We are thrilled to announce that Round Seven of State of Hope's funding program is open for applications! Visit https://dfcs.georgia.gov/about-us/state-hope. Here, you will find all the information you need to understand our mission, funding criteria, and how to apply for Round Six. But don't wait too long – the application deadline is August 11, 2024.

Successful projects can receive funding between $5,000 and $50,000. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about the application process and eligibility criteria.

Apply for State of Hope today and let us work together to build a brighter future!

Saturday 4/27 we hosted our first 2024 Family Wellness Workshop with 33 family members in attendance. We were super excited because this time around, we had some new families who are brand new to our country and we were able to use grant funds to translate our materials into Spanish! We had 3 Spanish speaking leaders and excellent participation from all who attended! Our families loved their door prizes and have been engaging so well in this year's initiative! Thanks SOH!

Building an equitable board is one of the most important steps your organization can take toward creating a healthy, sustainable future for your nonprofit. But where do you start? What are the necessary steps to take?

Join us to find out! Christal Cherry, Principal and CEO of The Board Pro, and Dr. Renee Rubin Ross, founder of The Ross Collective, will explore how you can:

• Assess the degree to which your board culture is equitable
• Consider obstacles to equity on boards
• Learn three new ideas to build a more equitable board culture
• Commit to one next step to build an equitable board culture

Register

Storytelling is the most powerful tool we have as changemakers. By strategically sharing our authentic personal stories and those of the community we serve (with permission, of course) we can break down stigma and change hearts and minds, at scale. We can attract and inspire an audience that’s ready to roll up their sleeves and help us make shift happen at our nonprofits and social impact organizations. This workshop will cover why storytelling is so impactful, how to start, where to tell our stories, and more.

Register

Helping Mamas is a program located in Norcross, GA that assist families in need of baby care items and period care products. The program is also mobile and not limited to the Gwinnett County area but for all Georgia Families. This program has reached one hundred and twenty-thousand children thus far.This program works directly with shelters, school districts and shelters. Learn more about this program herehttps://helpingmamas.org/

An opportunity to deep dive into the sometimes-murky waters of fundraising and philanthropy. We’ll zoom out to better understand the current philanthropic landscape, de-mystify the role of fundraising for the staff and board and learn some practical tips and tools that you can use right away – to better engage donors in your work and increase donor loyalty to your mission.

Register

Nonprofit leaders are doing amazing work for our communities, yet they can feel overwhelmed, isolated and pressured with unrealistic expectations. Join Michele to uncover the 3 myths and 9 truths about nonprofit leadership - and understand hands-on practices to help you amplify your impact as a leader. Full of real-world stories and experiences, you’ll leave this session feeling understood and equipped with an array of proven ways to transform your leadership presence and keep your passion alive so you can thrive in your role, increase your results and continue improving the communities you serve.

Attached is the flyer.

You can register at this link.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/advice-from-the-field-9-important-truths-about-nonprofit-leadership-tickets-653178754237?aff=oddtdtcreator

Hello Ecosystem Members!

Georgia begins its Medicaid Redetermination this month. This means that Georgia will be returning to an annual system check eligibility for Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids members. The process will take approximately 14 months to complete. Clients who are found to still be eligible will be renewed and those who no longer meet eligibility requirements will not be renewed. Attached you will find the Georgia Medicaid Redetermination one-pager handout in both English and Spanish. You can also find additional information and resources by visiting the Medicaid Unwinding webpage.

Please let the State of Hope team know if your organization has an upcoming event you would like for us to attend with the Georgia Peach Costume and Claw Machine to ensure Medicaid recipients stay informed during this process. You can email us at stateofhope@dhs.ga.gov with the following information:

• Date, time, and location
• Brief purpose of the event
• Target audience/community served
• Estimated number of attendees

Please let us you if you have any questions regarding this process and how we may help you assist your clients.

-State of Hope Team

Hello Ecosystem members!

A big thank you to all who were able to attend our 3rd workshop of this grant cycle! Below you will find the link for the workshop recording and the attached resource pdf.

Zoom Recording

As a reminder, you can access all previous State of Hope Big Idea Workshops by visiting the resource tab at the top of the webpage and selecting 'State of Hope Big Idea Workshops.'

Be on the lookout for upcoming information on our final workshop of this cycle. We hope to see you all there!

Join us for our second workshop of the 2022-2023 grant cycle!

We welcome Lisa Amaker back to discuss the issues nonprofits face in securing resources for mission fulfillment. Participants will learn how to increase funding chances, including: setting realistic timelines, grant preparedness, deciphering RFPs, conducting philanthropic research, and the effective use of development strategies.

Following the webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Create a list of potential funders for 200-300% of their resource needs.
2. Build an 18-month fundraising timeline.
3. Create a successful annual development plan.

Follow the Eventbrite link to complete your registration for this event. We hope to see you there!

Hello Ecosystem members!

Below you will find the zoom recording link for our February 28th workshop. Thank you to everyone who attended!

Resource Mobilization Workshop Recording

Join us for our first workshop of the 2022-2023 grant cycle!

The State of Hope’s Big Ideas WorkshopSeries is a free workshopseries designed especially for State of Hope Ecosystem members. Each topic contributes to the goal of further developing and growing your organization.

How to Be a Community Leader will provide simple and effective strategies to help you lead for collective impact.

Follow the Eventbrite link to complete your registration for this event.

This event is rescheduled for February 28th 10AM-12PM.

Join us for our second workshop of the 2022-2023 grant cycle!

We welcome Lisa Amaker back to discuss the issues nonprofits face in securing resources for mission fulfillment. Participants will learn how to increase funding chances, including: setting realistic timelines, grant preparedness, deciphering RFPs, conducting philanthropic research, and the effective use of development strategies.

Following the webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Create a list of potential funders for 200-300% of their resource needs.
2. Build an 18-month fundraising timeline.
3. Create a successful annual development plan.

Follow the Eventbrite link to complete your registration for this event. We hope to see you there!

Join us March 15th, 10AM-12PM for our 3rd workshop of the 2022-2023 grant cycle!

Nonprofit Development Consultant Jenni Hargrove will lead a discussion on best practices for developing strong, long-term relationships with supporters who want to get engaged with your mission. Get ready to find “your people” — the people who are already inspired by your cause — and learn how to activate their generosity with an actionable development strategy.

Reserve your spot today!

Hello Ecosystem Members!

The Division is currently working on a public relations plan to ensure that the 2.6 million folks who receive Medicaid benefits are informed and aware that their contiguous coverage is ending, and they will need to have their benefits re-determined.

Medicaid Unwinding | Georgia Department of Human Services Stay Covered. Stay Informed. | Big changes may be coming to your Medicaid coverage. (ga.gov)

To ensure these individuals are informed, we are creating a calendar of community outreach events we can attend with the George Peach costume and Claw Machine. If you have any upcoming events or opportunities that may be appropriate for George Peach to attend, please let us know!

-State of Hope Team

Hello ecosystem members!

Georgia non-profit and public entities are invited to submit proposals for the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program FFY2024. Georgia's PSSF program reflects the ongoing commitment of the Division of Family and Children Services to ensuring that families, communities, and organizations have access to the highest quality services and resources needed to help children and youth grow into healthy, thriving and contributing members of our society. PSSF provides funding for community-based services to children and families who may be at risk for child abuse and neglect or who have had confirmed reports of child abuse and neglect and are involved with the state's child welfare agency.

• Attendance at Informational Meeting is mandatory for agencies/organizations interested in submitting a proposal for the FFY2024 funding cycle.
• Registration is required. Click here to register.

Proposal Submission Deadline is Thursday, March 30th 2023 - NOON EDT.

Hello ecosystem members!

The next Big Idea Workshop has been postponed. We apologize for any inconvenience and will announce the new date once finalized. 

The State of Hope Team would like to spotlight Ecosystem member and Seed of Hope Recipient Youth Spark!

Youth Spark hosted a round-table discussion spotlighting Atlanta's Missing and Runaway Youth on January 23rd.

The panel was moderated by Award-Winning Journalist Rose Scott and featured Atlanta Mayor Dickens, Senior Assistant Attorney General Hannah M. Palmquist, and Fulton County Juvenile Court Chief Judge Juliette W. Scales.

Highlights from the panel

• The need to change perceptions of runaway and missing youth.
• The complex forces that lead to trafficking of runaway youth.
• Collaborative work happening between the City of Atlanta, Fulton County Juvenile Courts, and youth-serving organizations such as Youth Spark.

Learn more about trafficking myths and facts today!

For more information on the amazing work of Youth Spark you can check out their website here.

Hello SOH Ecosystem members!

Check out one of our four collaboration space community groups today. Our communities center around SOH's four opportunity areas of HOPE.

• Economic Self-Sufficiency
• Education
• Trauma Awareness
• Quality Caregiving

These are safe spaces for us to collaborate, share resources, and learn ways to increase opportunities of HOPE in our communities.

Happy January SoH Ecosystem Members!

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season.

Before the holidays, we hosted our first workshop: How to Be a Community Leader on December 6th, 2022. We had around 80 in attendance as Dr. Drew Reynolds shared community leadership strategies.

Below you will find the recording link for anyone who may have missed the workshop or would like to revisit the discussion. You will also find an attached flyer with additional clickable resources from the workshop.

Be on the lookout for details on our next workshop! We hope to see you all there.

Zoom recording:

https://zoom.us/rec/play/ILDPN...amp;_x_zm_rhtaid=423

Hello ecosystem members!

The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services has announced a funding opportunity from CAPTA for projects that support Plans of Safe Care (POSC) for children affected by prenatal substance exposure and their families.

The purpose of this funding announcement is to solicit proposals for evidence-based community services to develop, implement, and/or monitor plans of safe care for substance affected infants and their families, in partnership with the local health care system, child welfare agency and other family support providers.

Awards of up to $200,000 will be available through Georgia’s CAPTA State Grant. This funding opportunity is not open to for-profit organizations. Proposals should be developed in partnership with the local health care system, child welfare agency, and other family support providers. Applicants are encouraged to include a statement of support from the county or regional DFCS leadership in their application, demonstrating an observed need for the proposed activity. Interested applicants must attend an informational session (Dec 14 or Dec 20). Proposals must be submitted by February 1, 2023. Awarded contracts will begin on July 1, 2023

The deadline for proposal submission is February 1, 2023.

You may find additional information in the attached PDF.

BUILDING THE SUPPLY CHAIN WORKFORCE

BUILDING THE SUPPLY CHAIIN WORKFORCE

CareerRise, in partnership with Prologis and Jobs for the Future, is proud to offer the Logistics Community Workforce Initiative, which includes:

• 20+ hours of FREE, self-paced online training modules covering jobs, work
  environment, and the skills needed to be successful in transportation,
  distribution, and logistics industry
• Training videos in work-ready and career development skills
• Incentive program that rewards you for learning Resources to help launch your career, like connections to local hiring employers, job posting updates, access to hiring events, and more!

Today, the MWI Workforce Institute, a division of M.E.N.S. Wear, Inc. announced it’s working with Google to provide digital skills programs to advance economic opportunity for people impacted by incarceration. In June, Google shared its investing $4 million toward a new fund that aims to expand its justice reform work. Over 500 nonprofit organizations across the country applied to receive support from the fund, and the MWI Workforce Institute is one of the recipients selected by Google based on its history of helping people who have been impacted by incarceration receive training, career resources, and job placement support.

More than 600,000 Americans leave incarceration each year and face higher jobless rates than the U.S. average. The lack of technology in prison creates further barriers to employment, as digital skills are increasingly essential in the current job market. The MWI Workforce Institute will use the new funding to integrate Google’s digital skills curriculum into its existing programming, with the goal of helping people impacted by incarceration learn skills for today’s jobs. The MWI Workforce Institute will also work alongside community partners, court systems and faith-based organizations to host virtual and in-person digital skills training workshops.

“As a partner of Grow with Google, we can seamlessly upskill learners with key digital skills and career certificates that will help them start and grow their careers and become major contributors to the workforce. Google has navigated an opportunity for nonprofit organizations to provide digital skills training to justice impacted individuals and communities that far exceeds anything we have seen before. In addition, we now also have the capacity to equip any learner with applied digital skills to grow their business”, says Angelia O’Neal, founder of the MWI Workforce Institute, a division of M.E.N.S. Wear, Inc.

“As we work to create a more inclusive economy, we’re committed to helping people impacted by incarceration access training for today’s jobs,” said Tia McLaurin, Senior Manager, Grow with Google. “We’re proud to work with outstanding partners to ensure more people can qualify for great jobs and create a new beginning for themselves and their families.”

The selected organizations will use Google digital skills curriculum that was co-curated with five nonprofits— The Last Mile, Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), Defy Ventures, Fortune Society and The Ladies of Hope Ministries. The program’s training includes five learning paths that Google developed in collaboration with nonprofit partners: (1) Getting Started with the Basics, (2) Job Search, (3) Job Readiness, (4) Online Safety, and (5) “Next Step” Job Readiness Skills. Lessons vary from fundamental digital skills such as how to apply for jobs online and create a resumé, to more advanced topics including entrepreneurship and business budgeting. Partners will integrate this curriculum into their existing programs to help people develop skills that will help them get a job or start a business.

Since launching in April 2021, Grow with Google’s program has helped more than 10,000 people impacted by incarceration obtain digital skills. Out of participants surveyed, 85% said that they felt more prepared for their future, and over 75% reported they had a job or were enrolled as a student by the end of the program. To date, Google has given over $48 million in Google.org grants and committed 50,000 pro bono hours to advance criminal justice reform. Learn more about how Google is expanding access to digital skills training to support individuals who were formerly incarcerated at grow.google/justice-impacted.

About The MWI Workforce Institute
The mission of the MWI Workforce Institute is to serve as a national virtual hub for digital skills training for learners. We offer essential workforce readiness training, personal & social development training, and wrap-around supportive services that help learners become (1) confident, positive role models, (2) pioneers in building strong families and communities, and (3) major contributors to the U.S.economy.

About Grow with Google
Grow with Google was started in 2017 to help Americans grow their skills, careers and businesses. It provides training, tools and expertise to help small business owners, veterans and military families, jobseekers and students, educators, startups and developers. Since Grow with Google’s inception, it has helped more than nine million Americans develop new skills. Grow with Google has a network of more than 8,500 partner organizations like libraries, schools, small business development centers, chambers of commerce and nonprofits to help people coast-to-coast.

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If you missed the SoH workshop "Communications, Marketing & Telling Your Agency's Story", click here to view the recording and download the resources.

On June 20th, State of Hope will release its 5th Round of partnership and funding opportunities. Applications will be open to the public and accepted until July 1, 2022.

To learn more, please feel free to join us Wednesday, June 15th, from 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM for more information on State of Hope and this year's Round 5 Application cycle for potential partnership and funding opportunities. During this webinar, you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have regarding programming and application requirements.

Visit the State of Hope Website for more info: https://dfcs.georgia.gov/about-us/state-hope
For any questions, please contact StateofHope@dhs.ga.gov

Register

June 22, 2022: 10-12

Join O'Neill Communications’ President & CEO, Devika Rao, & Content Strategist/Producer Laura Schroeder in this virtual workshop to define your agency’s message and position, identify its story, and how to develop a tactical communications and marketing plan to share your agency’s story and measure impact.

To register visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/349938715117

Did you miss the last workshop in the Big Ideas Workshop Series? The workshop, Raising the Bar - Practical Ways to Step Up Your Fundraising & Grant Writing, provided valuable insights and strategies for maximizing your fundraising efforts.

Below is a link to the workshop recording.  You may be prompted to add the Cisco Web Ex Add On to your browser to view the recording.

https://gsumeetings.webex.com/...0505681f3e1/playback

Also attached is a document that includes links to various resources related to fundraising and grant writing. Use this to keep learning about this topic. This document can also be viewed online using this link:

https://create.piktochart.com/output/58512458-s-o-h-workshop3-fundraising-grant-writing-clickables

Be sure to watch for registration information for the next workshop in the series.

The State of Hope Ecosystem, a collective of individuals and organizations committed to fostering hope by creating communities where children are safe, thriving, and full of hope, will gather on Thursday, May 19, 9 am – 1 pm for the State of Hope Spring Summit. The Summit will feature sessions about two important opportunities for creating hope -- building resilient families and organizations and supporting children's educational success. The Summit will also include presentations about Georgia’s Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Plan and various opportunities for collaboration with the Division of Family and Children Services, including an informative panel of DFCS County Directors. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and network with other community leaders.

To register visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/s...tickets-330109615747

Thank you to everyone who created a profile for the new State of Hope (SoH) Member site. A reminder of what we need from you. 🙂

Visit https://peprogram.gsu.edu/big-ideas-workshop-series/

Don't miss this learning opportunity March 2, 2022 from 10-12, Encountering Mission: Simple Leadership Practices to Advance your organizaiton.