MONDAY MEMO #70

Mar 23
5 min read

Happy Monday! This week’s memo we are highlighting resources for faith leaders, parents and caregivers, professional development and training opportunities, and a scholarship opportunity for youth. Before we dive in, here are a few reminders and highlights from RG:

RG Highlights

Join Resilient Georgia for our Spring General Meeting on April 30th from 11AM–12:30 PM, featuring Resilience in Action: Showcasing the Community Resiliency Model Across Georgia. We will highlight how the Community Resiliency Model is being implemented across multiple sectors statewide to support resilience, strengthen well-being, and expand trauma-informed practices in diverse communities. Calendar invites have been sent out to our communications lists, but if you did not receive it or would like to share with folks in your community, you can find the registration link here.

Thank you to everyone who joined our March Lunch and Learn! During this session, Kim Jones and Roland Behm, co-founders of the Georgia Mental Health Policy Partnership (GMHPP), shared valuable insights on how community leaders and coalitions can leverage data to inform advocacy efforts, shape policy conversations, and effectively engage decision-makers. If you missed the session, the recording , slide deck, and additional resources are available to explore. We also encourage you to complete the March Lunch and Learn survey—your feedback helps us continue to strengthen these opportunities.

The 2026 Georgia Child Health Conference is calling for proposals for their conference June 14-17 at the Atlanta Evergreen Lakeside Resort. This statewide convening focuses on early childhood development, early intervention, and family-centered, evidence-based practices that support young children with disabilities and their families. The conference organizers have expressed interest in including a session on Handle With Care and how it has been implemented. If you or your community would be interested in presenting on HWC efforts, we would love to help support you with a presentation. The proposal deadline is April 1, 2026.

Upcoming Dates! March Round Calls are scheduled this week as follows:

Round 5: Monday, March 23rd, 2pm

Round 2: Tuesday, March 24th, 11am Round 4: Tuesday, March 24th 2pm

Round 3: No call this month! Round 1: Friday, March 27th, 10am

Coalition Highlights

Resilient Metro: Join ARCHI for their Quarterly Breakfast on the Impact of Racial Discrimination on Health on Friday, April 24, from 8:30-10:30 AM. Speakers will explore how stress, social conditions, and structural factors shape health outcomes over time, and will discuss the implications for building healthier, more resilient Atlanta communities. Register here!

Resilient Communities of Southwest Georgia partners, Vashti Center and Hope House, are hosting a Women's Summit: Empowering Hope, Embracing Resilience on Friday, May 8th in Moultrie, GA. The event offers complimentary health screenings, crafts, and resources tailored to women and girls, features a guest speaker focused on resilience, and provides a free lunch for all registered attendees. Register here!

Faith Leaders

The Multi-Faith Neighbors Network, in partnership with the Georgia Democracy Resilience Network, is hosting a Safety Net Training on March 31st from 9AM–2PM

at The Carter Center in Atlanta. This free, non-partisan training is designed for civic and faith leaders and will provide practical tools to help communities address polarization, extreme rhetoric, and division while promoting respectful dialogue and nonviolence. Participants will receive both physical and digital copies of the Safety Net curriculum, along with guidance on how to apply the training in their local communities. Breakfast and lunch are included, and registration is required. If faith leaders in your community are interested in attending but do not have the funding to travel, please reach out to us—we may be able to help identify funding support for travel.

Parents and Caregivers

Elevate Couples Georgia, based at the University of Georgia, has launched a new five-year cycle of free, instructor-led, live online relationship education workshops through renewed federal funding. Open to married and unmarried couples statewide, the Elevate program strengthens communication, connection, and teamwork, with participating couples eligible to earn up to $360 for completing the program and follow-up surveys. Organizations that refer couples can receive a $25 e-gift card per participating couple, with no referral limit. Elevate Couples Georgia also offers ready-to-use promotional materials to support sharing this opportunity across communities and partner networks.

Helping Families Flourish – Understanding Foster Care: Kennesaw State University’s School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding & Development will host Helping Families Flourish, a full-day Understanding Foster Care Workshop on April 4th from 8:30AM–5PM on the KSU campus. This in-person training will equip foster parents, caregivers, social workers, DFCS and CASA staff, attorneys, and other child-serving professionals with trauma-informed conflict resolution tools to better support children and families involved in foster care. Participants will learn strategies for managing conflict, improving communication, and fostering collaboration within foster care systems. CE and CLE credits are available. The registration deadline is March 28, 2026, and the cost is $350. Learn more and register here.

Professional Development and Events

Joy Inside Tears is excited to offer free Youth Mental Health First Aid and Adult Mental Health First Aid trainings to support the well-being of our community. These evidence-based programs equip everyday people with practical skills to recognize signs of mental health or substance-use challenges, respond with confidence and compassion, and connect individuals to appropriate support. Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed for adults working with youth ages 12–18, while Adult Mental Health First Aid focuses on supporting adults 18 and older. Ideal for schools, workplaces, faith-based groups, and community organizations, these trainings help strengthen local capacity for trauma-informed, non-judgmental mental wellness support. To learn more or schedule a consultation, contact info@joyinsidetears.com.

Silence the Shame is hosting a Restoring Hope Resource Fair on April 18, 2026, from 12:00–3:00 PM for youth and young adults ages 16–24. In partnership with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities’ Office of Children, Young Adults, and Families, this community event will connect young people—particularly those involved in the juvenile justice system or aging out of foster care—with supportive resources. Attendees can access organizations offering assistance with healthcare, mental health and trauma-informed wellness, education and employment, housing and economic stability, and legal advocacy, all within a welcoming, youth-centered environment. Register here!

The Raising Her Project invites community members and organizations to attend the 2nd Annual Black Maternal Health Brunch on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 11AM–2PM at the Dalton Event Center in Moultrie, Georgia. This free, community-centered event will feature guest speakers and local vendors sharing resources, information, and support services focused on improving Black maternal health and strengthening awareness in the community. Proudly sponsored by United Way of Colquitt County, the brunch aims to foster meaningful conversations, connection, and collaboration while continuing to grow resources for families each year. Registration is free but required to attend.

Youth

Scholarship Opportunity: Girls Breaking Chains Excellence Scholarship: Girls Breaking Chains is offering the Girls Breaking Chains Excellence Scholarship, a $1,500 award for a graduating high school senior in Georgia who has a parent who is incarcerated and plans to pursue higher education. Applicants are asked to submit a 2–5 minute video sharing how the scholarship will empower them to overcome challenges and pursue their educational goals. The deadline to apply is May 1, 2026. Students can submit their videos or learn more by emailing Info@girlsbreakingchains.org. Please help share this opportunity with schools, churches, and families who may know a deserving student.

THANK YOU FROM THE RESILIENT GEORGIA TEAM!