Resilient Georgia Resiliency Trends | | Building a Trauma-Informed Georgia | | |
Join us November 5 for an engaging Resilient Georgia General Meeting exploring how we can grow and strengthen Georgia's trauma-informed mental and behavioral health workforce.
From introducing high school students to mental health careers and expanding paraprofessional opportunities to supporting graduate students on the path to clinical licensure, we'll highlight innovative approaches to building a stronger, more diverse mental and behavioral health workforce across our state.
Hear from partners at the Georgia Department of Education, Technical College System of Georgia, Emory University, Kennesaw State University, University of Georgia, Wellroot, and Resilient Georgia sharing promising strategies, successful initiatives and opportunities for collaboration.
📅 Date: November 5, 2026
⏰ Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
📍 Location: Virtual on Zoom
This event is open to the public, so please share widely with your networks!
Join us! Discover how stronger career pathways, innovative training and cross-sector partnerships can help expand access to mental and behavioral health services and build a more resilient Georgia.
See you soon,
The Resilient Georgia Team
p.s. Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
| | This Issue: 6-Minute Read | | |
Download our Know Before You Go document for more about our speakers and pre-meeting resources.
👇Check out our featured speakers, who will explore innovative approaches to growing Georgia's trauma-informed mental and behavioral health workforce—from high school career pathways and paraprofessional training to graduate education, clinical licensure and statewide workforce development.
- Sandra Martin, Georgia Department of Education
- Dr. Kevin Crawford, Emory University
- Nikki Gilbert, Technical College System of Georgia
- Wendy Tiegreen, David Ralston Institute for Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, University of Georgia
- Dr. Allison Garefino, Kennesaw State University
- Dr. Andrea Meyer Stinson, Resilient Georgia; Liza Cuevas, Wellroot; and Amber Jones LPC, Hillside
| | Building a Trauma-Informed Workforce Through Microcredentials | |
What's new: Kennesaw State University's Children and Family Programs offers a Trauma-Informed Microcredential Certification program to help prepare emerging professionals in education, social work, healthcare, public health, and human services to better support individuals impacted by trauma.
How to participates: Explore the program's five modules and opportunities to earn Level II microcredential badges.
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Exploring Career Pathways in Healthcare & Mental Health | |
What's new: The Georgia Department of Education's Career Cluster and Pathway Guide highlights opportunities for high school students to explore careers in healthcare and human services, including a dedicated Mental Health Professional Pathway. These career pathways help introduce students to healthcare professions and build a foundation for future education and workforce opportunities.
Learn more: Explore the Healthcare and Human Services section on page 5 of the Georgia Department of Education's Career Cluster and Pathway Guide to see available pathways and course sequences.
| Resources to Strengthen Georgia's Mental Health Workforce | |
What's new: Resilient Georgia's Mental Health Workforce Resources page brings together tools, research and training opportunities to support the recruitment, development and retention of Georgia's mental and behavioral health workforce.
What you'll find:
- Workforce data and tracking tools to better understand Georgia's mental health workforce needs
- Behavioral health certificate programs and professional training opportunities
- Research, policy reports and strategies for recruiting and retaining mental health professionals
- Financial assistance and loan repayment programs for behavioral health professionals
- Examples of innovative workforce initiatives and partnerships from Georgia and other states
Check out the links below for help building a more trauma-informed workforce across all sectors.
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What's new: Resilient Futures is our new monthly blog series exploring the experiences, challenges, and strengths of young people today. Through stories shared by youth and young adults, we hope to deepen our understanding of what helps people navigate adversity, what support they need from the adults and communities around them, and how we can create environments where they feel connected, valued, and empowered to thrive.
This month: We're honored to feature 17-year-old Joanna Ramon-Beltran's journey through mental health challenges, healing and hope. She shares the small mindset shifts that helped her move forward, the support she wishes she had along the way, and the lessons she learned about resilience, self-compassion and choosing to not give up.
| Bringing County-Level Data to the Communities it Reflects | |
What's new: Resilient Georgia intern and doctoral researcher at Georgia State University, Jordan Ricketts, recently shared how county-level data is being transformed into practical insights that empower educators, school counselors, social workers, healthcare and behavioral health professionals and other community leaders to make more informed, data-driven decisions for children and families.
Why it matters: Explore how data is being translated into meaningful conversations and solutions across Southwest Georgia.
| | Regional Coalition & Partner News | |
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Congratulations Vira Salzburn, Director of Impact at The Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire on being named to Georgia Trend’s 40 Under 40.
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Congratulations also to Rebecca Best, Executive Director of Resilient Communities of East GA, and Kari Viola-Brooke, Executive Director of Child Enrichment, on their selection for two exciting 2027 leadership opportunities. Rebecca will join UGA’s Executive Leadership Program for Nonprofit Organizations, while Kari has been selected for the Leadership Georgia Class of 2027.
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The Georgia Department of Community Health has awarded $30.6 million through the second phase of the GREAT Health program, bringing total investments to $43.3 million across the state to help strenthen rural communities.
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The Together for Families Conference 2026 will be held October 20–22.
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The 2026 GAPSE Conference: Georgia Moving Forward will be held in Macon Oct. 27-28.
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ARCHI will convene more than 250 leaders at the State of Metro-Atlanta Health on Nov 6 from 8:30 AM – 1 PM .
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GUIDE, Inc. is offering FREE virtual QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention Trainings on Nov. 18 and Dec.16, from 1–3 p.m.
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Silence the Same 2026 Parent Cafe Series offers parents, caregivers, and adult allies of Georgia’s transition-age youth (ages 16–24) an opportunity to connect, share experiences, and strengthen family well-being. Sessions will be offered Nov. 18 and Dec. 5.
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The 2026 Georgia Association for Positive Behavior Support (GAPBS) Conference will be Friday, Dec. 4 in Duluth, GA, with the theme “Strengthening Safety and Supports.”
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Applications are open for the 2027 PIN Summer Internship Program through the Partnership for Innovation! Apply to become a partner organization for 2027.
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Registration is open for Mental Health Day at the Capitol on Jan. 20, 2027.
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Register for The REACH Institute's training on how to effectively use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to help adults who suffer from anxiety. CME credit available.
| | What's Happening at Resilient Georgia | |
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We asked our team what they wanted to be when they grew up, and here's what they shared.
🎤Nikki wanted to be a singer/actress/veterinarian. Talk about range!
✈️Audrey dreamed of traveling the world as a writer or solving medical mysteries as a disease detective.
✏️Annaliza wanted to be a writer or a teacher.
👠Alex had big fashion dreams! Armed with fashion magazines, a sketchbook and even a sewing machine her parents bought her, she was ready to become the next great designer.
🍦Andrea wanted to be a pediatrician AND own an ice cream shop.
⛏️Emily Anne dreamed of becoming an archeaologist.
💡Kathryn pictured herself in the classroom as a teacher.
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“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do."
—Rumi
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