New Year, New Start - Celebrating Our Youth 2021

New Year, New Start Celebrating Our Youth 2021

Special thanks to our supporters who made the holidays special, including (but not limited to): J.C. Kennedy Foundation Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation Macy’s Genuine Parts Georgia-Pacific Terry and Terrie Russell Transfiguration Church Pratt Industries Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Nichiha USA

Sephora at Lenox Mall Empowered Readers The Model T Bar in Grant Park Red Dahlia Salon For the Kid in All Of Us Twelve Days of Christmas Atlanta Chapter Grady Cares The Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Police Department Warrick Dunn Charities Wish Atlanta

Youth in CHRIS 180’s foster care program safely celebrated the season with a holiday dinner and dance. The highlight of the evening was a talent showcase, with a host of talented performers taking the stage in front of their peers.

Every holiday season, CHRIS 180 brings together our community for a luncheon to celebrate the holidays and look ahead to the opportunities that await the children, youth, adults and families we serve in the new year.

In 2020, we unfortunately were not able to invite supporters like you to celebrate with us, but we were still able to ring in the holidays to ensure that our youth and young adults each received the care and holiday gifts they need to make the holiday season feel special. Thanks to the space afforded by our new building (finished in 2019), we were able to use our very large training room to host a socially distanced meal, had a DJ and created space for individual performances.

Our youth come to us after experiencing significant trauma and this year’s difficulties added another layer. Some struggle with being isolated from their friends at school and relatives, with fears around the pandemic, with childhood traumas magnified by the additional trauma of the pandemic, with anxiety about their futures and with deeply held concerns about racial injustice impacting the Black community. Despite many challenges, our youth were encouraged to take pride in their achievements, express gratitude and plan for a brighter 2021.

This booklet highlights reflections from the youth living in our foster group homes, who come to us after an average of seven placements. While with us, they receive individualized counseling and wraparound support while living in safe and stable homes that help them heal, build resiliency and develop the skills they need to navigate life’s challenges. They have so many hopes for 2021. I hope that reading their reflections brings a smile to your face and joy to your heart. We are so glad to celebrate our youth and the many possibilities that lie ahead for them thanks to you.

Gratefully,

Kathy Colbenson, LMFT President & CEO

Thanks to your generosity, every child in our foster homes received gifts for the holidays.

Volunteers from Genuine Parts wrapped hundreds of gifts for children in the community at our annual Wrapping Party.

1030 Fayetteville Road | Atlant a, GA | 30316 404.486.9034 | C HRIS180.or g @C HRIS 1 8 0 Advoca te

@ C HRIS180_ Ad vo c ate

@C HRIS 1 8 0 _C h a n ge

@ C HRIS180

CHRIS180.org