ATLANTA – A novel state initiative selected several organizations across the state for added support for their efforts to keep children safe, strengthen families, and spur community engagement.

The initiative, State of Hope, is designed to encourage public-private collaboration to safeguard children.

After a robust application cycle, the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services in partnership with Georgia State University and Georgia Family Connection, announced that over 60 big ideas from all over the state were submitted for consideration. Of those applications, 46 were selected to be State of Hope sites.

Five of the selected organizations will receive funding and specialized technical assistance for their projects. An additional 11 were selected to be Emerging sites. All 57 State of Hope and Emerging sites will be invited to become part of a larger learning community – the Hope Ecosystem – where they can receive technical assistance, access opportunities for funding, build partnerships, and connect with each other.

“We are grateful to have had such a large number of applicants during the first cycle of accepting applications for State of Hope. It is wonderful to know that the State of Hope message is clear and that communities understand the importance of prevention.” said Interim Director Tom Rawlings.

The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services launched State of Hope in June at a Destination Hope event in Augusta to encourage nonprofits, philanthropies, government, businesses and other community members to collaborate in building local safety nets that will focus on four areas: education, trauma-informed treatment, quality caregiving, and economic self-sufficiency. 

For questions or to be added to the State of Hope email distribution list, please email [email protected].