Georgia Youth Opportunities Initiative

Today is Census Day! If you haven't already completed your response to the 2020 Census, here's your friendly reminder!

FOSTER PARENTS - Don't forget to include any children or youth placed with you! If their placement is not full time, or if you're unsure, anyone living with you as of today (4/1/20) should be counted!

YES - This includes kinship placements, guardianship, safety resource placements, and other caretaking arrangements!

For AGENCIES - Youth in residential facilities are counted via a separate process called group quarters.

Responding to the Census is critical in ensuring that youth and families in Georgia are represented in the Federal budget! Thank you for doing your part to make our state's count accurate!

Today is GA Gives Day! Help support the work of the Initiative of improving outcomes for young people in care by donating at bit.ly/MAAC4kids. Every gift, no matter the size, helps! You can also share our post to help spread the word!

Proud of our young people doing some last minute advocacy work at the Capitol for HB972 supporting extension of care!

Were you ready for adulthood all on your own at 18? We didn't think so. Help our young people who have been in foster care continue to receive support past 18 by calling or emailing your Georgia Senator and asking them to support HB972- expected to be voted on tomorrow or Thursday. See below for a link to identify your Senator and we will post an email in the comments. This is a well-thought out bill that will make a significant impact on our young people in foster care.

Find Your State Legislator - Open States Find out who represents you in your state capital.

Help us support young people in foster care after 18.
Please contact your Representative (not Senator) asking them to support HB972 when it comes to vote today. HB972 supports services for young people 18-21 who were in foster care- the same support we want for all children- access to education, housing and support towards employment. If you don’t know who your representative is you can follow this link.

Find Your State Legislator - Open States Find out who represents you in your state capital.

Help us raise money to support the work of improving outcomes for youth in foster care!

www.gagives.org When making a donation or contribution on the Give Big platform you may choose to show the word ‘anonymous’ in place of your name by checking the anonymous box. While your name is private to the public, the donation information is available to the organization.

It's never too late for a forever family.

Teen has forever home in time for holidays after former teacher adopts him

It is so appropriate that on her last day Shaquita was educating young people on their health and the resources needed and available to them for staying healthy. Help us wish Shaquita the best of luck as she leaves to take on national child welfare policy on in DC!

Here is an awesome opportunity for 10th and 11th grade girls-
Know any 10th or 11th grade girls without summer plans in Atlanta/Dunwoody?
We have a few open spots for our FREE Summer Immersion Program!
(June 5 - July 21, Mon.-Fri. 9-4pm.)
Students must be able to commute to and from the program each day, but transportation stipends are offered!
Apply now!: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3448828/Summer-Immersion-Program-2017

Please consider taking action to keep this discriminatory bill from passing. HB159 allows providers to deny services to LGBTQ youth. Call your Senators and urge them to vote no to HB159.

Senate Alters Adoption Bill, Prompting Discrimination Charge ATLANTA (AP) — Private adoption agencies that receive state funding could refuse to provide services based on religious faith and other priorities under an amendment approved by Republican members of a Georgia Senate committee though child welfare officials worry it will jeopardize federal funding.