MONDAY MEMO #78
- May 26
- 6 min read
Happy Tuesday, partners! We hope you enjoyed a well-deserved holiday weekend. This week we are highlighting a range of resources, including early childhood development, rural resources, and professional development and funding opportunities. Before we dive in, here are a few reminders and highlights from the RG team:
RG Highlights
Mental Health Awareness Month Highlight: How to support a friend or family member who’s struggling with their mental health offers practical, compassionate guidance for recognizing when someone may be struggling and how to show up in ways that truly help. It emphasizes listening without judgment, validating feelings, checking in consistently, and encouraging professional support when needed. It also highlights the importance of caring for your own well‑being while supporting others, reminding us that connection, empathy, and presence makes a difference.
Thank you to everyone who joined our May Lunch and Learn featuring LaDonna Collins, Child and Family Well‑Being Director at Georgia CASA. LaDonna shared an overview of Georgia CASA’s work and highlighted ways regional coalitions can strengthen partnerships with local CASA affiliates supporting children and families in the juvenile court system. For those who couldn’t attend, the session recording and slide deck are now available. We’d greatly appreciate your input through this brief survey to help us continue improving these sessions. If you’d like to connect with LaDonna, please email your request to Alex at aenglish@resilientga.org.
Please save the date for our June Lunch & Learn on Thursday, June 11 from 12–12:45PM to learn about mental health parity and its impact on behavioral health access in Georgia!
General meeting Follow Up Resources: Thank you for joining our April 2026 General Meeting, Resilience in Action: Showcasing Community Resiliency Model Across Georgia. Partners from across the state shared how they are applying CRM to strengthen resilience in diverse settings, offering practical tools and real-world examples. Whether you attended or are catching up, you can access key resources from the session—including the recording, follow-up resource document, slides, and feedback survey. We hope you’ll join us at our next meeting on November 12, 2026!
Upcoming Dates! May Round Calls are scheduled this week as follows:
Round 4: Tuesday, May 26th 2pm
Round 3: Thursday May 28th 1pm
Round 1: Friday, May 29th, 10am
No Calls:
Round 5: Shifted to last week due to Memorial Day
Round 2: No call in lieu of Strategic Planning Day
Coalition Highlights
Resilient Gwinnett’s Youth Advisory Council applications are now open! Resilient Gwinnett is seeking passionate high school students who want to strengthen youth voice and help shape community efforts around mental health, resilience, and well‑being. Council members collaborate on youth‑driven projects, develop leadership skills, and advise on initiatives that support young people across Gwinnett County. This is a great opportunity for students interested in advocacy, community impact, and leadership development. Learn more or apply through the Youth Advisory Council page.
Resilient Communities of East Georgia: Applications for the NEW Resilient Teens Ambassador Program are now open! The program invites eligible 6th–12th grade students who have participated in Resilient Teens to deepen their leadership skills through service, networking, recognition, and community impact. Parents, caregivers, school staff, and community partners are encouraged to help spread the word to youth who may be interested in growing as leaders across East Georgia. Applications are due May 29th so now is the perfect time to share this opportunity with students who would thrive in this ambassador role.
Early Childhood Development
NEW Center of the Developing Child Resources: The Mattering in Early Childhood and Importance of Stability in Child Development working papers from Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child underscore how consistent relationships and environments build the foundation for lifelong well‑being. Paired with the FirstPlace Partners initiative, these resources offer research‑based insights and tools to help communities strengthen early childhood systems and support every child’s sense of mattering and stability.
Hiding in Plain Sight: Language Development as a Missing Link: This article from Get Georgia Reading highlights how early language development—shaped through warm, responsive interactions—is a powerful yet often overlooked foundation for children’s well‑being. It emphasizes that communication skills are deeply tied to emotional health, relationships, and learning, and calls on caregivers, educators, and communities to intentionally nurture “language nutrition” to support children’s resilience and long‑term development.
New study! PCEs help overcome health effects of childhood trauma: A new study shows that positive childhood experiences (PCEs)—such as feeling supported, having caring adults, and feeling a sense of belonging—can significantly buffer the long‑term health impacts of childhood trauma. The research reinforces that nurturing relationships and safe, stable environments don’t just help children thrive in the moment; they also play a powerful role in promoting lifelong mental and physical well‑being, even for those who have faced adversity.
Funding
The ANCHOR, Faith & Behavioral Health Initiative is offering Communities of Faith Mini Grants to support faith-based efforts focused on mental health, substance use awareness, and recovery across the Southeast region. Eligible churches, faith-based organizations, and nonprofits may apply for up to $2,500 in funding for projects centered on education, recovery support, youth engagement, and community outreach. The initiative aims to reduce stigma, support healing, and strengthen communities by creating safe and trusted spaces for connection and recovery. Applications are due by May 29, 2026.
Rural Mental Health
Rural Minds Webinar - Removing Stigma & Building Mental Wellness in Farm Communities: Rural Minds is hosting a webinar on May 28th at 7PM EST on reducing stigma and supporting mental wellness in farming communities, highlighting challenges like isolation and financial stress. This webinar will also introduce the organization’s Farmer Mental Health Resilience Program and feature lifelong farmers and community leaders sharing personal experiences and practical strategies for supporting mental wellness and reducing stigma in rural communities
Nonprofits
The Center for Effective Philanthropy has just published its fourth annual State of Nonprofits report! The Center for Effective Philanthropy has released its fourth annual State of Nonprofits report, offering an in‑depth look at the growing pressures facing nonprofits nationwide. This year’s findings highlight rising staff burnout, financial strain, fundraising challenges, and concerns about long‑term sustainability as organizations work to meet community needs. The full report and a 2-page Board Book Insert are now available, and the release has already garnered national attention from outlets including NPR, Barron’s, and Axios.
Professional Developments
The Knowledge to Action Conversation on Empowering Kids Through Relationships and Education will take place virtually on May 28 from 10:00–11:30 AM and feature Juan Terrazas from Path United. The session will highlight Path United’s relationship-centered approach to supporting youth and families in mobile home communities through its “5 Ingredients to Flourishing” model. Participants will learn how the organization builds social and emotional skills, supports learning beyond traditional settings, and partners with families to foster resilience, stability, and growth. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for working with youth and families facing systemic barriers and limited resources.
School-Based Health Alliance's 2026 National School-Based Health Care Conference, taking place June 23–25 at American University Washington College of Law, will bring together health care professionals, educators, youth, and advocates to explore strategies for strengthening school-based health care and improving outcomes for children and families. Centered on the theme “Stronger Together: Building Healthy Futures for Every Child,” the conference will provide opportunities to learn from the growing national network of school-based health centers, collaborate with leaders across For more information about the conference, including session details and accommodations, read the conference preliminary program.
on May 30, from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM at C.T. Martin Natatorium & Recreation Center. Designed for youth and young adults ages 16–24, the free event will connect participants with resources related to healthcare access, trauma-informed mental health and wellness, employment and education, housing and economic stability, and legal and advocacy support. Attendees can also expect mentorship opportunities, tools for school and career success, wellness resources, activities, and giveaways in a safe and welcoming environment. Register here!
Components for Enhancing Career Experience and Reducing Trauma (CE-CERT) training: The National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina is hosting a CE-CERT (Components for Enhancing Career Experience and Reducing Trauma) Training on June 8–9 from 9AM-4PM in Charleston, SC. This skills-based training is designed to help professionals address secondary traumatic stress and strengthen emotional well-being, and is open to those working in mental health, healthcare, law enforcement, nonprofits, and other trauma-related fields. The training costs $25 and offers a valuable opportunity to build resilience and reduce trauma-related stress in the workplace. Register here!
THANK YOU FROM THE RESILIENT GEORGIA TEAM!