MONDAY MEMO #84

Jul 13
6 min read

Happy Monday, partners! This week we are highlighting a range of resources, including mental health resources and support for youth, workplaces, and rural communities, as well as a variety of professional development and funding opportunities. Before we dive in, here are a few reminders and highlights from the RG team:

RG Highlights

Handle With Care Info Session: Handle with Care is a trauma-informed communication protocol that notifies schools when a child has been present at the scene of a potentially traumatic event. This confidential notification helps schools provide timely emotional check-ins, academic adjustments, and access to mental health supports, ensuring children feel safe, seen, and ready to learn. Join a Handle With Care (HWC) Webinar this Wednesday July 15, from 1–2PM to learn how the HWC model helps schools, law enforcement, and community partners work together to support children who have experienced trauma. The webinar will highlight how this trauma-informed approach promotes student well-being, strengthens community collaboration, and helps children remain supported and engaged in learning following adverse experiences. For more information, contact Jennifer Kramer at jk@mylifemypower.org.

Change Makers Leadership Institute: Strengthening Georgia’s Resilience Infrastructure: Across Georgia, coalitions are doing extraordinary work, building trauma‑responsive systems, expanding prevention pathways, and deepening community partnerships. The Change Makers Leadership Institute (CMLI) was created by Gabrielle Stewart to support you in that work. CMLI supports community partners through trauma-informed, equity-centered consulting that strengthens collaboration, emotional safety, leadership development, and systems change. Using practical, coalition-friendly tools, CMLI helps coalition leaders and organizations navigate strategic planning, onboard new leaders, and deepen multi-county engagement to build a stronger statewide resilience network. To learn more, contact Gabrielle Stewart at GabrielleCMLI@pm.me.

Call for Authors: Resilient Futures Blog Series: Resilient Georgia is seeking authors for its 2026–2027 Resilient Futures blog campaign, a statewide series focused on youth mental health and well-being. Youth ages 14–26, parents, caregivers, educators, healthcare professionals, advocates, researchers, and community leaders are invited to share personal stories, professional insights, and evidence-based approaches that help young people build resilience and thrive. For more information, contact nwarner@resilientga.org.

Coalition Peer Connection Call: In July we will not have typical update calls, instead, all coalitions are encouraged to join our Peer Connection call Tuesday July 21st at 2pm.

Coalition Highlights

Hosted by Resilient Gwinnett, two upcoming professional development opportunities are available for nonprofit professionals. On Wednesday, July 29, from 3:00–4:00 PM via Zoom, join the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) Fundraising Platform Discussion to explore ethical online fundraising practices, including transparency, donor relationships, data ownership, and accountability. Then, on Tuesday, August 25, from 8:30–11:30 AM at the Lawrenceville Arts Center, attend the L&D Series: Peace Index for Nonprofits, an interactive workshop that helps participants assess personal well-being, build resilience, and develop practical strategies for sustainable growth through the Peace Index framework and a personalized assessment.

Resilient Coastal Georgia: Registration is now open for the 8-week, virtual Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Course offered by The Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire. This evidence-based course will be held Tuesdays from August 4–September 22, 2026, from 10AM-12PM, and is designed for adults seeking to build emotional resilience, manage stress, reduce self-criticism, and strengthen healthy relationships. The course is facilitated by Vira Salzburn, an MSC Trained Teacher who uses a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach. The registration fee is $250, with limited scholarships available. Learn more and register here!

Funding

Imagine Award – Funding Opportunity for Early Childhood Leaders: Applications are now open through August 28, 2026 for the Imagine Award from the Promise Fund, which provides $20,000 in flexible funding and a six-month cohort-based learning experience for community-centered early childhood leaders. The award supports individuals with bold, equity-focused ideas that are ready for pilot testing and designed to improve outcomes for children and families. Participants will receive support to launch and evaluate a real-world pilot, strengthen their impact model, build partnerships, and connect with fellow innovators. Free workshops are also available to help applicants develop strong pilot proposals.

FY 2026 Legal Assistance for Victims Program NOFO: The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is accepting applications for the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program, which supports projects that expand access to comprehensive legal services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Eligible applicants include tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, law schools, and other qualifying entities. Applications must include partnerships with both a victim services organization and a legal services provider with expertise in representing survivors. The funding opportunity includes two categories: Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) and the LAV Expanding Legal Services Initiative. Applications are due in two steps: the SF-424 must be submitted through Grants.gov by July 31, at 11:59 PM, followed by the full application in JustGrants by August 4, at 4:59 PM.

Mental Health in the Workplace

Join Coverage and Culture: Employer Symposium for Workplace Mental Health on August 20, 2026, from 10AM–3PM at The Carter Center.This symposium will bring together business leaders, HR professionals, and benefits administrators to explore strategies for improving workplace mental health through equitable health coverage, mental health parity, and supportive workplace cultures. Participants will gain practical guidance on strengthening employee benefits, reducing stigma, increasing access to mental health and substance use services, and fostering healthier, more resilient workplaces. To learn more about the state of mental health in Georgia check out this article from AJC and share RG’s Trauma-Informed Business resource.

Professional Development and Events

(AAAI) Youth Webinar Series– Caring for Youth & Families Impacted by Suicide: Join this webinar hosted by the Lotus Project July 22, from 12–1:30PM PST via Zoom. This free webinar will explore culturally informed approaches to supporting AAAI youth, families, and communities affected by suicide loss, with a focus on grief, healing, postvention, and improving access to support services. Participants will gain practical strategies for addressing cultural and systemic barriers to care while learning from experts in mental health, suicide prevention, and community advocacy.

Join GEEARS' Annual Fundraising Luncheon on September 17, from 11:30 AM –1:30 PM at Zoo Atlanta to celebrate and support early childhood education in Georgia. The event will bring together community leaders, educators, advocates, policymakers, and philanthropic partners to highlight the importance of investing in young children and families. Attendees will hear from keynote speaker and Olympic bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, celebrate outstanding early childhood champions, and learn how strong early childhood systems strengthen families, communities, and Georgia's future. Sponsorship opportunities are also available to support Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students' mission.

ZERO TO THREE 2026 LEARN Conference: This conference on October 27–29, in Portland, Oregon, will bring together educators, mental health leaders, researchers, advocates, and policymakers to explore the latest research, innovative practices, and strategies that support young children and their families. Attendees will have opportunities for professional development, networking, expert-led sessions on key early childhood topics, and continuing education credits.

The 2026 Georgia 2Gen Summit will be September 15–16th, at the Atlanta Evergreen Lakeside Resort in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Hosted by the Georgia Children’s Cabinet in partnership with the UGA's Carl Vinson Institute of Government, the summit will bring together service providers, policymakers, community leaders, philanthropic partners, and parent advocates to strengthen collaboration and advance two-generation (2Gen) approaches across Georgia. Participants will gain practical tools for implementing and evaluating 2Gen strategies, learn from successful initiatives across the state, and build partnerships to improve outcomes for children and families.

Rural Health

Rural Minds offers two webinar resources focused on strengthening mental health support in rural communities. The Rural Mental Health Connections Webinar Series addresses challenges such as stress, isolation, stigma, and limited access to care for farmers and rural residents, while How Family Physicians Can Help Address the Mental Health Crisis in Rural Communities highlights practical ways family physicians can identify needs, reduce stigma, connect patients to resources, and improve access to mental health care in underserved areas. Please check it out and share with your rural communities!

Youth

Respectful Ways: A Tool for Therapists on the Move: Behavioral health therapists are using Respectful Ways in clinics and as they rotate between schools. Because the program travels with the practitioner, it gives therapists a consistent trauma-informed framework to use across very different settings. That continuity is good for the clinician and even better for the students and clients who see them in more than one place.

THANK YOU FROM THE RESILIENT GEORGIA TEAM!