Keeping Students Safe
“When school climate improves, schools are transformed for the better—and students learn and behave better.”
Georgia Appleseed Executive Director
Talley Wells
and Director of Projects
Michael Waller
kicked off the year by sharing their thoughts
in an op-ed,
published in the
Atlanta Journal Constitution
's Get Schooled blog, on what the state of Georgia is doing—and should be doing—to keep our schools and children safe and healthy.
This is a good, quick read to understand what’s happening right now in our state. It’s also a great resource if you’ve ever caught yourself wondering what people mean when they talk about “school climate.”
Georgia Appleseed is working to
increase school based behavioral health services
and
improve school climate
across Georgia.
The state is at a critical moment where there is bipartisan momentum for expanding these efforts. Increasing both will make a significant impact for Georgia’s children across the state.
Georgia Appleseed is playing an important role in this vital conversation.
|
|
And the Good Apple Goes To...
Georgia Appleseed’s
2019 Good Apple Event
will be held on
April 24, 2019
, at The Stave Room. We are pleased to announce this year’s honorees, who we are recognizing for their work to increase justice in the state:
- Deputy State Superintendent Dr. Garry McGiboney and PBIS Team of Georgia. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports is a framework used by the Georgia Department of Education for healthy school culture and student success.
- Child Protection and Advocacy Section of the State Bar of Georgia
- EY for its commitment to Keeping Kids in Class
|
|
Volunteering for Justice
Members of Georgia Appleseed’s
Young Professionals Council
volunteered on Martin Luther King Jr Day at GA Education Climate Coalition partner
ADL Southeast'
s
"No Place for Hate Summit" to empower high school students and leaders to create a more positive, inclusive culture at their schools.
ADL Southeast is a member organization of GECC.
Pictured (L to R): Adam Ozgo, Landan Ansell, Daniel Almaguer-Gaspar, Talley Wells, Cam Ellis, Micah Moon.
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Discussions: Advocating for Your Child
|
You’re the expert on your child. Now learn more about legal rights, community resources and innovative strategies that can help you be the best advocate. Next month, join
Georgia Appleseed
for two opportunities to rethink behavioral challenges. Panelists will touch on educational rights, restorative practices and how best to support our children.
- March 4, 2019, at Saint Paul United Methodist Church in Grant Park neighborhood: 501 Grant St SE, Atlanta, GA 30312 from 6:30-7:45 p.m. Register here.
- March 13, 2019, at Fulton County Juvenile Court: 395 Pryor St SW, Atlanta, GA 30312,1st Floor Meeting Room from 4:00-5:30 p.m. Register here.
These events are free and open to the public. Learn more about the panelists for each event and register online for the
March 4 event
and the
March 13 event.
|
|
Building Bridges
On January 8, 2019, Georgia Appleseed met with
Georgia Education Climate Coalition
partners in Atlanta to discuss school safety and behavioral health. At the end of the two-hour session, immediate past Board Chair of Georgia Appleseed Taylor Daly felt inspired and commented, “I wish I could ‘bottle’ the knowledge, practicality, experience and compassion of this group and sprinkle it about as an inspiration to others to work together on positive solutions.”
|
|
Deadlines & Opportunities
|
|
February 26—
Justice Day at the Capitol
: This annual event brings together a wide array of community members and organizations to show our legislators that all Georgians deserve true criminal justice reform and the demand for change is strong. Hosted by Georgia Justice Project and the Justice Reform Partnership.
Details here
.
March 4—Advocating for Your Child: Resources & Strategies for Challenging Behaviors
, St. Paul Methodist Church in Grant Park.
Register here
.
March 11—GA Appleseed’s Young Professionals Council presents a CLE “Education Advocacy for Children in Care: Student Tribunal Hearing Training.”
Details and registration here.
March 13
—Advocating for Your Child: Resources & Strategies for Challenging Behaviors
, Fulton County Juvenile Court.
Register here.
April 15—School Based Behavioral Health Atlanta Regional Forum
:
Save the date for this event, Georgia Appleseed, Voices for Georgia’s Children and The Carter Center Mental Health Program will be hosting a forum on school based behavioral health, including accessing services, best practices, and how schools and the community can work together. Details to come.
|
|
Want to learn more about some of the ideas and issues mentioned in this newsletter? We got you covered!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
