MONDAY MEMO #28

Resilient Georgia
Apr 27
6 min read

Happy Monday! This week’s Memo is packed with resources to support child development, strengthen nonprofits, as well as funding, career, and professional development opportunities.

Before we dive in, here are a few key updates and reminders from the RG Team:

RG UPDATES

New Blog! From Hurt to Healing: How Two Women Transformed Their Trauma into Resilience by Heather Flowers and Amanda Manard: In our latest Power of Healing blog, these two courageous women share deeply personal journeys on turning pain into purposeful action. From surviving sexual trauma and navigating mental health struggles, to finding healing through advocacy and service, their stories are a powerful reminder that healing is possible, and hope is never out of reach. We want to thank Heather and Amanda for using their voices to help those they serve. We honor your vulnerability and are so grateful for you both.
ACTION ITEM: Universal Prevention/Tier 1 Services Survey: As a reminder, our partners at The Carter Center and Georgia State’s Center of Excellence are gathering input for a statewide analysis of prevention programs in schools and communities. Please take and share this 8-minute survey to help identify gaps and inform future planning. Share with colleagues and partners in education! For questions, contact Dr. Natasha De Veauuse Brown at ndeveauusebrown@gsu.edu.
Resilient Georgia Internship: RG is hiring a remote, part-time intern to support the statewide teen opioid and fentanyl prevention efforts in partnership with the CWC Alliance. This position is ideal for second-year MPH students passionate about public and behavioral health, trauma-informed care, and youth-focused prevention strategies. To apply, send application materials to Alex English at aenglish@resilientga.org.
New Resource! Mental Health Support for Farmers and Agricultural Workers: RG published a new resource page dedicated to supporting the mental health of agricultural workers in rural areas. Explore support, crisis lines, and resilience-building resources designed to meet the unique needs of Georgia’s farming sector.
May Lunch and Learn: Our next Lunch and Learn is scheduled for May 8th at 12pm. Join us for an important conversation led by John McElveen of the Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance, as he shares compelling data from recent studies highlighting the mental health challenges faced by Georgia’s agricultural community. This session will explore the high levels of stress, mental health concerns, and suicidal ideation impacting farmers and agricultural workers—and what can be done to support them. Please feel free to invite your rural and mental health partners! Email Alex for the invite at aenglish@resilientga.org.

Coalition Highlights

Cobb Collaborative: Cobb Collaborative created Mental Health Support resource guides for People with Disabilities and Parents and Caregivers. Mental health is a core focus of the coalition’s strategic efforts to improve outcomes for all individuals and families. As part of their commitment to inclusive well-being, they’ve created new resource guides tailored specifically for these two populations. RG is also working with Cobb to build out resource pages for these populations on our website, so stay tuned!

Resilient WEST is hosting a Community Coalition Meeting on Wednesday, May 28th from 9AM-12PM at the UWG Newnan Campus. This gathering is open to community partners, wellness advocates, educators, and local leaders. Attendees will learn about the Resilient WEST initiative, connect with fellow community members, and help shape a collaborative network focused on strengthening child and family resiliency through connection, care, and shared action. Additionally, Alex English, RG Regional Program Coordinator, had the pleasure of attending the Troup County Trauma Responsive Collaborative Summit this month, as part of the Resilient WEST coalition. The event featured inspiring remarks from keynote speaker Stephanie Blank, who emphasized the lifelong impact of early childhood connections and the importance of trauma-informed care. Mindy Bierman from GEEARS shared a timely legislative update on early childhood care, highlighting concerns around potential Medicaid coverage loss for Georgia families. The day concluded with a meaningful tour of the Troup County Juvenile Court, where Judge Key showcased the court’s intentional efforts to create a trauma-informed environment for youth. We are so grateful for our partnership with RG’s newest Round 5 coalition!

Child Development

The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University has released two resource guides highlighting how environmental challenges impact early childhood development. One guide explores how limited access to clean, reliable water can harm children's health, behavior, and learning—especially in underserved communities. The other examines how extreme heat poses serious risks to young children, who are more vulnerable to heat-related stress and developmental disruptions. Both guides offer actionable strategies to reduce environmental risks and promote healthy development. Check out the full guides to learn more!

Babies at Risk With Proposed HHS Cuts | ZERO TO THREE: Policymakers are currently reviewing potential changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supports over 39 million individuals, including families with young children. Nearly one-third of SNAP benefits assist households with children under five, helping to reduce food insecurity and support early development. At the same time, the President’s proposed FY 2026 budget outlines funding levels that could impact key early childhood programs such as Head Start, early mental health initiatives, and other family services. Additional updates include a new brief from the Child Welfare League of America highlighting the critical role of the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) in child welfare services, along with potential risks to those funding streams. A recent report from Child Care Aware of America shows that many states are not investing in childcare at the levels needed to adequately support families and strengthen local economies.

Funding

The Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust will open its 2025 grant application period this May to support statewide efforts addressing the opioid crisis. A Notice of Funding Opportunity will be released on May 5, with the application portal opening May 19. To guide potential applicants, the Trust will offer in-person and virtual training sessions in early May, detailing the application process and funding priorities. This follows the Trust’s inaugural $70.3 million investment in 128 Georgia-based projects announced in December 2024. The funding supports evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery programs using Georgia’s share of national opioid settlement funds. 2025 Informational Workshops

Coastal Georgia: Friday, May 2 at 9 a.m. at Savannah’s Candler Hospital Register here!
South Georgia: Friday, May 2 at 2:30 p.m. at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton Register here!
Metro-Atlanta: Monday, May 5 at 10 a.m. at the Floyd Building Register here!
North Georgia: Tuesday, May 6 at 10 a.m. at Dalton State University Register here!
Virtual: Monday, May 5 at 2 p.m. Register here!

Job Opportunity

Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy has announced a new statewide leadership opportunity: Georgia Literacy Coach Coordinator, a role created through House Bill 307. Housed within the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA), this hybrid position will lead and align Georgia’s three major literacy coaching systems—Let’s Read Georgia, Growing Readers, and CSI Coaches—in collaboration with key partners like the Georgia Council on Literacy and the Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy. The coordinator will support implementation of the Georgia Early Literacy Act by ensuring coherence, quality, and fidelity across all coaching efforts. Applicants should email a resume to Joy Hawkins at joy.hawkins@gosa.ga.gov by May 8, 2025.

Nonprofit Resources

Nonprofits and the New Administration: Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta has launched a new resource page to support organizations facing legal uncertainty amid recent federal policy and funding changes. This hub offers timely guidance on issues like layoffs, lease terminations, DEI programs, government contracts, lobbying, and immigration. With increased demand for assistance, PBPA is expanding its volunteer network and adding a staff attorney to help nonprofits remain compliant and mission-focused. We encourage you to share it with your networks!

US Policy Changes Resource Hub | GCN: The Georgia Center for Nonprofits offers a comprehensive Resource Hub to help organizations navigate evolving federal policies. It includes tools for risk assessment, scenario planning, crisis communication, and advocacy, along with updates on executive orders and budget developments. Nonprofits can also access district-level funding data and participate in a survey to share how federal actions are affecting their work.

National Council of Nonprofits Resources: The National Council of Nonprofits has released key resources to help organizations navigate recent concerns around federal oversight. A new risk assessment checklist guides nonprofits in reviewing federal funding sources, contracts, and compliance with executive orders. In addition, a myth vs. reality fact sheet clarifies common misconceptions about executive authority, including that the executive branch cannot unilaterally revoke nonprofit status or directly target organizations. The latest Nonprofit Champion newsletter also highlights ongoing advocacy efforts, policy developments, and guidance to help nonprofits remain informed.

Professional Development and Training

Become a Connections Matter Trainer – Connections Matter Georgia: The Georgia Center for Child Advocacy and CRM Georgia are offering two upcoming Connections Matter Georgia Train-the-Trainer (TOT) sessions in Atlanta on June 17th and September 18th. This hybrid training—comprising one full in-person day and a half-day virtual session—equips professionals with the tools to deliver the Connections Matter curriculum, which focuses on the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), trauma, brain development, and resilience. Participants will receive a trainer’s manual, presentation materials, and access to a trainer portal. A prerequisite for attending the TOT is prior participation in a Connections Matter workshop. The cost for the training is $500. Click here to apply for the TOT!