ATLANTA – Building on the statewide momentum of the initial round of applications, the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) began accepting round two for potential State of Hope designated sites on February 5, 2019. Led by the Georgia DFCS and in partnership with Georgia State University (Child Welfare Training Collaborative) and Georgia Family Connection partnership, the State of Hope initiative provides opportunities for seed funding and specialized technical assistance to local entities with “big ideas” that address conditions that attribute to
disparities in education, threaten a family’s self-sufficiency and lead to child abuse and neglect.

DFCS Interim Director, Tom Rawlings said, “The State of Hope aims to create communities where children are safe, thriving and full of hope.” This initiative supports grass-roots innovative efforts that focus on one or more of four opportunities for hope: Education, being/becoming Trauma-Informed, Quality Caregiving and Economic Self-Sufficiency. These are the priority areas the agency believes will have the greatest impact on keeping children safe, strengthening families and empowering communities.

“Together, we started a movement to design communities where children are safe, thriving and full of hope. We are incredibly honored to be partnered with communities on this journey and look forward to expanding our network and influence in the coming year” said Rawlings.

Applicants not selected to receive funding may still receive an invitation to become a member of the Hope Ecosystem –a network that enables State of Hope sites to connect and collaborate with fellow sites, receive technical resources and support and access additional funding opportunities. 

The deadline to submit an application is March 29, 2019. To learn more or participate in the State of Hope initiative, go to https://dfcs.georgia.gov/state-hope. For more information, questions or to be added to the State of Hope mailing list, please email [email protected].