MONDAY MEMO #25
- Resilient Georgia
- Apr 6
- 6 min read
Happy Monday, Partners! This week’s memo is blooming with fresh resources and opportunities to support your work across Georgia. Whether you're seeking Child & Family Resources to share with your communities and caregivers, exploring Youth Initiatives to uplift the next generation, looking for Nonprofit Resources to strengthen your organization, or interested in Professional Development Opportunities to grow your skills and capacity, there’s something for everyone. Before we dive in, here are a few updates and reminders from the Resilient Georgia Team:
RG UPDATES
ACTION ITEM: Universal Prevention/Tier 1 Services Survey: The Carter Center has partnered with the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health & Wellbeing (COE) at Georgia State University to conduct a landscape analysis on universal prevention/Tier 1 services in Georgia. This survey aims to gather information from school personnel, community-based organizations, and providers about current prevention programs in schools and communities. Your participation will help inform a statewide plan to enhance mental wellness and substance use disorder prevention, especially in K-12 schools. The survey takes about 8 minutes, and responses are confidential. Please share it with your colleagues and partners in education to help identify service gaps and barriers. For questions, contact Dr. Natasha De Veauuse Brown at ndeveauusebrown@gsu.edu.
Thank you to those who attended our April Peer-to-Peer Network Meeting! For those that missed, we featured a dynamic panel on driving policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes to build trauma-informed communities. Speakers from Resilient Coastal Georgia, ARCHI, and Cobb Collaborative shared practical strategies for embedding trauma-informed practices, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and addressing challenges like territorialism and measuring indirect impact. You can catch the full conversation via the Zoom recording (Passcode: tRyd6=2R) or review the highlights in our follow-up document.
We're Hiring! Statewide Teen Opioid and Fentanyl Prevention Internship: RG is hiring an intern to support our Statewide Teen Opioid and Fentanyl Prevention Initiative in partnership with CWC Alliance. This role will help enhance communication efforts, develop educational content, and coordinate activities to advance youth substance use prevention across Georgia.
Coalition Highlights
Introducing Round 5 Coalition: Resilient WEST The University of West Georgia, in partnership with Judge Michael Key of the Troup County Trauma Responsive Community Collaborative and Bridgette Stewart, Chief Wellness Officer at UWG, received a $100,000 grant to launch Resilient WEST, the first coalition funded in Resilient Georgia’s Round 5. This initiative—Wellness Education and Training to Support Transformation (WEST)—aims to address critical mental health challenges across Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Meriwether, and Troup counties. Read more about Resilient WEST here!
Resilient Northeast Georgia: The 2025 Annual Mini Conference is being led by the Morgan County Family Connection on April 15th from 8AM-3PM at the Morgan County Sheriff Office Training Room. The event will feature a keynote from Dr. Stan Sonu of Emory University and R.E.A.L.M. Training facilitated by Chaplain Dale Simmons. Registration and breakfast begin at 8:00 AM. Register here!
Children & Families
GA Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Task Force’s CAREGIVER VOICE WORK GROUP: The IECMH Taskforce is inviting parents and caregivers with experience in early childhood mental health to join the Caregiver Voice Workgroup. A virtual information session on April 16th at 7 PM will outline workgroup expectations and the application process. Selected participants will receive stipends through GEEARS grant funding and help shape Georgia’s Early Childhood System of Care. Attendance at the session (or viewing the recording) is required to apply, with applications due by May 1st. Please share this opportunity widely!
Thank you to Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice for attending our coalition connection calls last month. They work to advance justice for Georgia’s children, with a focus on keeping students in school, improving educational outcomes, and addressing systemic issues impacting children’s well-being. Their School Disciplinary Hearing Referral Form allows students and families to seek guidance and legal support for school discipline cases. Additionally, they offer valuable resources including training modules, guidance for preparing a tribunal and MDR Review, common disabilities and behaviors, and help guides for children with learning challenges. Other key resources cover Certified Peer Specialists, establishing a school-based behavioral health (SBBH) program, and understanding the Trauma Impact Rule. These tools and the attached FAIR flyer can support educational partners in advocating for fair and trauma-informed school policies. Please share with your networks!
The Economic Impact of Childcare Challenges: A recent study by GEEARS and the Metro Atlanta Chamber highlights the growing economic impact of child care challenges in Georgia. Families are facing $2.52 billion in lost economic activity annually, along with $131.7 million in lost tax revenue. Many parents have had to leave or significantly change jobs, with those raising young children missing an average of 10.2 workdays in six months due to child care issues. The cost burden has risen sharply, with parents now spending 77% more on child care than in 2018, leading 53% of Georgians to delay or forgo having more children. These challenges underscore the urgent need for policy solutions to support families, employers, and the state’s economy.
How Medicaid and PeachCare Money Work Factsheet: This Georgia Voices Factsheet highlights how Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® support Georgia’s children by providing essential healthcare coverage for families with low incomes. It explains how funding flows through these programs and their critical role in ensuring children receive necessary medical care. With a significant number of Georgia’s children relying on these services, understanding their impact is key to advocating for continued support. Please share with your networks!
Nonprofit Resources
Federal budget: The continuing resolution, what nonprofits need to know, and what comes next: The Georgia Center for Nonprofits (GCN) reports that the U.S. Senate has passed, and the President has signed, a continuing resolution (CR) that extends federal funding at current levels through September, with key increases for veterans’ healthcare, WIC, and food assistance for low-income seniors. It also provides $22.5 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, extends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, and maintains funding for Community Health Centers and other healthcare initiatives. However, the CR rescinds $160 million in obligated ARPA funds, potentially impacting pandemic recovery efforts, and reduces funding for environmental infrastructure projects. Nonprofits should stay informed about these developments to understand how the funding changes may affect their operations and services.
Nonprofit and Donor Resource Hub | Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta: Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta’s Resource Hub offers critical resources to support nonprofits navigating challenges such as executive orders and funding freezes that could directly impact operations and funding. The hub includes articles on the effects of government funding freezes, tools for budgeting and scenario planning, and resources for advocacy. Additionally, it provides insights into sector-specific impacts, including arts, education, and public health, as well as links to local metro Atlanta resources for nonprofit support. Please share widely!
Professional Development and Training
CTIPP Community Advocacy Network April Meeting: Join the Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP) CAN call on April 16th from 2:00-3:30pm to discuss recent federal challenges to trauma-informed initiatives, including funding pauses and shifts in policy language. Despite these obstacles, our community remains committed to advancing this work. This call will provide an opportunity to strategize, share resources, and collaborate on ways to navigate these challenges together. Register here!
Suicide Research Symposium Registration is now open for the free, virtual Suicide Research Symposium, taking place April 23-25, 2025. This event hosted by The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention provides a platform to present research, stay informed on the latest developments, advance inclusive and equitable practices, and connect with a diverse network of suicide researchers. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with experts across disciplines—register today!
Knowledge to Action: Bridging the Gap – Support for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care hosted by the Georgia State Child Welfare Training Collaborative will take place on Thursday, April 24th from 10AM - 12PM. This session, in collaboration with Bloom, will bring together CASA staff, foster parents, educators, and community partners to explore solutions for supporting youth transitioning out of foster care. Participants will discuss ongoing challenges, missing resources, and successful strategies to build stronger partnerships and create real, actionable solutions.
Youth
Interfaith Children's Movement’s Youth Advocacy Internship: Applications are now open for the Interfaith Children's Movement’s Youth Advocacy Internship! This exciting opportunity is designed for young leaders ages 13-18 to develop advocacy and leadership skills while driving positive change in their communities. The internship includes intensive sessions, team huddles, and the chance to present a strategy for change at ICM's 25th Annual Interfaith Prayer Celebration and FUNdraiser for Children. Encourage interested youth to apply here by April 15th!
Teens and Therapy: Why Seeking Help Shouldn’t Be a Last Resort: In her blog post, Aashi Patel, Student at Crisp County High School, emphasizes the need for early mental health support for teens. With growing pressures from school, social media, and life expectations, therapy should be a proactive step—not a last resort. Early intervention builds resilience, teaches healthy coping skills, and prevents small issues from becoming serious. Patel highlights the role of parents and schools in normalizing therapy and reducing stigma, ultimately helping teens seek support before reaching a crisis.