Across Georgia, communities are coming together to support the mental health and well-being of our young people—and the results are inspiring.

Join us November 13th from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM for Building Resilient Futures: Youth Mental Health in Action, our upcoming Virtual Showcase featuring six Resilient Georgia Regional Coalitions leading innovative youth mental health initiatives across the state.

➡️Keep reading to learn more about our speakers!

From school-based mindfulness programs to community-driven partnerships, these coalitions are reimagining what it means to build resilience—one young person, one family, and one community at a time.

This is your chance to learn, connect, and be inspired by the changemakers creating real impact for Georgia’s youth. Learn more and add this event to your calendar today!

The Resilient Georgia Team

p.s. Check out Resilient Georgia's new Regional Coalition Website to learn more about the coalitions!

This Issue: 6-Minute Read

What's new: This blog in our “Power of Healing” series features The Yellow Elephant Ministries, celebrating 10 years of hope and healing.

Founded by Michelle Cope after losing her best friend to suicide, a simple yellow elephant drawing has grown into a statewide movement of connection and compassion.

What's new: “Becoming a Trauma-Informed Juvenile Court System” explores how courts can better understand and respond to the needs of youth impacted by trauma.

Why it matters: Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with this youth?” the guide encourages a powerful shift to, “What happened to this youth?” Inside, you’ll find the key elements of a trauma-informed system, including:

✔️ Policies & procedures rooted in trauma awareness

✔️ Tools for identifying and screening youth

✔️ Clinical assessment and intervention strategies

New Resource: Becoming a Trauma-Informed Early Childcare and Education Center

What's new: "Becoming a Trauma-Informed Early Childcare and Education Center" explores how Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences (PCEs & ACEs) shape early development and why a trauma-informed approach is essential.

• Congratulations to Dr. Caisey Crawford of the University of West Georgia who was awarded a $1.7 million federal grant to support rural students. This grant will support aspiring counselors through hands-on training and expand the school’s counseling program.
• We are proud of coalition partner Greater Valdosta United Way for their mental health response after Hurricane Helene.
• Congratulations to Cammie Wolf Rice, founder and CEO of CWC Alliance who was featured in this WSB-TV hour-long special on Georgia’s Opioid Crisis.
• We are so proud of the recent article, “Associations between adverse childhood experiences and obesity among young US adults,” co-authored by Dr. Kiran Thapa, Dr. Janani Thapa (UGA), and our Executive Director, Dr. Emily Anne Vall.
• The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation recently announced a $50 million donation to Atlanta’s historically Black colleges and universities, aiming to close financial aid gaps that might otherwise prevent students from completing their degrees.
• We're thrilled Resilient Georgia’s own Dr. Andrea Meyer Stinson has been appointed by Governor Kemp to the Georgia Composite Medical Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists.