Family members, teachers, coaches and neighbors can play critical roles in the lives of children

Positive relationships with children help them grow up healthy and happy. In the inaugural Georgia Reads book, “What Happened to You?,” by Bruce Perry, MD, PhD and Oprah Winfrey, the impact of relational health on building resilience and mitigating the impact of trauma is clear: connections really matter.  

In a perfect world, those strong, healthy relationships would be in families, with parents and caregivers. Unfortunately, we know that is not always the case for every child or parent, but the good news is, others can play that important role and offer connection. Teachers, coaches and neighbors can be that critical person who champions a child into greatness or provides a soft place to land in difficult times. We can be that connection for the children and youth in our lives, in our families and in our communities. 

To learn more about relational health, read the Georgia Reads book, “What Happened to You?” You can sign up to host a “What Happened to You?” book club using our Georgia-specific discussion guide, which is available online at tinyurl.com/GeorgiaReads. 

To learn more about Connections Matter Georgia, visit cmgeorgia.org.