(SAVANNAH, GA) Resilient Coastal Georgia has announced its Steering Committee leadership for 2024. The regional group that aims to build resilience and a trauma-informed community across coastal counties will be co-chaired by Holly Whitfield, executive director, Deep Center; and Lizann Roberts, executive director, Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition.
Back Row (L to R): Lee Robbins (Mediation Center), Chrissy Ruehl (CGIC), Lizann Roberts (CGIC), Holly Whitfield (Deep Center), Maureen McFadden (McFadden Therapy and Consulting), Kim Jackson Allen (SCCPSS), Tony Murphy (Chatham County Parks and Rec), Beatrice Severson (Hispanic Community Volunteer, Tameka Tribble (Parent University/SCCPSS), Eric Mason (Greenbriar Children’s Center)
The announcement was made at the organization’s bi-monthly Steering Committee meeting, held on February 12 at the Gateway Behavioral Health Crisis Center in Savannah.
A subset of the statewide organization Resilient Georgia, Resilient Coastal Georgia was formed in 2022 to support mental health system change and policies for children, youth and families in the Savannah area affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The local organization is an initiative of the Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition and works with community partners to provide training sessions for groups and individuals who work directly with children and youth and hosts mental wellness and trust-building events and spaces for young people.
For example, during 2023, the organization hosted a day of fun-filled activities for the students and staff of Savannah High School of Liberal Studies and Savannah Early College High School, after providing a continuous level of support to the school in the aftermath of a school shooter hoax in November 2022. The group also organized a “Touch the Truck” event for kindergarteners at the Early Learning Center at Henderson E. Formey School as part of a training program to build trust in first responders from a young age. Community partner Loop it up Savannah also set up 15 Mindfulness zones at nine elementary, three middle and one high school along with two early learning centers. The group additionally distributed 1650 Resilient Coastal Georgia backpacks and resource kits to individuals and families throughout the community and completed 165 Handle with Care referrals in Chatham County.
The following Steering Committee co-chairs were also announced at the meeting: Kate Blair, executive director of Brightside Child and Family Advocacy; and Lydia McCrary, Deputy Chief of Chatham EMS will lead the Judicial and First Responder Work Group; Tameka Tribble of Parent University, and Dr. Kim Jackson-Allen of SCCPSS will co-chair the In School Work Group; and Lee Robbins, of the Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire; and Raquel Tucker, of the YMCA of the Coastal Empire, will co-chair the of Out of School Work Group.
The organization also recognized its leadership team: Molly Lieberman, executive director, Loop It Up Savannah, Core Team, Steering Committee and co-chair School Work Group; Maureen McFadden, LCSW Core Team, McFadden Therapy and Consulting Services, LLC, Core Team; Lizann Roberts, M.A. C.C., executive director Core Team, Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition, Inc., Chatham Family Connection Collaborative; Vira Salzburn, program director, Safety & Resilience Programs Core Team, Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council.
Additionally, the entirety of the Steering Committee was commended for their commitment and service to the organization: Alisa Leckie/Georgia Southern University; Alisha Markle/Chatham County Juvenile Court; Antonio “Tony” Murphy/Chatham County Park and Rec; Beatriz Severson/Community Volunteer; Becky Lehto/YMCA; Christina Temple/Overcoming by Faith Church; Christy Smith/Live Oaks Public Library; Eric Mason/Greenbriar Children’s Center; Freya Huffman/DEI Administrator for Chatham County; Gena Taylor/Greenbriar Children’s Center; Jaqueline Awe, Savannah State University; Jessica Matthewson/Gateway Community Service Board; Jill Cheeks/ Mediation Center; John Bush/Office Neighborhood Safety; Julie Cavanaugh/Savannah Police Department; Kate Blair/Brightside Advocacy; Kimberly Jackson-Allen/SCCPSS; Lee Robbins/The Mediation Center; Lisa Brewer/Ga Family Connection – Region 12; Lisa; Colbert/Chatham County Superior Court; Lydia McCrary/Chatham EMS; Maureen McFadden/McFadden Therapy and Consulting, LLC; Maya Jinks/Chatham County Juvenile Court; Molly Lieberman/Loop It Up; Phylicia Anderson/Gateway Community Service Board; Raquel Tucker/YMCA; Tameka Tribble/Parent University; Tara Jones/Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition; Vira Salzburn/Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council; Yolanda Rivera-Caudill/Pediatrician.
ABOUT RESILIENT COASTAL GEORGIA
Resilient Coastal Georgia, a subset of the statewide organization Resilient Georgia, was formed in 2022 to administer a four-year, $750,000 grant from the Pittulloch Foundation to support mental health system change and policies for children, youth and families in the Savannah area affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A 25-member steering committee includes those representing local schools, faith-based groups, the courts, first responders, mental health, government, nonprofits and youth-serving organizations. Learn more at https://resilientcoastalga.org or contact Lizann Roberts at director.cgic@gmail.com
ABOUT RESILIENT GEORGIA
Resilient Georgia is a statewide coalition of more than 80 partners and 600 stakeholders committed to building a stronger, more resilient Georgia. Through a network of public and private partners, Resilient Georgia is creating a pipeline of trauma-informed behavioral health services and resources that support children and families who have experienced adversity. This integrated system includes prevention, early intervention, research, advocacy and policy, and care implementation and coordination. Learn more at resilientga.org or contact Emily Anne Vall at Evall@ResilientGA.org
ABOUT COASTAL GEORGIA INDICATORS COALITION
The Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition (CGIC) is comprised of community members and advocates working together through a comprehensive coordinated approach for planning accountability. It serves as a collaboration of resource agencies addressing overall health and well-being while leveraging resource initiatives. The purpose of the Coalition is to improve community well-being by engaging and leading the community to work collectively in its development of strategic priorities that guide policy, programs and resource allocation. CGIC is the responsible organization for the development, and with partners, the implementation of the Chatham Community Blueprint. CGIC has strength and capacity related to leadership, management, systems and partnerships.
https://www.coastalgaindicators.org
MEDIA CONTACT
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