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JULY 2022

From the Director


Parents are their child’s first and most important teacher. By ensuring that parents and caregivers have access to the supports and services they need to thrive in this role, we can help more of Georgia’s children get on the path to reading proficiency.

Parent Nation, a new book by Dana Suskind, MD, offers a powerful blueprint for a society that helps all families meet their children’s developmental needs. Suskind will reveal that blueprint at two virtual events in Georgia next month.

Join us for a moderated conversation with Suskind on Monday, Aug. 8, followed by a virtual meeting on Monday, Aug. 15, to learn how to start your own Parent Village and best support the well-being of Georgia’s children.

With gratitude,
Arianne

#GetGAReading this Month

Please share these posts on your own social media platforms this month.

Capstone is offering tools to all preschool and elementary school students through Aug. 26. PebbleGo is a K – 2 database specifically designed to teach growing learners technology and literacy skills early in their school career. PebbleGo Next provides students in grades 3 – 5 with more robust content and tools to meet their curriculum needs. Capstone Interactive eBooks features more than 5,000 titles that will capture the imagination and curiosity of any reader. Log in and get started: site.pebblego.com #SchoolsOutGA

@CapstonePub is offering tools to all preschool and elementary school students through Aug. 26. The username for all digital content for summer reading is gaschools and the password is also gaschools. Log in and get started: site.pebblego.com #SchoolsOutGA

YOUR STORIES

Cohort Works to Increase Student Retention

The challenge of keeping students in school and on track to graduate was exacerbated by COVID-19. Georgia Family Connection Partnership’s Community Partnership for Supporting Youth Cohort formed in 2021 with 10 counties to help schools and community partners get students back on track toward graduating. Bringing people back to the table to collaborate is crucial. Read More

Pop-Up Libraries Increase Access in Northwest Georgia

The Pop-Up Library, a project of the Cherokee Regional Library System supported with funds from the Georgia Public Library Service, travels across Walker and Dade counties to promote library services, connect people with their local branches, and register new patrons. The goal is to ensure all families know about digital services offered by local libraries. Read More

Lumpkin Student Outreach Center Offers Pathways to Support

When middle school cafeteria workers witnessed students picking apples from the trash in Lumpkin County six years ago, they took their concerns to a school counselor who reached out to Lumpkin County Family Connection. A “Backpack Buddies” program has grown to become a comprehensive Student Outreach Center. Students and families receive resources, essential items, training and education, and more. Read More
RESOURCES

Understanding the Impact of CARES Funding in Georgia

The federal COVID-19 relief packages provide resources to Georgia’s public school districts, enabling them to mitigate transmission risk of the virus and address students’ emerging needs. These funds also create an opportunity to take steps to reimagine areas of K-12 education and better serve students beyond immediate challenges created by the pandemic. Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education is tracking districts’ use of these funds to identify effective practice and policy at the school, district, and state levels that can inform future efforts to advance equitable learning recovery.
 

Top Issues for Georgia Children and Families

Voices for Georgia’s Children followed 273 pieces of child-relevant legislation through the Capitol this session. Dubbed “The Year of Mental Health,” 2022 saw significant investments in behavioral health, as well as retaining state employees and restoring previous budget cuts to education. Legislators also looked to address Georgia’s maternal mortality rate with a focus on moms and babies.
 

Supporting Parents, Nurturing Kids

Workplace demands and a lack of affordable childcare and paid leave policies make parenting more challenging than ever, leaving parents feeling isolated and exhausted as they work to ensure that their children thrive. This panel conversation dives into how to give parents the robust support they need.
WHAT’S HAPPENING

Language as a Missing Link and Missed Opportunity: Three-Part Series

Part 1: WHY? – Thursday, July 21
Part 2: WHAT? – Thursday, Aug. 18
Part 3: HOW? – Thursday, Sept. 29
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
This virtual learning series introduces a new toolkit to employ language as a well-being indicator that is foundational for education, mental health, and well-being outcomes. The WHY? session focuses on the dramatic and positive impact of language development on life outcomes; the WHAT? session explores how the toolkit can be used to monitor engagement to proactively gauge language development; and the HOW? session examines how the toolkit can be used to screen and enhance language development, including opportunities to enhance the learning environment. Register Now

 

Parent Nation

Q&A with Dana Suskind, MD

Monday, Aug. 8, 7 p.m.
Georgia Reads will host this virtual, statewide discussion with the Parent Nation author. Explore how partners can work together to advance a blueprint for a society that helps all families meet the developmental needs of their children. Learn how to foster community, forge collective identity, and fight for change for our children. Register Now

 

Georgia Conversation

Monday, Aug. 15, 2 p.m.
Continue the conversation in small virtual groups on how to best support the well-being of Georgia’s children. Join other state and local leaders from Georgia in Zoom breakout rooms for peer-to-peer dialogue before learning how to start your own Parent Village. Georgia partners will also share resources available to children and families. You can also sign up to host your own Parent Nation Conversation. Register Now

 

GLR Learning Tuesdays Webinars

July 26, Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30; 3 p.m.
Following a live webinar on July 26 exploring innovations in out-of-school Digital STEM Initiatives, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading will take a brief break from live weekly webinars as it offers a month of rebroadcast sessions featuring high-demand, evergreen sessions selected to help educators, school leaders, and community partners start the 2022-23 school year strong. Register for July 26 or for the August rebroadcast sessions.

We Want to Hear from You

Our partners are the heroes in this work. We want to help connect you to each other and to resources that can help you get even greater results. Please share your stories with us so we can post them to getgeorgiareading.org. Send your stories—or any questions about the Campaign—to Arianne Weldon at arianne@gafcp.org.
 
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