MONDAY MEMO #6
- Resilient Georgia
- Nov 4, 2024
- 5 min read
Happy November, partners! As 2024 winds down, a quick reminder: our final 2024 Round update calls will be this month, with no meetings throughout the holiday season in December. We're finalizing the 2025 calendar and will send invites before the new year. Also, as the election season concludes this week, we know it can be a time of heightened stress. Practicing self-care during this time is essential to maintain balance and resilience. Prioritizing activities that promote relaxation, connecting with friends and family, setting healthy boundaries with news and social media, practicing gratitude, and engaging in physical activity can help manage stress. Now, let’s move into this week’s resources and reminders, starting with Partner Spotlights:
Regional Coalition Spotlights
Resilient Communities of East GA: Welcome, Rebecca Best, New Executive Director!
We're excited to welcome Rebecca Best as the new Executive Director for the East Georgia coalition which is working to pursue 501c3 status! With 25 years of experience leading strategic projects in fast-paced environments and previous coalition involvement, Rebecca brings a strong background and proactive leadership to the team. She’s known for her sharp
business sense and great leadership skills, and we’re looking forward to the positive
impact she'll have in the community. Welcome, Rebecca!
Dr. John Constantino, Chief of Behavioral and Mental Health at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, has been awarded the prestigious Ruane Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research. This award recognizes his groundbreaking work on autism and early-life adversity, highlighted in his recent publication, "An Architecture for Transformation in Child Mental Health," featured in JAMA Psychiatry. This visionary roadmap outlines plans for systems change in behavioral and mental health currently being implemented at Children’s. Join us in congratulating Dr. Constantino for this remarkable achievement and please share his publication widely!
Higher Education
Developing Best Practices for Trauma-Informed Teaching and Learning: The Duke Bass Connections project on trauma-informed teaching focuses on creating best practices to support folks who have experienced trauma in academic settings. Two key strategies are Naming Current Events, where meetings start with participants sharing both positive and challenging life events to foster open discussion and emotional connection, and Trauma Stewardship, which includes grounding exercises like breathing or meditation to help participants remain present and ready for learning. These practices aim to build a psychologically safe and inclusive environment, improving teaching practices and university policies for trauma-affected individuals and can be tailored and used across all educational levels.
Justice, Equity, Diversion, and Inclusion
The Blackfoot Wisdom that Inspired Maslow’s Hierarchy: The article explores how Abraham Maslow’s famous Hierarchy of Needs was influenced by his time spent with the Blackfoot Nation in 1938. Maslow observed the tribe’s communal values, self-actualization, and generosity-based wealth, which shaped his thinking. Unlike Maslow's individualistic model, Blackfoot culture emphasized community actualization and the interdependence of individuals. The article discusses how these Indigenous perspectives on well-being challenge Western ideals and offer valuable lessons on community and resilience. Thank you to Julie Miller from Resilient Communities of East GA for sharing this with us!
Funding Opportunity
Funding for Infant-Toddler Courts: This funding opportunity is searching for applicants to implement the Georgia Thrive program in their local community. One site will work with families whose children are already in the foster care system, while the other will focus on prevention, helping both at-risk families and those currently in foster care. If you want to apply as a prevention site, be sure to indicate that in your application. The application is open now and closes at midnight on November 8, 2024.
Professional Development and Events
GSU Child Welfare Collaborative Knowledge to Action Conversation on Becoming a Trauma-Informed Organization: On Thursday, November 14 from 10-11:30 AM, join Jennifer Hossler from the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy for a conversation on becoming a trauma-informed organization. Learn about the Trauma-Informed Organizational Assessment (TIOA) and how it can help transform your organization by integrating trauma-informed practices. Jennifer will share insights from a child advocacy center's journey, addressing secondary traumatic stress, building stronger teams, and fostering psychologically safe spaces.
This panel discussion hosted by Georgia Appleseed will discuss how Georgia’s three branches of government address the opportunities and challenges created by Georgia’s Housing crisis. The in-person event will be Tuesday, December 3rd from 8– 10 AM in Atlanta. The event is free but RSVP is required.
Social Isolation & Loneliness
Employers Prioritizing Connection as a Vital Component of Whole-Person Health: This LinkedIn article highlights the importance of employers adopting a "whole-person health" approach, which prioritizes physical, mental, and social well-being. Key strategies include fostering workplace connections, offering expanded health benefits, and implementing wellness programs that address loneliness and social isolation. Research shows that addressing these issues can boost employee health, productivity, and retention. Employers can also engage with local communities through volunteer programs and shared spaces. Leadership plays a crucial role in modeling healthy behaviors and creating a culture of connection.
As we reflect on the October Lunch and Learn with the Foundation for Social Connection, we wanted to share a few books that may serve as valuable resources. While the team hasn’t read all of them yet, they come highly recommended and explore key themes around loneliness, friendship, and human connection. These could be great options for coalition book clubs or personal exploration:
Census Household Pulse Survey: In the latest Household Pulse Survey from the Census Bureau, 40.3% of Americans reported feeling lonely at least some of the time, highlighting the ongoing challenge of social disconnection. As US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy noted, loneliness isn't just a bad feeling—it's a public health concern linked to increased risks of anxiety, depression, heart disease, dementia, stroke, and even premature death. This analysis underscores the need for communities to prioritize social connectedness. A big thanks to our friends at Art Pharmacy for flagging this important information in their newsletter. For those newer to our coalition, Art Pharmacy's work on fostering connection through art was shared at a past Lunch & Learn.
Youth
Youth Resource: VOX ATLVOX ATL offers teens a platform to share insights on mental health and provides free downloadable lesson plans and activity guides for social-emotional learning for educators statewide. The Teen Survey and mental health self-expression are statewide initiatives, supported by DBHDD, promoting engagement and creativity among Georgia’s youth.
VOX also cocreates the Free Your Feels campaign which plays a crucial role in
promoting mental health awareness and encouraging open conversations among Georgia's youth. By partnering with VOX ATL, Georgia DBHDD, Georgia Voices, Silence the Shame and Ser Familia, it supports initiatives providing educational resources, creative self-expression opportunities, and access to mental health services. Together, they help ensure that young people across the state feel empowered to share their feelings and seek the support they need.