MONDAY MEMO #23

Resilient Georgia
Mar 23
6 min read

Happy Monday! This week’s Monday Memo is packed with funding opportunities, professional development and training opportunities, school and workforce resources to help you better support your initiatives across our state. Before we dive into it, here are some updates and reminders from the RG Team:

RG UPDATES

Thank you to everyone who attended our March Lunch and Learn. This was not recorded, but we wanted to provide valuable resources shared during the session: "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle" by Emily and Amelia Nagoski and the Burnout Videobook explores ways to break free from chronic stress and Mel Robbins’ "Let Them Theory," offers a perspective-shifting approach to handling others’ expectations. For any further questions or discussions, feel free to reach out to Jennifer Bonds King at JenniferBondsKing@gmail.com.
New! Mental Health Resources for Veterans + Military Families: RG launched a resource webpage offering support services aimed at enhancing mental health, resilience, and social connections for veterans and their families. These resources collectively aim to reduce stigma and ensure access to essential care and support for this population. Please share widely!
Coalition Leadership Matrix: As a reminder, we are developing a resource to strengthen partnerships and connect expertise across our statewide network. This resource will compile coalition leaders' skills, certifications, and areas of expertise into an Excel sheet, which will be shared internally to encourage peer learning and support. By submitting this form, coalition leads can help create a valuable tool for identifying subject matter experts and trainers who can provide guidance and collaboration across key areas. Coalition leaders, please submit here! Thank you!
March Coalition Connections: This week we will be hosting Coalition Connections to give folks an opportunity to meet with coalitions outside of their Round. We will also be joined by Georgia Appleseed to share more about their organization.

Rounds 2+3: Thursday March 27th at 1pm

Rounds 1+4: Friday March 28th at 10am

(Resilient WEST is welcome to join either/both!)

Coalition Highlights

Building a Region of Resilience Northwest Georgia: Join Walker County Family Connection, partners of BRRNWGA, on Saturday, April 26, from 8 AM – 5 PM for the Hope for the Journey Conference, an in-person simulcast designed to equip parents, caregivers, church leaders, and professionals with Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) strategies to support children impacted by trauma. This event offers research-based tools to strengthen attachment and connection within families. Register here!

Resilient - Gwinnett: Join the Gwinnett Nonprofit Coalition on Thursday, March 27th, from 10:30AM - 12PM for an informational webinar titled, “Navigating Policy Shifts – What Nonprofits Need to Know” to discuss recent federal policy changes affecting nonprofits. Policy experts will provide insights on financial sustainability, policy risks, and community program impacts to help organizations navigate these shifts. Register here!

Funding

Systems for Action: Community-Led Systems Research to Address Systemic Racism Exploring Equitable Futures The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Systems for Action (S4A) program is offering grants of up to $200,000 for community-led pilot studies that align medical, social, and public health systems to address systemic racism and improve health outcomes. Up to five awards will be granted for 12-month projects. Eligible applicants include community-based organizations (CBOs), government agencies, and organizations serving communities impacted by systemic racism. Applications are due by June 4, 2025, at 3PM. Weekly office hours will be available for applicant support until June 3, 2025. To learn more about how systemic racism impacts health, check out RWJF’s Visualizing Inequity: The Data Behind Structural Racism initiative.

Professional Development and Training

Certified Peer Specialist-Parent and Youth Training: The Georgia Parent Support Network and the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) are accepting applications for the Certified Peer Specialist-Parent (CPS-P) and Certified Peer Specialist-Youth (CPS-Y) training in April 2025. These free, virtual trainings require full participation and will be conducted via Zoom. The CPS-Parent training will take place on April 2, 3, 4, 7, & 8 from 9 AM to 5 PM, with applications due by March 27, 2025. The CPS-Youth training is scheduled for April 14-16 (3-8 PM) and April 17-18 (12-5:30 PM), with applications due by April 5, 2025. For assistance with the application process, contact Anita Hess (anita.speed@gpsn.org) or Hope Darden (hope.darden@gpsn.org). Click Here for the CPS-P & CPS-Y qualifications.

2025 Collective Impact Action Summit: The Collective Action Summit 2025 will be held virtually from April 29 to May 1, 2025, hosted by the Collective Impact Forum. This event brings together leaders, practitioners, and changemakers to explore cross-sector collaboration, systems change, and community-driven solutions through keynote sessions, interactive workshops, and peer learning opportunities. Early bird registration is available through Friday, April 4, 2025, offering $100 in savings. Additionally, group discounts are available for teams of 10 or more. Register here!

2025 SOCA Call for Awards Nominations: The 18th Annual Georgia System of Care Academy (SOCA) Conference will take place June 25-27, 2025, in Stone Mountain, GA. Awards recognizing outstanding contributions to the System of Care, will be presented on June 27th. Folks are encouraged to nominate individuals or organizations that embody the System of Care philosophy by empowering families and youth, providing community-based, culturally competent support, and advocating for integrated, individualized services. Ideal nominees champion equity, collaboration, and evidence-based care to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families. Please submit your nominations here by April 18, 2025 to ensure these recognitions continue.

School Resources

School Based Mental Health Programs- Georgia Voices: This resource from Georgia Voices highlights school-based mental health programs in Georgia. Programs like the Georgia Apex Program and Project Aware expand school-based behavioral health services, train educators, and connect students to community resources. Additionally, School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs), peer-led initiatives, and out-of-school supports including DBHDD Clubhouses, offer mental health, educational, social, and recovery-focused support for youth. Check out the flyer for more information on these student support initiatives across the state.

Georgia House passes school safety bill after Apalachee High School shooting | AP News: In response to the September 2024 Apalachee High School shooting, where two students and two teachers lost their lives, the Georgia House has passed a school safety bill aimed at preventing future incidents. The legislation seeks to enhance school security measures and improve information-sharing on students to identify potential threats. The move underscores a growing effort to strengthen safety protocols in Georgia schools following the tragedy.

Workforce

Workplace Mental Health Resources: Mind Share Partners offers a comprehensive Workplace Mental Health Resource Hub that provides free toolkits, guides, and research reports to assist organizations in creating mentally healthy workplaces. Additionally, the 2025 NAMI Workplace Mental Health Poll, conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), reveals that while 77% of employees feel comfortable supporting a coworker's mental health, 42% fear negative career impacts if they discuss their own mental health at work. Additionally, only half of the workforce knows how to access mental health care through employer-sponsored insurance, highlighting a need for increased awareness and resources. Both resources emphasize the importance of fostering supportive workplace environments and enhancing access to mental health resources to improve employee well-being.

Workforce Trends from Gallup: Recent Gallup research highlights significant trends in the U.S. workforce. In 2024, employee engagement declined to 31%, the lowest in a decade, with 17% actively disengaged. Notably, only 46% of employees clearly understand job expectations, and just 39% feel cared for at work. Concurrently, over half of U.S. employees are exploring new job opportunities, primarily seeking improved work-life balance, better pay and benefits, job security, and roles that align with their strengths. These findings underscore the need for organizations to address employee well-being, clarity, and development to enhance engagement and retention. Thank you for all you do to support the workforce in your regions!

The Macroeconomics of Mental Health: A Columbia Business School study finds that mental illness costs the U.S. economy $282 billion annually, similar to the impact of a recession. With over 20% of adults affected, mental health challenges reduce workforce participation and economic growth. The study calls for expanded mental health access, especially for youth, and highlights the business case for integrating mental health support into employee benefits to boost productivity. However, a shortage of mental health professionals remains a key barrier. Investing in mental health is not just a public health issue—it’s an economic necessity.