Advocates for Children Georgia

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO DONATE! https://lnkd.in/eGt3KDMG ---------------------------------------------- The reality of youth homelessness is all around us. There are more than 4 million youth without homes in the U.S. In Georgia, across the state, the number is greater than 35,000. The reasons are many. Poverty is a major factor. Affordable housing is another. Conflict within families or even violence can lead to young people leaving home. Also, the process of aging out of foster care at 18 often leads to homelessness. Whatever the reason, the problem is real. The Advocates Flowering Branch Children’s Center, our RISE Youth Independent Housing program, and the new Newman House with a Drop-In Center are all focused on alleviating the problem of young people at-risk of homelessness. Currently more than 180 young people in our communities are being helped by our housing programs. Hundreds more have benefitted in the past, and more than 80% of the youth who have completed our programs are no longer at-risk but are living independently with stable housing and on the road to a secure and stable future. This Giving Tuesday, your support of Advocates means that young people at-risk of homelessness will have greater opportunities to put the threat of homelessness behind them.

TODAY IS GIVING TUESDAY! We need you...Will you donate to help support Advocates for Children Runaway + Homeless Youth Drop-In Center at Newman House? There are more than 4 million youth without homes in the U.S. In Georgia alone the number is greater than 35,000. With your help, Advocates can provide a safe place for these youth to come and receive help. Our Drop-In Center at Newman House will offer a full range of transitional services to young people in need. Not just a warm meal, but laundry facilities, showers, housing resources, emotional support and computer access. Today, you can help change lives for generations to come. Donate online at https://lnkd.in/eGt3KDMG

What if…? What if we could break the cycle of poverty and homelessness? I’m Rachel Castillo, CEO of Advocates for Children. As we step into this season of giving, I invite you to consider this powerful question: What if we could help young people break the cycle of poverty and homelessness for good? This year for Giving Tuesday, we’re focusing on youth at risk of homelessness—young people who’ve already faced unimaginable challenges. Many of the youth in our shelter and Youth Independent Housing programs have spent time in homeless shelters as children. Now, they’re determined to rewrite their stories. Through programs like our new Drop-In Center at Newman House, we’re helping them do just that. We mentor, coach, teach, house, and support these resilient young people, empowering them to pursue independent and stable futures. And it works—80% of the youth in our programs succeed in breaking the cycle of homelessness. Christina did it. She’s now in college pursuing her dream of becoming a lawyer. Marcus did it. He has joined the Army and is now serving our Country. Sierra did it. She earned her GED, secured a great job, and now proudly maintains her own housing. What if you could be the reason another young person like Christina, Marcus, or Sierra finds hope and stability? This Giving Tuesday, your gift can make that “what if” a reality. You can change lives and help break the cycle of poverty and homelessness—one young person at a time. Donate here: https://lnkd.in/eGt3KDMG Thank you for believing in a brighter future for our youth. Together, we can make “what if” happen. With gratitude, Rachel

During this Giving season and this winter season, the problem of young people at-risk of homelessness is serious. Across the US there are more than 4,000,000 young people under the age of 25 without homes. In Georgia alone the number is more than 35,000. Youth homelessness is a prevalent issue facing the communities we serve throughout NW GA. The reasons for youth homelessness are many: difficult family situations, poverty, family violence, drugs and others. At Advocates, we are working hard along with community partners to address this issue for young people. Through our Flowering Branch Children’s Shelter, and our RISE Youth Independent Housing Program, we are providing housing for more than 180 young people in our communities who were previously at-risk of homelessness. Eighty percent of the young people who compete these programs achieve housing stability and independence. This Giving Tuesday your support for youth who are at-risk of homelessness will help even more leave the streets and find housing stability and independence. We cannot do this without you, please donate today. https://lnkd.in/eGt3KDMG #givingtuesday #youthhomelessness #advocatesforchildren

GIVING TUESDAY Jada's Story ------------- Overcoming generational and systemic poverty is a major hurdle for the Advocates programs working with older homeless teens. Jada (name changed), 19, and her 4-year-old son had left a difficult relationship with a non-supportive father. She and her young son had nowhere to go, no money, no home and an education that had ended in the 10th grade. The Advocates team arranged for a 30-day motel stay providing immediate relief and then arranged for an apartment where she still lives, four years later. Jada had been a product of three generations of systemic poverty and altering that mindset became a priority. Re-emphasizing education led to a GED. Advocates helped Jada through the process of finding a full-time job that provided security and stability along with financial management coaching. While Jada’s program with Advocates ended after one year, she remains in her apartment and at her job while her son succeeds in school. Jada’s relationship with Advocates continues, however, as she still receives parenting support from the Advocates in-home parenting education program along with occasional assistance from the Family Resource Center. This giving Tuesday, you can be a part of helping homeless youth like Jada. An investment that will last through generations. Donate Today. https://lnkd.in/eGt3KDMG #homelessyouth #advocatesforchildren #advochild #givingtuesday

This was posted yesterday by Cindy Smith of Cartersville, one of our long-serving CASA volunteers (since 2002). You too can become a CASA Volunteer by visiting our website at https://lnkd.in/eQQmn5Ke #casaofnorthwestga #casa #advochild #advocatesforchildren --------------------------------------- November 20, 2024 is a great day! My CASA child was adopted into his forever home. He has been wanting this day to come for a long time. This 7 year old is one loved little boy with a bright fiuture ahead of him. I love being a court appointed special advocate for children in foster care. Consider becoming a CASA.

Community groups came together today at our Resource Fair held in conjunction with National Runaway Prevention Month (NRPM) and Youth Hope Month. Individuals and families arrived at Advocates to learn more about job opportunities and support networks and resources available to them. Participants included Tallatoona CAP, Inc., the Georgia Worksource Mobile Career Center, NOTS Logistics, LLC, Toyo Tires, Zaxby's Franchising LLC, and Planet Fitness. Tom’s Traveling Coffee truck provided refreshments for all attendees. Today’s event was one of many that Advocates is hosting this November to provide assistance and make the public more aware of the problem of runaways and youth homelessness. #youthhopemonth #advocatesforchildren

In early 2024 a 17-year-old girl, Kelly (not her real name) showed up at the Advocates emergency shelter with nowhere else to turn after she found it through the Advocates Safe Place social media page. Kelly had spent her last $38 on an Uber because she was no longer able to stay in the home she shared with her mother and had no other options. Kelly said, “I was terrified. I had no money, just a few items in a bag, no place to stay and no future.”    “But when my knock on the Advocates Shelter door was answered”, she said, “things began to change. Tracy opened the door with a smile and a genuine welcome. She got some food from the fridge and gave me a meal and a place to sleep which I needed badly. The next day we talked about my situation without any judgement and began to develop a plan for me.”   The Advocates staff got Kelly some new clothes and helped get her medications back on track.  Over the next few weeks goals were established, housing options were explored, job readiness programs and personal skills like budget planning were completed.    In this instance Kelly’s stay with the Advocates shelter was brief. Kelly found a job in childcare, applied to programs that have her on a path to get her General Equivalency Diploma and transitioned to her own apartment.    Kelly said, “I was in a bad place and Advocates really made a difference in my life. I showed up with no place to go, and now I am independent with a good job and a safe and stable place to live. I still have a lot to accomplish but the hopelessness I felt at the beginning of the year has changed to a new and hopeful outlook. And there is no question that this would not have happened without the team at the Advocates Shelter.”   #youthhopemonth #nationalsafeplace #youthhousing #advocatesforchildren

Curious about what Advocates does? We would love to share our mission with YOU! Watch the video below to learn about how Advocates for Children is at work in our community. Do you feel compelled to protect children, guide youth, and help families? Visit our website to get involved! www.advochild.org #advocatesforchildren #advochild

Our Flowering Branch Children’s Shelter loves Publix Super Markets. Every week, Mr. Bill from Publix, pictured, delivers selections from the Publix bakery and other departments for the Advocates for Children youth shelter and housing programs. Publix Super Market Charities has been a longtime partner with Advocates for Children, recognizing that our mission and vision aligns with the focus of Publix Charities to improve lives in the communities served by Publix. #advocatesforchildren #advochild #publixcharities #publix #CommunitySupport