MONDAY MEMO #27

Resilient Georgia
Apr 20, 2025
6 min read

Happy Monday, Partners! This week’s Monday Memo highlights resources to support civil discourse, professional development and funding opportunities, and the latest Georgia legislative updates impacting mental health and resilience work. We hope these tools help strengthen your efforts in communities across the state. Before we dive in, here are a few key updates and reminders from the RG Team: updates and reminders from the RG Team:

RG UPDATES

April 2025 General Meeting Reminder: Join us THIS Thursday April 24th from 11AM–12:30 PM via Zoom! This meeting, Rooted in Resilience: Fostering Trauma-Informed Sectors & Systems, is open to the public and will spotlight five regional coalitions advancing trauma-informed practices across a variety of sectors. For more details, check out the Know Before You Go guide or visit our General Meeting Webpage. Please share with your networks!
Regional Coalition Events Reminder: Thanks to everyone who has already submitted their scheduled coalition events for 2025! This calendar is housed on the RG website and is a great way to showcase upcoming trainings, summits, and partner activities across the state. As a reminder, please submit your coalition events here. We appreciate your support in keeping this webpage up-to-date!
Coalition Leadership Matrix: 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!
Impact of Federal Policy & Funding Changes on GA nonprofits Survey The Georgia Center for Nonprofits is conducting a brief survey to better understand how federal actions and funding issues are affecting nonprofit organizations. Your input will help inform policymakers, inspire donor support, and shape solutions to meet growing community needs. The survey takes just 5–15 minutes to complete, and all responses are confidential. Deadline to participate is April 30. Please take a moment to share your experience and help strengthen the nonprofit sector across Georgia!
RG Offering CEU Resource Guide: RG, with the help of Gabrielle Stewart, created a comprehensive guide to help organizations navigate the process of obtaining Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through approved accrediting bodies. The resource includes requirements, timelines, and fee structures for CEU approval across multiple associations—including DECAL, NASW, LPCA, GSCSW, and GA POST for law enforcement. As an Approved Sponsor Organization, Resilient Georgia also offers CEU-approved trainings such as the Community Resiliency Model and Mindful Self-Compassion. This may be useful if you’d like to become approved to offer CEUs for conferences or trainings that your coalition organizes!

Coalition Highlights

Gwinnett Coalition: Join fellow nonprofit leaders for CIRCLES: Nonprofit Roundtable on April 29th from 2-4pm focused on recent policy changes, shared challenges, and peer-driven solutions. Open to executive leadership and board chairs, this event offers space for open dialogue and connection across the sector. Be sure to also check out these helpful resources from Resilient Gwinnett’s key partner, GUIDE, Inc on De-Escalating a Crisis and Suicide Myths and Facts.

Resilient Communities of East Georgia: The 3rd Annual Child Abuse Prevention Conference, Powered by Hope, Strengthened by Prevention, will take place on April 30th from 8:30 AM-4:30 PM in Augusta, GA. This event, hosted by Child Enrichment and Prevent Child Abuse Greater Augusta , will offer valuable discussions, networking opportunities, and pending CEUs for law enforcement, nursing, ethics, counseling, and social work. Featured speakers will include Dr. Stan Sonu, MD, MPH and light breakfast and lunch will also be provided. Register here!

GCAPP and ACSRI: The Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential (GCAPP) will host its inaugural Rising Leaders Luncheon on June 6, 2025 in Atlanta. This event will celebrate the achievements of young people 14-19, honor the Youth Advisory Council's statewide contributions, welcome new members, and announce the GCAPP Youth Ambassador of the Year. The award recognizes a council member who has shown exceptional dedication to GCAPP's mission of improving adolescent health and well-being across Georgia.

Civil Discourse

Rural Urban Bridge Initiative: The Rural Urban Bridge Initiative (RUBI) is a nonprofit organization focused on fostering collaboration and understanding between rural and urban communities through inclusive dialogue, community engagement, and practical policy solutions. Their grassroots program, Community Works , brings

Braver Angels: As coalition leaders continue working to foster community dialogue and understanding, we want to highlight an opportunity to build skills for navigating tough conversations across political, cultural, and ideological divides. Braver Angels is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to bridging political and cultural divides in the United States. Through workshops, debates, and community events, Braver Angels fosters respectful dialogue, mutual understanding, and shared civic engagement among individuals across the political spectrum. We highly encourage coalition partners—especially those engaging with law enforcement, schools, elected officials, or discussing sensitive topics like racism or immigration—to explore these skill-building sessions. The trainings offer valuable tools for leading thoughtful, non-hostile conversations and creating space for honest dialogue within coalitions and communities. Let’s build a toolkit that truly equips us to lead through difficult conversations—together. Upcoming FREE Braver Angels Workshops:

Depolarizing Ourselves: Wednesday, May 7th from 12-1:30 PM Co-hosted with the Carter Center, this session focuses on recognizing and reducing personal contributions to political polarization, promoting respectful and productive conversations.
Depolarizing Within: Wednesday, May 14th from 8-9:30 PM This workshop helps participants become aware of their "inner polarizer" and learn methods for engaging in political discussions without contempt.
Skills for Disagreeing Better: Wednesday, May 21 from 12-1:30 PM This workshop offers practical techniques for listening, understanding, and sharing perspectives constructively, even amidst disagreements.

Funding

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Exploring Equitable Futures: This RWJF funding opportunity supports visionary projects that aim to advance health equity for future generations. This initiative supports innovative ideas that explore emerging trends, reimagine systems, and advance solutions that can lead to healthier, more thriving communities. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until October 15, 2025, at 3PM. For more details and to apply, click here.

Georgia Legislative Updates

2025 SESSION Bills to be signed by May 15: Several health-related bills are now on the Governor’s desk and expected to be signed by May 15th. Key legislation includes expanded insurance coverage for pediatric behavioral health needs, increased access to fentanyl testing strips, updates to forensic mental health evaluations, and an extension of the Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission (BHRIC). Other bills address student and school safety, maternal mental health data access, and shifting oversight of certain health programs to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Check out the following resource from the The Georgia Mental Health Policy Partnership and NAMI Georgia .

Professional Development and Training

The Georgia Teen Institute 2025 will take place June 9th–13th at Reinhardt University and is open to Youth Action Teams across the state. This five-day, $550-per-person leadership experience empowers youth and their adult advisors through team-building, skill development, and hands-on planning using the Strategic Prevention Framework. Participants will connect with peers, design community impact projects, and receive ongoing support throughout the year to bring their plans to life. Register here by April 30th!

Georgia's Peer Support Institute Virtual Training Georgia's Peer Support Institute (GPSI) will be held virtually on May 21–22, 2025, offering a free, interactive training designed to equip individuals with the skills and confidence to provide effective peer support. Focused on empathy, active listening, and the value of lived experience, GPSI welcomes peer supporters, family members, and community advocates. Participants are encouraged to attend the full training for the most comprehensive experience. Applications are due by Friday, May 2nd.

18th Annual System of Care Academy (SOCA) Conference: The SOCA Conference will take place June 25–27, 2025, at the Atlanta Evergreen Lakeside Resort in Stone Mountain, GA. Hosted by Georgia DBHDD and the Georgia System of Care, the conference offers three focused tracks: EMPOWER (Clinical Development), ENGAGE (System Principles), and ELEVATE (Professional Development), providing workshops and sessions aimed at enhancing the state's behavioral health and family support systems. Register here!