MONDAY MEMO #58

Resilient Georgia
Dec 15, 2025
5 min read

Welcome to your weekly Monday Memo. This week’s edition highlights child and youth wellbeing, professional development and resources for healthcare professionals, as well as workplace wellbeing. Before we dive in, here are some reminders and highlights from the RG Team:

RG Highlights

NEW! 2025 Regional Coalition Summary Report: We recently published the updated 2025 Regional Coalition Summary Report that highlights the powerful work of 19 regional coalitions serving 146 counties across Georgia. Together, these coalitions are reducing mental health stigma, preventing and healing childhood adversity, advancing trauma-informed awareness and care, and promoting resilience for children and families. Explore the report to learn more about our collective regional impact.
Regional Coalition Events Reminder: Please submit your scheduled coalition events for 2026! 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!
2026 Youth Prevention Network Training: In partnership with the CWC Alliance , this youth prevention training equips youth and adult leaders with practical tools for mental wellness, leadership, and prevention advocacy. Youth Prevention Advocates (ages 13–20) receive hands-on training, while Youth Prevention Mentors support and co-facilitate their efforts in schools and communities. Participants are compensated for their time ($15/hour for youth and $20/hour for mentors), with transportation support available. Interested groups can submit the YPN Training Request to share their input so 2026 scheduling can begin. Please share widely!
New Power of Healing Blog! “Thank You, Cancer: A Story of Breaking Down and Breaking Through” by Kayleigh Heard: In the final blog of our Power of Healing Series, Kayleigh shares her rare cancer diagnosis and how it transformed her understanding of resilience, body acceptance, and self-advocacy. After years of dismissed symptoms, traumatic treatment, and life-altering decisions, she finds strength in vulnerability and gratitude for the body that kept her alive. Her journey highlights how facing mortality can rebuild life with authenticity and courage.

Coalition Highlights

Building a Region of Resilience Northwest Georgia: Building a Region of Resilience of NWGA published a newsletter for November 2025, highlighting the work the coalition is doing, upcoming and past events, resources for growth, and toolkits. Additionally, in October, 68 regional partners gathered for their “From Awareness to Action in Trauma-Informed Care” Regional Summit. Coordinated by Georgia Family Connection Coordinators in Northwest Georgia, the event strengthened understanding of trauma-informed practices and sparked interest in continued training and community-wide action across multiple counties. Thank you BRRNWGA for all you do!

Resilient Coastal Georgia: Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition and Resilient Coastal Georgia hosted a Handle with Care recognition ceremony honoring first responders on November 13th. First responders were honored for their work and commitment for helping children exposed to trauma after training with the Handle with Care (HWC) program. This program connects first responders, schools, and community organizations to ensure children who experience traumatic events are met with compassion and support. If your region would like to learn more about implementing HWC into your community, join our statewide taskforce! We host monthly support meetings for the HWC initiative.

Child Wellbeing

Voices for Georgia's Children 2025: A Year in Review: Voices for Georgia’s Children has published their 2025 year in review! This report highlights the impact the organization has had in the last year, like successfully advocating for expanding school social workers budgets in the FY26 to their path forward like conducting groundbreaking research. Read through the comprehensive guide here.
Child care crisis deepens as funding slashed for poor families: The Hechinger Report outlines childcare funding problems across the nation as federal dollars are cutting childcare programs. The article highlights states like Arkansas, Colorado and more who have had significant cuts to childcare assistance programs, reducing low-income families’ ability to utilize such programs. Read the full article here.
Integrating Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health into the CCBHC Model: A Toolkit for Action A toolkit from ZERO TO THREE on integrating infant and early childhood mental health into the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) model. The toolkit features an introduction into the topic and a guide for integrating and implementing CCBHC services. Read the guide here.

Education

Parents sound alarm over state of mental health help in Fayette County Public Schools: Parents recently raised concerns about gaps in mental health supports within Fayette County Public Schools, underscoring the need for stronger, more accessible school-based behavioral health services. This conversation reflects the ongoing work of the School Based Behavioral Health Collaborative, which includes partners such as Fayette Factor, GA Appleseed, The Carter Center, and VOICEs for Georgia’s Children. Leaders like Dawn (Fayette Factor and co-lead of Resilient West Central GA) work alongside families, schools, and policymakers to advance trauma-informed, evidence-based supports that help students thrive both academically and emotionally.

Healthcare

SCERTS Model Trainings by Georgia Mental Health Access in Pediatrics | Eventbrite: This free training series introduces the Social, Communication, Emotional Regulation, Transactional Support (SCERTS) model. This model is an evidence-based and relationship-based approach for children and adolescents with autism. The trainings are January 22 and March 19 at 12PM. Providers will participate in Level 1 introductory and Level 2 advanced training.
Impact of Federal Policy Changes to Georgia's Health Care Landscape: Georgia Health Initiative reports on the impact of the federal ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ on Georgia’s healthcare landscape. Some impacts the report mentions are up to 460,000 Georgia Access Enrollees losing insurance, $5.4 billion in federal SDP cuts, and 46,500 lost jobs. Read the full report here.
Georgetown CCF Data – Children's Health Care Report Card: This is a child and maternal health report which reports on national trends in child health. The site features interactive data visualizations on health insurance, research and reports, fact sheets, and webinars on child and maternal health trends and policy solutions.

Workplace Wellbeing

A practical guide on how to secure leadership buy-in and budget for workplace mental health: Mindshare Partners shares a guide for HR professionals to navigate getting leadership to invest in workplace mental health. This comprehensive guide walks user through tying mental health to core business priorities.
Workplace Mental Health Trends 2025: Key Insights & Future Outlook: Another resource from Mindshare Partners includes key insights into 2025 workplace mental health trends. Leave from work related to mental health is up 300% and in 2025 federal cuts and disruptions to resources like worker safety protections and Medicaid as well as increasing adoption to AI all left workers with fear and anxiety. Read the full article here.