MONDAY MEMO #67
- Mar 3
- 6 min read
Happy March, partners! This edition of the Monday Memo we are highlighting resources for children and families, funding and professional development opportunities, and a variety of resources from Mental Health America. Before we dive in, here are a few reminders and highlights from RG:
RG Highlights
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!
Join us on March 12th from 12–12:45 PM for a virtual Lunch & Learn featuring Kim Jones and Roland Behm of the Georgia Mental Health Policy Partnership (GMHPP). This session will explore how community leaders can use data to strengthen advocacy, inform policy discussions, and effectively engage decision-makers—especially during and after the legislative session. Participants will gain practical tools and strategies from GMHPP’s work to support systems-level change in mental and behavioral health. Email Alex at aenglish@resilientga.org for an invite!
20th Coalition Launched! Resilient Georgia is proud to announce the launch of Resilient Heart of Georgia, marking the 20th regional coalition and full statewide coalition coverage! What a huge milestone! Serving Ben Hill, Bleckley, Dodge, Dooley, Laurens, Montgomery, Irwin, Telfair, Tift, Treutlen, Turner, Wheeler, Wilcox counties, our final coalition will advance trauma-informed care, resilience-building, and behavioral health support through cross-sector collaboration, education, and ACEs prevention efforts. Led by champions across Georgia Family Connection Partnership, the coalition strengthens our mission to ensure every community has access to the resources needed to help children, families, and communities thrive.
Resource: The Georgia PACEs Report Card & Regional Data Profiles provide an accessible snapshot of Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences across the state. This resource offers county- and region-level data to help communities better understand local strengths and challenges, support data-informed planning, and guide prevention, resilience, and trauma-informed efforts statewide. More regional data coming soon!
Help Improve How We Measure Childhood Adversity & Strengths: Researchers at Kansas State University are developing a survey to capture Adverse and Positive Childhood Experiences (PACEs). Adults 26+ living in the U.S. are invited to take a 30-minute anonymous survey to help compare this tool with existing measures. Participants can enter a drawing for cash prizes. Your participation will help strengthen future research, prevention, and mental health care.
Coalition Highlights
Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition, lead for Resilient Coastal Georgia, has recently updated their data dashboard website. The refreshed site features improved navigation, updated resources, and easier access to information about programs, events, and services. Explore the site and stay up to date with local data in the Savannah-Chatham region!
Greater Valdosta United Way Reaches Campaign Goal: Greater Valdosta United Way is celebrating a major milestone after reaching 100% of its goal for the 2026 United WE Thrive Campaign, raising $1.3 million to support individuals and families across South Georgia. Thanks to the generosity of donors, businesses, and community partners, funds will be reinvested locally through Impact Partners, in-house assistance, and programs guided by the Community Investment Committee to ensure dollars are used effectively. Campaign proceeds will support youth opportunities, financial security, healthy communities, and community resiliency—strengthening futures throughout the region. This achievement reflects the collective power of community and a shared commitment to helping South Georgia thrive.
Resilient Northwest Metro: Join Cobb Collaborative for its Q1 General Membership Meeting on March 11th from 11:30 AM–1:15 PM. This quarter’s meeting features Leah Chan, Director of Health Justice at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, who will lead an important conversation on the FY27 Georgia budget and how funding decisions impact our communities, services, and priorities. The event includes networking, lunch, organizational updates, and time for questions—designed for nonprofit, community, and business leaders. Lunch is provided; please register here if you plan to attend.
Children and Families
These three new resources from the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley offer timely, research-informed guidance for supporting children and teens in today’s complex social climate. Seven Tips for Talking With Kids About Politics explores how early attachment, everyday parenting interactions, and intentional conversations shape children’s long-term civic engagement, emotional security, and ability to critically navigate polarized media.
How ICE Raids Are Affecting Children—And What Schools Can Do examines how intensified immigration enforcement can contribute to fear, absenteeism, and toxic stress among students, with potential long-term impacts on learning and health, while highlighting trauma-informed steps schools can take to promote safety and emotional regulation. Complementing these, How to Nurture a Mindset in Teens that Values Diversity offers practical strategies for helping adolescents appreciate differences, reduce bias, and build empathy through curiosity, perspective-taking, and open dialogue. Together, these articles underscore the importance of inclusive practices and supportive environments that help young people feel safe, healthy, and supported during unprecedented times.
Save the Date for Children’s Mental Health Week at DECAL, taking place May 4–8, 2026! This annual celebration highlights the importance of nurturing children’s social and emotional development and recognizes the vital role early learning professionals and caregivers play in supporting lifelong mental wellbeing. Throughout the week, DECAL will promote engaging activities that help children build strong social and emotional skills and provide information on how individuals and programs can participate.
Funding
Norfolk Southern offers several grant programs to support safe and sustainable operations, workforce development, and resilient communities across the 22 states in which it operates. Applications for its open 2026 grant cycle are available through August 3. The Safety First Grant supports organizations providing direct safety services and first responder initiatives, while the Thriving Communities Grant funds sustainability, workforce development, and community resilience efforts. Community Disaster Relief Grants are offered periodically following severe weather events and remain open for 3–6 weeks depending on recovery needs. The In-Kind Donation Grant is available year-round to organizations seeking materials for projects aligned with Norfolk Southern’s focus areas.
Mental Health America Resources
The Mental Health America 2025 Annual Report highlights a year of significant impact in advancing mental health nationwide through screening, advocacy, workplace initiatives, and community partnerships. In 2025, more than 4.2 million mental health screenings were completed, over 588,000 individuals received addiction support services, and 360 employers were recognized through the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health program—impacting 4.1 million workers. MHA’s national campaigns reached more than 120 million people, while its affiliate network distributed $1.1 million in mini grants to expand local services. The report also outlines policy wins protecting Medicaid access, investments in youth leadership and digital innovations to improve accessibility.
The Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health is the nation’s leading recognition program for employers committed to fostering mentally healthy workplaces. Through a comprehensive evaluation of workplace culture, benefits, compliance, and wellness, the Bell Seal assesses the full employee experience and sets a national standard of excellence. Organizations that earn the Bell Seal demonstrate a strong commitment to employee well-being, resilience, and sustainable business practices, while signaling to staff, clients, and communities that mental health is a priority.
Prepare for May's Mental Health Month: MHA has led a nationwide effort each May to promote mental wellness since establishing Mental Health Month in 1949. The 2026 theme, More Good Days, Together, emphasizes supporting individuals as whole people and recognizing that well-being looks different for everyone. MHA offers a downloadable Planning Guide for community organizations, workplaces, educators, and advocates, featuring outreach ideas, real-world examples, customizable communication tools, and partnership opportunities. An Action Guide, to be released in April, will provide additional activities and resources to help individuals and communities reflect, connect with supports, and foster more good days together.
Professional Development and Training
The Georgia Child Health Conference is now accepting speaker proposals for its June 15–17, 2026 convening at the Atlanta Evergreen Lakeside Resort. This statewide conference brings together professionals committed to advancing early childhood development, early intervention, and early childhood special education, with a focus on family-centered, evidence-based practices that support young children with disabilities and their families. Proposals highlighting research, practice, advocacy, service coordination, and childhood mental health are encouraged. Speaker proposals are due Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
SAVE THE DATE for GCCA's Prevention Palooza returns this April with a full month of virtual learning opportunities in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month hosted by Georgia Center for Child Advocacy. They’re putting the final touches on the schedule now—more details on their Webinar Wednesday events coming soon!
THANK YOU FROM THE RESILIENT GEORGIA TEAM!