Georgia Family Connection

Recovery happens together. Research shows meaningful human connection supports resilience, hope, and long-term recovery. Every connection can make a difference.

Access the SAMHSA National Recovery Month toolkit: https://www.samhsa.gov/about/digital-toolkits/recovery-month

In Lee County, the latest Georgia KIDS COUNT data shows that 30.1% of third-grade students are achieving Proficient Learner or above on the Milestones ELA assessment. That’s why Literate Lee, Lee County Family Connection’s literacy strategy team, focuses on early literacy intervention from birth through age 8. The Collaborative recently co-hosted “Red, White, and Bluey: Happy Birthday USA Party” as part of the Georgia Reads for America 250 initiative. https://bit.ly/4iHADSu

GaFCP’s Connect newsletter aims to connect every member of the Georgia Family Connection statewide network to one another—and to resources, tools, data, and strategies that will help inform positive change on a large scale across our state.

Get the latest edition: https://bit.ly/4wVaxyW

It's Substance Use Primary Prevention Month. To inspire action, each of us can share how prevention is improving lives in our community. https://bit.ly/4hRHgS4 SAMHSA

This 90-minute virtual session, led by experts at the Georgia Center for Nonprofits and Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, will provide an overview of the changed grant compliance landscape, equip your team to assess and manage risks for federally funded programs, and share the perspective of sponsors and donors facing new compliance issues. Sessions are 8/18, 8/25, and 9/1. Register now: https://bit.ly/4hEQJMh

Read GaFCP's summer edition of IMPACT to learn how Georgia Family Connection Collaboratives are adapting programs and services to meet emerging needs.

Georgia Family Connection Collaboratives continue to adapt to changing community needs while strengthening partnerships and improving outcomes for children and families. Drawing on nine years of statewide data, the summer 2026 edition of IMPACT reveals that the number of mental health and economic development programs Collaboratives implemented nearly doubled between FY17 and FY25.

Find out how Collaboratives evolved over time, responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, and shifted strategies to address emerging priorities—and explore the trends, patterns, and lessons that are helping shape stronger communities across Georgia.

https://bit.ly/3TF6sRG

A SWOT analysis facilitated by the American Red Cross in Lanier County led to the creation of a strategy team led by Lanier County Family Connection Executive Director Amy Griffin. The team is developing a plan that defines the role the faith-based community will play during a disaster, strengthening the county’s disaster response for residents in crisis. https://gafcp.org/2026/07/28/lanier-disaster-readiness/

Access to mental health resources can help young people navigate challenges, build resilience, and seek support when they need it most. By increasing awareness and making resources more accessible, we can help ensure that every teen can thrive emotionally, socially, and academically. Learn more about teen mental health in your community and explore resources to support the well-being of young people: https://bit.ly/4av3RPx

Georgia Family Connection Partnership (GaFCP) has released an updated list of Georgia KIDS COUNT indicators, expanding the statewide measures of child and family well-being from 52 to 54 indicators. Georgia KIDS COUNT indicators and county-level trend data are available through GaFCP’s online data tools. Users can explore local data, compare trends over time, and access resources to support community planning and policy development. Learn more and explore your county's data: https://bit.ly/44OBokD

While our state has seen a 20% improvement since 2019, Georgia’s recent teen birth rates remained higher than the national rate of 13 teen births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19 in 2024—and has been outpaced by the nation’s 24% improvement rate since 2019. Babies born to teens are far more likely to be born preterm and at a low birthweight—and into families with limited educational attainment and economic resources. Children of teens are more likely to have long-term health, behavioral and academic challenges. Learn more in this year’s KIDS COUNT Data Book: https://bit.ly/4av3RPx