Paid Family Leave Discussion – Establishing Healthy Lifelong Attachments

Paid Family Leave Discussion – Establishing Healthy Lifelong Attachments

Paid Family Leave Discussion – Establishing Healthy Lifelong Attachments

We know that healthy relationships and successful family formation are crucial to walking the steps of the Success Sequence. Strong families help individuals and children flourish. And we know that time with children, especially in their early years, is crucial to establishing healthy lifelong attachments.

The tougher question is how to foster these things from a policy standpoint.

At Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO), we’ve come to realize that paid family leave is an important part of the puzzle—especially for low-income and impoverished Georgians.

For these reasons and many more, GCO hosted a discussion at Georgia Tech in mid-January dedicated to exploring options for a paid family leave policy. 

Watch the video below for more.

Georgia earns high marks for career development, but workforce lags, labor commish says

Georgia earns high marks for career development, but workforce lags, labor commish says

Georgia’s workforce development program has been selected as the best in the South Atlantic Region by business publication, Site Selection Magazine.

Gov. Brian Kemp made the announcement a day after Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said workforce numbers are lagging…

Georgia spends about $23 billion in welfare costs annually, according to the Georgia Center for Opportunity. About 20 percent of the state’s population receives one or more benefits.

 

The Georgia Center for Opportunity also found that nearly 250,000 of Georgia’s male population between 25 to 54 years old are no longer counted in the labor force because they have “dropped out.”

 

Lawmakers need to ensure the job opportunities are being presented in the impoverished areas of our state, Corey Burres, spokesperson for the nonprofit, told The Center Square in an earlier interview.

 

Read the full article here

Georgia earns high marks for career development, but workforce lags, labor commish says

Why should you care about the ex-offender in your community?

Local coalition works to reduce recidivism rates and replace stigmas with compassion

When it comes to tackling deep-rooted social issues, no single organization can do it alone. The Greater Gwinnett Reentry Alliance (GGRA) is a coalition of service providers in Gwinnett County that works to mobilize community resources — human, financial, and material — all with the purpose of reducing recidivism rates in the county and beyond…

Other partners in GGRA include GRIP, Hearts to Nourish Hope, Navigate Recovery, United Way of Greater Atlanta, Georgia Center for Opportunity, Judy House Ministry, Obria Medical Clinics and others.

 

Read the full article here

Three ways that Georgia lawmakers can immediately help the impoverished

Three ways that Georgia lawmakers can immediately help the impoverished

Three ways that Georgia lawmakers can immediately help the impoverished

Georgia lawmakers are back in town, kicking off the 40-day 2020 session on Monday. While the General Assembly is set to consider a range of issues—tax cuts, OK’ing the state’s budget, healthcare, and more—here are some immediate ways that lawmakers can help those in poverty:

Kids learning science in a classroomExpand educational access

One crucial way to help those in poverty is to ensure the cycle doesn’t repeat in the next generation. Today in Georgia, too many schools are failing to properly prepare children for the next phase of life, and without high-quality education options the dropout rates will continue to rise and cycles of poverty will never be broken.

The statistics are alarming: More than 1 in 5 young adults in Georgia are not attending school, not working, and have no degree beyond high school. Additionally, around 20 percent of students do not graduate from high school on time.

For these reasons and more, lawmakers should expand educational access in Georgia by passing Educational Scholarship Accounts (ESAs). This will build on the solid foundation created in recent years through the Tax Credit Scholarship Program, the Special Needs Scholarship Program, and expansion of charter schools in our state. Already, over 250,000 children in Georgia benefit through these schools and programs. That trend must and will continue.

We also realize that most Georgia families will continue to enroll their children in their locally zoned public schools. And we must continue ensuring that traditional public schools are properly funded and supported. Ultimately, we should empower all families to make the best choice possible in where and how to educate their children.

2 men in a training classHelp people find work and bolster the safety net

More than half-a-million Georgians are unemployed or unable to find full-time employment. Many of these individuals are ready to flourish if given the opportunity.

We can see change through on-the-ground partnerships that train impoverished Georgians for in-demand jobs; welfare reform that rewards work rather than punishes it; and prison reform that helps former inmates find support, work, and stability after transitioning from behind bars.

A family hanging out togetherStrengthen families

People from all walks of life are more likely to flourish if they enjoy strong relationships and a healthy family life. But here in Georgia, our state is experiencing troubling trends in a number of areas: marriage rates continue to decline, and child births outside of marriage have become the norm. While these trends cost taxpayers over $100 billion annually, the costs in terms of human suffering are immeasurable.

Lawmakers returning to the Gold Dome this week should create a tax code that doesn’t unfairly penalize marriage and, instead, one that encourages long-lasting, healthy relationships.

Joyce Mayberry Leads In New Role As Vice President of Family Formation

Joyce Mayberry Leads In New Role As Vice President of Family Formation

Joyce Mayberry Leads In New Role As Vice President of Family Formation

Joyce Mayberry will be moving into a new role as the Vice President of Family Formation. In this position, Joyce will continue to develop new ways to strengthen families in the communities we serve through our many partners.

This move in position reinforces three primary pillars of the Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO) team – opportunity for high-quality education, meaningful work, and healthy families. Family formation is an important foundation for ensuring we can maximize the chances of someone charting a path out of poverty.

Joyce has served the GCO community for the past two decades, becoming a  well-respected leader on family relationship resources. . Organizationally, she brings a powerful passion to better assist and train individuals on healthy relationships. 

 “I am excited about my new role as Vice President of Family Formation,” stated Joyce about this new alignment.” There is power in numbers and together we can help enhance and empower the well-being of family members.” 

Through collaboration with recent new partners, Joyce will work to streamline our family education efforts and continue to champion our invaluable partners.

This change will help GCO successfully set up pathways for those stuck in the cycles of poverty. It is through this renewed vision that we hope to bring new opportunities and break down barriers in 2020.