibility could significantly improve access to care. Currently, about 1.5 million people across 10 states, including Georgia, fall into a coverage gap. Experts caution that expanding rural health infrastructure alone won't suffice if patients can't afford care.
Navigating Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage can be complex, especially during renewal periods or when coverage changes. Here are some key resources to help folks stay informed and access the care they need:
The Medicaid Health Care Options Fact Sheet provides a clear overview of available healthcare options. The Healthcare.gov blog explains steps to take if Medicaid or CHIP coverage is lost, including the transition from Medicaid to Marketplace coverage through this dedicated resource. Additionally, the Medicaid and CHIP Renewals Outreach Toolkit offers educational materials to support individuals through the renewal process and ensure continued access to care. Sharing these resources with community members can help promote coverage stability and health security.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has shared several resources to assist individuals navigating changes in their Medicaid coverage. The Georgia Primary Care Association (GPCA) can help individuals apply for coverage through Georgia Access. If Medicaid coverage is lost, individuals can access care at Community Health Centers or Federally Qualified Health Centers, apply for coverage through GA Access, or reapply for Medicaid if their circumstances have changed by visiting the Georgia Medicaid Eligibility page. For additional support, individuals can contact the Georgia State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-866-552-4464 or email SHIP Director Christine Williams at christine.williams@dhs.ga.gov.
Intern and Job Opportunities
Graduate Interns from Georgia State and Emory: Your organizations may benefit from partnering with graduate students through applied practice programs at Georgia State University and Emory University. GSU’s Applied Practice Experience (APE) and Emory’s Rollins Earn and Learn (REAL) program provide opportunities for students to apply their skills in real-world settings, assisting with research, program development, and community engagement. These collaborations offer valuable support for public health initiatives while giving students practical experience. Learn more about GSU’s APE here and Emory’s REAL program here.
Job Opportunity: Grants and Operations Associate: The Grants and Operations Associate will manage the R. Howard Dobbs Foundation’s grants cycle, support applicants and grantees, assist with events and trustee meetings, and ensure legal compliance. They will also provide administrative support for accounting and investments while analyzing grants and creatively reporting the Foundation's impact. This is a great opportunity to join a foundation undergoing exciting leadership transitions, working with a values-driven board and a collaborative team in philanthropy. Please share with your Metro-Atlanta networks!
Professional Opportunities and Events
Farm Stress Summit | University of Georgia Extension: The 2025 Farm Stress Summit is a free event on March 13th from 9:30-3:30 focused on expanding efforts to combat farm stress and improve farmer wellbeing and mental health. The summit will take place at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro and welcomes healthcare providers, counselors, faith leaders, and agricultural professionals. Please register TODAY February 24th to secure your spot. Exhibitor applications are also due by February 24th. Don’t miss this opportunity to collaborate and support farm community well-being!
RISE UP Healing Our Communities Conference: Join Morehouse School of Medicine’s Health Promotion Resource Center for the Rise Up: Healing Our Communities Conference March 19–20 at the National Center for Primary Care Auditorium. This event will focus on the health challenges and advancements impacting rural communities, providing vital knowledge and resources to empower community members and stakeholders. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with experts, share insights, and collaborate on strategies to promote community health and resilience. Click here to RSVP by March 5.
Social Change
Lawrence Katz on How Research and Evidence Drive Social Change - The Annie E. Casey Foundation: Economist Lawrence Katz highlights the power of research and evidence in driving social change, emphasizing the importance of using data-driven insights to shape policies that improve outcomes for children, families, and communities. He points to the success of the Moving to Opportunity (MTO) program, which demonstrated how neighborhood environments can significantly impact children's long-term success. Katz stresses the need for strong partnerships between researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to implement and scale effective, evidence-based solutions. By continuously learning, evaluating, and adapting strategies, we can create meaningful, lasting change for future generations.