Aligning Resources Across Georgia To Support Resiliency
To Our Resilient Georgia Partners and Stakeholders:
Please join us along with storyteller Chrishaunda Lee Perez for our two-year anniversary virtual celebration an intimate discussion about mental wellness, resilience, and perseverance with Georgia native, World Class Track and Field Athlete, and 2021 Olympian Kenny Selmon on Thu, October 28th from 11 am to 12:30 pm ET. We are so proud of athletes across the board who are speaking up about mental health. This op-ed from tennis star Venus Williams details her mental health journey through life and tennis-related pressures. Her passion for accessibility encouraged Williams to partner up with online counseling site BetterHelp and the Women’s Tennis Association to offer individuals free therapy. Click here to sign up for your free month!

Resilient Georgia is proud to sponsor the STAR 2021 Trauma-Informed Care Conference taking place on Saturday, October 23rd and Sunday, October 24th. Please take a moment to register for this FREE event by following this link. The Student Taskforce on ACEs and Resilience (STAR) is an interdisciplinary, intercollegiate network of health students in Georgia dedicated to equipping the next generation of health professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to improve the care of people impacted by ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences).  
We would also like to highlight several resources and news updates:

  • This article from the AJC discusses how Blue Ridge, Georgia is struggling with a lack of mental healthcare. As a result, people in desperate need of services can end up in jail. House Speaker, Rep. David Ralston explains how this awareness has created a priority for the town to widen mental health resources for the community.
  • Our Regional Grantee The Vashti Center was awarded a three year funding award for their Resiliency Clubhouse through a Boost Grant that will help expand programming for their community. They were also recently named an official State of Hope site. Our Partners in Valdosta were also successful in recieving funding for the Southside Recreation Center.
  • This article describes how communities in Georgia have been affected by rising levels of violence, particularly gun violence. It’s a difficult but important read. The Sunday Civics podcast has created two recent episodes dealing with the tragic effects of gun violence, and the work being done to prevent it.
  • This article aptly discusses the weight caregivers have held this past year and beyond. It cites a CDC statistic that unpaid caregivers have worse mental health outcomes than other adults. Our September sector highlight focused on supporting caregivers in Georgia. If you missed it, take a moment to read it on our website. 
Finally, we would like to share these upcoming events and trainings:

Finally, in accordance with Indigenous People’s Day on October 11th, we’d like to share these resources and events related to American Indian mental health. Read more about the importance of mental health in indigenous communities here.

Please follow us on Facebook or Instagram for more resources, events, and news. Thank you all for your continued support in preventing ACEs and promoting resilience for children and families across Georgia!

Sincerely,

Brenda Fitzgerald, MD
Executive Board Chair
&
Emily Anne Vall, PhD
Executive Director
Highlight: Vaccine Hesitancy
Vaccine hesitancy, a phenomenon where people refuse widely available vaccinations because of various reasons, continues to plague America. There are many reasons people might be hesitant to receive a vaccine. Some are based on a lack of information, or worse - misinformation. Some may simply be complacent, or not think that COVID will seriously affect their lives (despite deaths continuing to occur across America). Many people, especially people of color, have serious reasons to doubt that the healthcare complex has their best interests at heart. A Seat at The Table, hosted by Denene Millner, Monica Pearson, and Christine White, addressed the nature and repercussions of vaccine hesitancy in the Black community through a powerful conversation with experts in the field. The BLK Cross is an organization furthering this work at the intersection of health, racial equity, and community organization. Their new initiative, Alive and In Color, is focused on connecting Black communities with COVID-19 resources, especially the chance to be educated about and receive vaccines. Their website features a ton of awesome tools and tips to help slow the spread of COVID-19. 

No matter the reason, not getting vaccinated has serious consequences for yourself and those around you. After the recent wave of the Delta variant, healthcare professionals are worried about the role the flu may play in worsening sickness this winter. This article provides a thoughtful look at the current state of vaccinations, and discusses how organizations are shifting their approach to address the levels of persistent skepticism. It can be a difficult balance between acknowledging concerns while presenting the scientific evidence about the safety of vaccines. These conversations can be especially difficult when they occur with loved ones or those we are consistently exposed to. This Greater Good strategy outlines five empathetic and effective ways to engage with hesitant individuals. Finally, regardless of vaccination status, please remember the importance of wearing a mask to protect yourself and those around you.
Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences (PACEs)
ACEs are likely to damage a child’s life if they are left without resources for support and healing. Thankfully, findings of a new study show that 90% of children have at least one supportive adult figure in their life that can provide these essentials to them. Even with such high numbers, a great amount of children remain vulnerable. The potential damage of ACE’s is especially troubling when considering that ACE’s are often unequally distributed in our population. New data from the National Survey of Children’s Health found that African-American and American Indian children are much more likely to experience ACE’s. In light of this, we’d like to continue to share information about the importance of promoting positive experiences and mental health. This recording features a conversation between leaders in pediatric health about the new American Academy of Pediatrics’ policy statement “Preventing Childhood Toxic Stress: Partnering with Families and Communities to Promote Relational Health.” We also love this conversation with interviewer Katie Couric, who recently got the chance to discuss youth mental health with Dr. Patrice Harris, an Atlanta-based expert on mental health. And to top it off, Athens Area Community Foundation’s CEO Sarah McKinney speaks here about the importance of trauma-informed care in our communities.

We’d also like to share some hands-on resources for promoting resilience and coping skills in children. This free E-Book from the Master series and Dr. Bessel van der Kolk delves into the nature of intergenerational trauma, and offers a wealth of coping strategies for these wounds. This project summarizes articles that looked at ways to support healthy relationship patterns for adolescents and young adults, particularly those who have experienced adversity. This research can be utilized to transform generational patterns of ACE’s into positive environments for future generations. Additionally, the National Academies Press has a web-page dedicated to curating individualized wellness tools for kids. Follow the link to answer a few questions and receive specialized resources for your family. Lastly, Healthy Children New Ages & Stages Texting Program sends important messages from HealthyChildren.org and the AAP right to parents’ cell phones! This program is appropriate for parents who are pregnant or who have children up to the age of five. Sign up here to begin receiving texts.
COVID-19 Resources

  • This couple is on a mission to document COVID-19 survivor stories in all 50 states. The stories capture the personal impact of the pandemic, spreading awareness of the short and long term effects of the virus. 

  • The Child Mind Institute just released their 2021 Children’s Mental Health Report. Click here to learn about the impact of COVID-19 on youth wellbeing.
Racial Equity Resources
  • Atlanta local Amber Dee, LPC started Black Female Therapists to help clients find qualified therapists who share their cultural values, as well as provide news and resources related to mental health. They’ve also now expanded to include a Black Male Therapists directory. Another site called Therapy for Black Men also provides a range of counselors equipped to meet the needs of this population.


  • This thoughtful article discusses the need for therapists in Atlanta who speak languages other than English. More cultural diversity in mental healthcare would help boost outcomes for immigrants and refugees who communicate in unique ways.
Be sure to read additional resources on the topics above, and more, here.
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall" 
-Confucius