Advocates for Children 2023 Annual Report DRAFT

Advocates for Children has been on an incredible journey in 2023. Last year marked a significant milestone in our organization's history with the opening of the Advocacy and Prevention Center, made possible through the unwavering support and dedication of our community. This center stands as a beacon of hope and resilience, providing vital resources, support, and advocacy for children and families in need. Our Advocacy and Prevention Center serves as a lifeline for those facing adversity, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.

In 2023, we witnessed the profound impact of our collective efforts in safeguarding the well-being of our community's most vulnerable members. Through outreach programs, awareness campaigns, and collaborative partnerships, we have strengthened our commitment to prevention and intervention, empowering families to break the cycle of abuse and neglect.

Looking ahead, I am thrilled to announce another milestone in our journey towards creating a brighter future for our youth. This year, we will be opening Newman House, a residential facility tailored to meet the unique needs of unhoused youth. Newman House represents a new chapter in our mission, providing a safe haven for young individuals who have experienced homelessness, abuse, or neglect. With comprehensive support services and a nurturing environment, Newman House will serve as a transformative space where every young person can rediscover their worth and potential.

None of this would be possible without the unwavering support of our dedicated volunteers, generous donors, and compassionate community members. Your contributions have fueled our passion and propelled us forward in our mission to create a world where every child is valued, protected, and cherished.

As we embark on this new chapter, I invite you to join us in our continued journey towards creating a brighter tomorrow for our children and families. Together, we can make a lasting impact and ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Together in Service

Rachel

Rachel Castillo

President & CEO

In our annual report, we extend heartfelt appreciation to our esteemed Board of Trustees members whose unwavering dedication to our mission to protect children, empower families, and fortify our communities serves as a beacon of inspiration. Their steadfast commitment ensures that we continue to make meaningful strides towards a brighter future for those we serve. We eagerly anticipate their continued invaluable contributions in shaping the trajectory of our organization and the lives we impact.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PATRICK NELSON BOARD CHAIRMAN

BARTOW COUNTY GOVERNMENT

LORA WARNER SECRETARY WARNER TRUCKING

JIM ANDREWS SHAW INDUSTRIES

SEAN ELY ELY CORPORATION

ANDRE WEAVER

GLEN MERRITT CHAIRMAN ELECT

RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL

BARRY JUSTUS TREASURER

AMERIS BANK

HANNAH HART COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER

JOHN LAMPLEY

MT. ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

CARTERSVILLE CITY SCHOOLS

CARRIE TROTTER TROTTER, DEEMS & KING, LLC

NANCY NEWMAN EMERITUS JERRY MAXWELL GERDAU

DIERDRA LANIER

SUMMIT GRADING SERVICES

LEAH HARPER

H&H REALTY

SID ROWSER

GEORGIA POWER COMPANY

TED BOONE COX COMMUNICATIONS

Advo t to child p y se, neglect, and housing insecurity. We deliver a range of services aimed at reducing these occurrences, empowering families, and fostering community resilience. Operating across 11 counties in Northwest Georgia, our services touch the lives over over 14,000 children, youth, and adults by providing safety, solace, and optimism to those we serve.

Protect children, empower families, and strengthen communities.

Communities where all children are safe, thriving, and loved.

Service- We provide quality and excellence in all we do. Love- We serve our families, children, and youth with compassion and dedication.

Integrity– We build relationships on trust and mutual respect.

Hope – We believe in a better tomorrow.

For over 40 years, Advocates for Children has been protecting children and building families in Northwest Georgia.

1983 – Marked the year when concerned community members in Bartow County recognized the need for a children’s shelter in our community. After thoughtful research and support for Bartow’s newest program, our ambitious founders realized their vision was a possibility.

1985 – Advocates obtained a small house to serve as Bartow County’s first children’s shelter. The shelter served fewer than nine children at a time in its first few years.

1988 – First Steps program launch

1999 – Flowering Branch Children’s Shelter opens on Monroe Crossing

1999 – Rainbows program launch

2000 – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program launch

2002 – Safe Place program launch

2008 – Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) opens

2013 – Hope in Your Home program launch

2019 – RISE Independent Housing program launches

2021 – Supporting Kids on the Road to Excellence (SKORE) program becomes part of Advocates

2022 – THRIVE Family Resource Center launches in Cobb and Bartow counties and Flowering Branch Children’s Shelter moves to its current residential location

2023 - Advocates for Children’s Advocacy and Prevention Center opens in Bartow county to serve children and families from throughout the region

In September 2023, the opening of the Advocates for Children Advocacy and Prevention Center marked the culmination of a 40-year aspiration. It represents a significant milestone for our agency, consolidating all our prevention and advocacy initiatives under one roof for the first time. This consolidation enhances our ability to cater to the needs of the children and families we serve. Within our new facility, we are able to house the Children’s Advocacy Center, therapy spaces, family engagement rooms, a comprehensive training center, and administrative offices.

The establishment of the Advocacy and Prevention Center owes much to the generous contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations through our $4.6M Build Families. Protect Children. Capital campaign. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to these partners for their invaluable support as we collectively strive to instill hope and security in the lives of children and families across Northwest Georgia.

Since the establishment of Flowering Branch Children's Shelter in 1983, Advocates for Children has steadily expanded our array of services to meet the expanding needs of our community, to safeguard children from abuse and neglect, foster the empowerment of children and families, and furnish secure refuge for homeless children and youth.

Our nine distinct programs operate cohesively, providing various levels of education, prevention, and advocacy in seamless collaboration. These program lines complement one another, delivering enhanced intervention and support for families and children experiencing crisis situations.

The Original Flowering Branch Children’s Shelter

Our Service Area

Advocates for Children runs a Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) that serves children and youth who have reported sexual or severe physical abuse. The CAC reporting process is a single event managed by a multidisciplinary team including law enforcement, medical personnel, and child protective services. The center also provides ongoing support to the families through family advocates.

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In 2023, 414 children bravely shared their experience of physical and sexual abuse during forensic interviews at the Children's Advocacy Center.

55% of all families who received services at the CAC received at least one referral to a community agency for follow-up care.

55%

In addition to conducting forensic interviews, Advocates also provides services to the non-offending caregivers, child victim, and other family members. Services include:

A needs assessment

Connection to the local victim’s rights agency

Ongoing support throughout the investigation, intervention, and treatment process.

Referrals to community resources including appropriate medical and therapeutic providers

Advocates for Children provides support to children in Bartow and Gordon County foster care through a national program, CASA. Court Appointed Special Advocate® (CASA) volunteers are appointed by juvenile court to advocate for children’s best interests. This best-interest advocacy makes a life-changing difference for children and youth who have experienced abuse or neglect, many of whom are in foster care. Our goal is to advocate for a safe, permanent home for each child.

6491

Gordon Bartow

volunteer hours were given by CASA volunteers to advocate for children in foster care.

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CASA of Northwest Georgia serves children in foster care in Gordon and Bartow counties with offices located in both Calhoun and Cartersville, Georgia.

CASA of Northwest Georgia cases were closed with the goal of permancancy for the child in care achieved.

CASA volunteers are the most intensely trained of Advocates’ volunteers, with over 30 hours of class time and 10 hours of court observation.

40 YEARS OF GOOD

Investing in the Lives of Children

Children in foster care in Northwest Georgia have been blessed with the selfless dedication of Sue Cox, Judy Wilson, and Max and Cheryl Parrott for a combined 40 years.These exceptional volunteers have shown remarkable commitment and empathy in defending the rights of foster children in Bartow and Gordon counties as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Advocates for Children’s CASA of Northwest Georgia program.

Judy credits her own happy childhood as the catalyst for her decision to become a CASA volunteer, “I had such a good - happy - secure childhood that I would like to see the same for all kids. If I can help a few get there I will be happy.” When reflecting over their decade of service to children in foster care, the Parrotts share, “To see a child who has been returned to parents who have had the opportunity to correct their mistakes or to be placed in an adoptive home or given some sort of permanency gives great satisfaction. To see a child years later who has become a happy, successful, productive citizen gives immeasurable pleasure to us.”

Despite numerous changes over the past decade, the need for compassionate and steadfast volunteers to advocate for the rights of children in the court system has remained constant. Advocates was a much smaller organization when Sue, Judy, Max, and Cheryl first became CASA volunteers. Today, Advocates for Children serves 11 counties in Northwest Georgia with nine distinct programs, including the CASA program which initially only served Bartow county but has since expanded to include Gordon county.

To see a child years later who has become a happy, successful, productive citizen gives immeasurable pleasure to us.

Max and Cheryl Parrott -

To better meet the needs of the community, Advocates launched the $4.6 million Build Families. Protect Children. Capital Campaign in 2020, culminating in the opening of our new Advocacy and Prevention Center in Cartersville in September 2023. or the first time, all of Advocates' prevention and advocacy programs, including CASA of Northwest Georgia, are housed under one roof. This new center has made it easier for CASAs like Sue, Judy, and the Parrotts to advocate for foster children. Families working towards reunification can receive parenting education through the Hope in Your Home program, while the THRIVE Family Resource Center provides basic necessities for children in foster care. CASAs are also able to come together in the Ely Corporation Education Center to collaborate and share best practices. Sue Cox, Judy Wilson, and Max and Cheryl Parrott have dedicated themselves to making that vision a reality over the past ten years and Advocates for Children invites others to join them in Advocate’s mission to protect children, empower families, and strengthen communities.

80%

of residents earned passing grades at progress report and report card time in 2023.

1,915

safe nights of sleep were provided for children at Flowering Branch Children's Shelter in 2023.

The Flowering Branch Children’s Shelter (FBCS) is a residential program for at-risk youth who have been abused, neglected and/or sexually exploited or who have runaway and are homeless.

The goal of the shelter program is to provide safe and stable housing for these youth in the community by partnering with non-abusive parents, relatives, foster parents, and adoptive families while maintaining community ties.

Volunteer Opportunities at FBCS

Meal Delivery

Mentoring

Donation Drives

Tutoring

HIYH PROGRAMS

FIRST STEPS

PAT PARENTS AS TEACHERS

638 newborns and their families were visited at Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center by our First Steps program in 2023

100% of families participating in Positive Parenting Program showed positive change in behavior as reflected in overall score in post-assessments in 2023

Advocates for Children offers a free home visitation program to support families and children. Through our four parenting programs, caregivers receive practical strategies to manage their children's behavior, prevent problems, and build strong relationships from birth to age 16.

Facilitated

Rainbows for All Children is the largest nonprofit program dedicated to helping children heal from painful family transitions. Since 1983, Rainbows has helped children through the process of healing from difficult transitions, including separation, divorce, death, illness, and military deployment.

18 school counselors, social workers, and teachers are trained to faciliate the Raibows program in their schools.

251%

increase in the number of students recieving grief support through the Rainbows program since 2023 (383) in comparison to the number of students served the previous year (109).

Rainbows curriculum helps children and teenagers:

Enhance problem-solving, behavior, and anger management skills.

Improve communication in their families

Improve school attendance and academic performance

Reduce emotional pain and suffering

Alleviate depression and anxiety

Reduce the likelihood of destructive behavior

98.58% of housed RISE clients were able to successfully maintain permanancy for at least 90 days after exiting the RISE program.

Developing Life Skills

During the 12-months RISE participants are part of our program, case managers work with clients to enhance life skills based on experience and need.

Budgeting GoalSetting

8,328 safe nights of sleep were provided for youth 18-24 and their dependent children in 2023.

RISE Youth Independent Housing expanded Advocates’ capacity to assist young adults. The purpose of this program is to assist young people who do not have a permanent home obtain and maintain housing, become selfsufficient, and grow into independent and successful adults. This program helps homeless youth in six of the eleven counties that Advocates for Children serves across northwest Georgia.

RISING ABOVE Halle’s Journey to Empowerment

Halle’s journey began with adversity, but her determination and the guidance of Advocates for Children set her on a path toward success. As the eldest of twelve children, Halle faced immense responsibilities and pressures at a young age. Yet, her spirit remained unbroken, and she dared to dream of a brighter future.

Halle and her family first came to Advocates through our Family Resource Center. When Halle found herself at a crossroads, unsure of how to navigate the transition from youth to adulthood, she discovered the RISE Youth Independent Housing program. Here, she found more than just a roof over her head; she found a community that believed in her potential and provided the support she needed to thrive.

The RISE program became Halle's springboard to success, empowering her to achieve milestones she once thought were out of reach. From securing stable employment to finding safe housing and even purchasing her first car, Halle embraced the opportunities afforded to her with gratitude and determination.

But perhaps the greatest gift Halle received from the RISE program was freedom – the freedom to pursue her education without sacrificing her basic needs, the freedom to dream without limitations, and the freedom to carve out a future filled with purpose and possibility.

Despite the challenges she has faced, Halle's infectious optimism and bright smile light up every room she enters. She is not only a beacon of hope for herself but also for others who may be walking a similar path. Through her involvement in her church, her membership in RISE's Youth Advisory Board, and her volunteer work within the community, Halle seeks to uplift and inspire those around her.

With unwavering determination, Halle set her sights on her goals. She aspires to pursue a law degree, fueled by her passion for justice and her desire to protect the rights of the marginalized. Through her internship with the Public Defender's office in Atlanta, she gained firsthand experience in advocating for those in need, solidifying her commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.

As Halle embarks on the next chapter of her journey, she does so with a sense of purpose and a determination to pay it forward. She dreams of supporting other young people who have faced similar struggles, offering them hope, guidance, and encouragement as they navigate their own paths toward success.

In her cozy apartment, adorned with her unique sense of style, Halle finds solace and pride. It is a reflection of how far she has come and a reminder of the limitless potential that lies within her.

Halle's story is a testament to the power of resilience, the impact of community support, and the boundless potential that lies within each of us. Through Advocates for Children's programs, she has not only found a home but also discovered the strength to rise above and thrive. Together, we can continue to empower young adults like Halle to reach for the stars and achieve their dreams.

Advocates for Children provides youth in crisis with timely assistance through the national safety net program Safe Place. Local schools, churches, fire stations, police departments, and other community businesses and organizations are committed Safe Place site partners trained in making referrals to the Pathway to Possibility program and assessing immediate needs of a youth in crisis.

1

11,013

participated in Safe Place awareness presentations at schools and community gatherings to learn where youth can turn in a crisis in 2023.

177 Safe Place sites including 11 mobile sites partner with Advocates for Children in 9 Northwest Georgia counties.

What happens when a child goes to an Advocate’s Safe Place site? 1 2 3 4

A young person enters a Safe Place and asks for help from site employees.

The site employee finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they call Advocates.

An Advocate’s staff member will arrive to talk with the youth and, if necessary, provide transportation to the shelter.

Upon arrival at the shelter, counselors offer support to youth, ensuring they and their families receive necessary professional services.

Pathway to Possibility provides emergency shelter for youth experiencing crisis or homelessness. The program offers temporary emergency shelter and case management to runaway, homeless or housing-insecure youth under 18 years of age throughout Advocates for Children’s service areas.

Youth age 17 or younger experiencing crisis or homelessness in Northwest Georgia can text the word “SAFE” with their location to 4HELP (44357) to be connected with Pathway to Possibility and our shelter services.

100% of youth participating in the Pathway program remianed engaged in aftercare services after 30 days of discharge in 2023.

69 youth were diverted from homelessness through the Pathway to Possibility program in 2023.

Help is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for youth in crisis who need the assistance and support of the Pathway program.

NEWMAN HOUSE

A Brighter Future for Unhoused Youth

Recognizing the increasing needs of unhoused youth in Northwest Georgia, Advocates for Children is breaking ground on a new facility to address the crisis of youth homelessness. Named in tribute to Nancy Newman, one of the founding members and most fervent supporters of Advocates for Children, Newman House is slated to open its doors in late 2024. Situated adjacent to Advocate’s Advocacy and Prevention Center in Cartersville, this new residential facility aims to offer a secure and stable haven for several demographics. Newman House will cater to the needs of children residing at Flowering Branch Children's Shelter, as well as young adults aged 18-24 enrolled in the RISE Independent Housing Program. Additionally, Newman House will function as a drop-in center for unhoused youth where they can access showers, laundry facilities, and the support of our Pathway to Possibility team.

Newman House is designed to furnish both extended and temporary housing options for homeless youths, complemented by trauma-informed case management services. These services encompass individual and family counseling, engaging youth development activities, fostering social and independent living skills, and providing assistance toward attaining educational milestones such as high school diplomas, GEDs, and college admission. Ultimately, Newman House aims to furnish the necessary support systems for youths to transition out of the program with the requisite skills and confidence to thrive independently.

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SKORE utilizes the SPARK Curriculum (Speaking to the Potential, Ability, and Resilience Inside Every Kid). The curriculum focuses on the following skills for overall youth improvement:

Resilience

youth were diverted from court involvement by participating in the SKORE program in 2023.

89.8% of youth participating in SKORE were able to avoid any new court charges during their participation in the program in 2023.

Supporting Kids on the Road to Excellence (SKORE) is a diversion program that serves as an avenue for holding youth accountable for their behavior, empowering them to make changes in their own lives. SKORE is offered to children between ages 12 to 17 years old who have committed noncriminal acts that are considered a law violation because of their status as minors (status offenses).

Communication

Problem-solving Skills

Appropriate Decision-making

Improving emotional regulation

99.98%

of children served through the THRIVE Family Resource Center remained within their family without need for family placement in 2023.

Advocates for Children’s latest innovative program, THRIVE, instills hope, empowers, and strengthens families involved in the child welfare system who are struggling with poverty. Our goal is to stabilize families by providing concrete support while working with community partners to meet immediate basic needs, such as adequate housing, food, and healthcare to prevent the trauma of unnecessary foster care removal and help families thrive.

Families worked together with a THRIVE Family Navigator to achieve self-sufficiency, coaching them in financial literacy, budgeting, workforce development, credit repair, nutrition, and child safety and development in 2023.

THANK YOU

We extend our sincerest gratitude to our foundation, faith, and corporate partners for their unwavering support in furthering our mission to protect children, empower families, and strengthen communities.

FOUNDATION PARTNERS

Cartersville Service League

Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta

Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia

Crane Charitable Funds

Enterprise Holdings Foundation

Fidelity Charitable

Fisher Family Foundation

Food Lion Charitable Foundation

Georgia Health Foundation, Inc.

Georgia Power Foundation, Inc.

Georgia Professional Human Services

Association- Foundation Acct

Greystone Power Foundation

Help for Children

Kirby Smart Family Foundation

Ma-Ran Foundation

FAITH PARTNERS

CrossPoint Church

Church of the Ascension

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Due West United Methodist Church

First Baptist Church of Cartersville

First Presbyterian Church of Cartersville

Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church

Heritage Baptist Church of Cartersville

Life Change Church

Mariner Wealth Advisors

Mary Allen Lindsey Branan Foundation

Milton M. Ratner Foundation

National Christian Foundation

Payne Family Charitable Fund

Publix Super Markets Charities

Raymond James Charitable Foundation

Ribbons of Hope, Investment In Women, Inc.

Sequoyah Tennis Association

The Fraser-Parker Foundation

Tulsa Community Foundation/ QuikTrip

United Way of Bartow County

United Way of Gordon County

United Way of Greater Atlanta

Wells Fargo

Mt. Tabor Baptist Church

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church

Northpointe Church

Northgate Church of Jesus Christ

Pine Grove Baptist Church

Sam Jones Methodist Church

Tabernacle Baptist Church

Trinity at the Well UMC

CORPORATE PARTNERS

Bartow Paving Company

Bartow Precast

Bartow/Cartersville Exchange Club

Collins Enterprises HVAC & Refrigeration

Ely Concrete Construction Company

Enterprise Holdings

Georgia Power Citizens Group

Georgia Power Company

Gerdau

H&H Realty

Heatco, Inc

Iron Order Motor Cycle Club

Lara J Designs

P & W Quality Machines

Piedmont Hospital-Cartersville

Publix Super Market

QuikTrip

RenovationX

Shaw Industries

Summit Grading

TDS

Vista Metals

Warner Trucking

Wells Fargo

Wire to Wire Running

MAKE A SECURE ONLINE DONATION TO ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN

CASA Day at the Capitol Annual Meeting Our

Runaway and Homeless Youth Awareness Month

CASA Swearing In

FBCS Summer Vacation

Gerdau Alan J. Silkwood Golf Tournament

Ribbon Cutting for Prevention and Advocacy

Christmas Parade

Teen Maze