impact REPORT 2024
OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Thanksgiving Dinner for Nashville’s Aged-Out Youth
On Thanksgiving 2024, our Nashville location co-hosted a Thanksgiving Dinner for young adults aging out of foster care in the Nashville area The dinner was hosted in partnership with The Nashville Food Project and Slim & Husky’s.
A LETTER FROM OUR FOUNDER
In 2024, we celebrated a significant milestone: our 10th anniversary. It’s hard to believe that God gave me this vision over a decade ago. In this past decade, we have grown from a pioneering idea to a thriving organization that has matched and supported hundreds of youth and Mentoring Families. None of it would be possible without your support and prayers.
As I reflect on the journey of Connections Homes, I’m filled with gratitude and awe at the incredible impact that we’ve made. Our mission to connect vulnerable youth with Mentoring Families has been a labor of love, born out of my own family’s experience and the conviction that every young adult deserves to belong to and experience a supportive network of people.
One of the highlights of 2024, for me, was the release of my fourth book, “Redemptive Connection.” This book embodies the heart of our redemptive model of support at Connections Homes. It guides how we approach our work in training and supporting our Mentoring Families to be effective lifelong connections to the youth they are matched with.
Our theory of change is based on a simple yet profound quote by Dr. Karyn Purvis, “What was broken in relationship can only be restored in relationship.” We believe that secure, safe relationships are the foundation for healing and growth. Through our Choice-Based Matching Model and Redemptive Connection Support Model, we have created a process that not only matches youth with Mentoring Families but also supports these relationships so that they can last for a lifetime.
As we look to the future, our vision remains steadfast: to empower youth without family support to thrive in life and impact the world. We are committed to expanding our reach, with the ambitious goal of supporting 10,000 youth by 2030. This vision is not just a number; it represents thousands of lives transformed, families formed, and communities enriched.
I want to thank you for supporting us in this journey. Your contributions, whether through donations, time, advocacy, mentorship, or prayer have been instrumental in shaping the lives of these young adults. Together, we are rewriting the story for youth who’ve face unimaginable challenges, proving that with love, faith, support, and opportunity, they can thrive in life.
Thank you for being a part of this story. I invite you to join me in celebrating the success of 2024 and looking forward to the incredible possibilities that lie ahead.
Because everyone deserves to belong,
LIFE LONG CONNECTION MATTERS
Miyanna was matched to the Simmons family in 2022. The Simmons have been a fantastic support to her as she pursued her studies in social work at Kennesaw State University; even helping to guide her in obtaining her dream social work fellowship at the University of California Berkley. In July of 2024 the Simmons family made the trek across the country to help Miyanna settle in and begin the next phase of our life’s journey. We are all so proud of Miyanna and grateful for families like the Simmons who support and love our young adults.
our story
our history
Connections Homes was founded in 2013 by Pam Parish, inspired by her personal journey of fostering and adopting several young adults. The organization began operations in 2014 with the mission to connect youth aging out of foster care or experiencing homelessness with Mentoring Families, providing them with a lifelong support system to prevent poverty and homelessness.
2013: Founded by Pam Parish, with a vision to create lifelong permanency for youth aged 18-24
2014: Official launch, serving Gwinnett County, Georgia, with the first Mentoring Family training
2015: Developed the Choice-Based Matching Model, celebrating the first youth match
2016: Expanded into Dekalb, Clayton, and Fulton Counties, hosting the first Day of Play event
2017: Expanded to serve Region 5 of Georgia, providing the first car to a youth in need
2018: Expanded to serve 13 counties surrounding Metro Atlanta, beginning development of a national strategic plan
SO FAR
2019: Selected for the Praxis nonprofit accelerator program, which influenced the development of the Redemptive Connection Framework
2020: Launched the Don’t Go Alone campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic and began piloting the Redemptive Connection Framework
Our Mission & purpose
At Connections Homes, our mission is to prevent poverty and homelessness for youth aging out of foster care or homeless without a family by connecting them to Mentoring Families. Our vision is to empower these youth to thrive in life and impact the world from the security of a healthy connection. We believe that every young adult deserves a supportive network to navigate the challenges of transitioning into adulthood, and through our ChoiceBased Matching Model and Redemptive Connection Framework, we foster lifelong relationships that promote belonging and self-efficacy.
2021: Launched the first branch in Dallas, Texas, and hired an Executive Director
2022: Launched an affiliate in Northern Virginia and developed a Central Support team.
2023: Launched a branch in Tennessee and began receiving Fostering Success Act donations.
2024: Celebrated the 10th anniversary, released the book "Redemptive Connection," and expanded affiliates in Southern Virginia and San Antonio
youth & family
In 2024, we made incredible strides in expanding our reach and impact, including the addition of 2 affiliates and the increase of our wraparound services through Fostering Success Act (FSA) and our Career Connection Center (CCC). in annual community savings
Our Lifetime Reach
437 matches since 2014
$24.5M lifetime youth served since 2014
626
738 families trained since 2014
youth served in 2024 65% increase from 2023! 129 youth served in 2023.
2024 Expansion
The Don’t Go Alone program expanded to 2 additional affiliates in 2024.
We onboarded Wild Oak Haven in Virginia Beach, where 190 youth are in foster care with potential to age out
We onboarded South Texas Alliance for Orphans in San Antonio, expanding our reach to Bexar County, where 600 youth age out of foster care annually
This increases our capacity to reach nearly 800 additional young people in need of a stable connection 213
IMPACT
2023 Family Engagement
343 Families Recruited
91 Families Trained
60 families trained in the same year they expressed interest.
31 additional families were trained, bringing the total to 91.
Wrap-Around Services in 2024:
2024 Family Engagement
475 Families Recruited 207 Families Trained
175 families trained in the same year they expressed interest.
32 additional families were trained, bringing the total to 207.
$137K
youth served through FSA youth served through CCC in direct support
Youth Matched
by year
Our Strategic Pillars
Building a Stronger Future Through Strategic Focus
At Connections Homes, our mission to empower youth without family support is guided by three strategic pillars: National Expansion, Program Excellence, and Thought Leadership. These pillars are crucial for achieving our vision of matching 10,000 youth by 2030 and ensuring that every young adult has a supportive network to thrive.
National Expansion Program Excellence Thought Leadership
Our Three Strategic Pillars
National Expansion: Enables Connections Homes to reach more youth across the country, scaling its impact and fulfilling its vision of matching 10,000 youth by 2030. Program Excellence: Ensures that the Don't Go Alone (DGA) program maintains high-quality services, providing effective support and resources to youth and Mentoring Families.
Thought Leadership: Positions Connections Homes as a leading voice in the field of foster care and youth support, influencing policy and practice through innovative models like the Redemptive Connection Framework.
National Expansion Connections Homes’ Vision 10,000 strategy focuses on scaling its impact nationwide by expanding the Don’t Go Alone (DGA) program.
In 2025, the primary objectives for national expansion include:
Scaling Nationwide: Establishing new affiliate locations to reach more youth aging out of foster care or experiencing homelessness.
Program Enhancement: Strengthening infrastructure, refining operational processes, and improving communication tools to support growth.
Youth and Mentoring Family Recruitment: Increasing outreach efforts to connect more youth with trained Mentoring Families.
Affiliate Development: Training and equipping affiliate organizations to replicate the DGA model in new regions.
What is Don’t Go Alone (DGA)?
In 2020, Connections Homes launched a marketing campaign in Georgia titled "Don't Go Alone" (DGA) to recruit youth. As the organization began expanding through affiliates by 2022, the DGA name was adopted as the program title across all locations. This strategic rebranding allows other nonprofits to easily license and implement the model, announcing the addition of a DGA Program to their services. By standardizing the program name, Connections Homes ensures consistency as it scales nationally, facilitating a unified brand identity and operational framework for its mission to connect vulnerable youth with supportive Mentoring Families
ove when our families share their new ly photos and Christmas cards that feature amazing youth Special thanks to the Kuhn ly (left) and their young man, Jamie, and Gunter family (right) and their young man, ner
Program Excellence
Connections Homes is committed to achieving Program Excellence by executing the Don’t Go Alone (DGA) program in a timely, accurate, cost-effective, and value-added manner that exceeds expectations and delivers redemptive outcomes.
In 2025, the primary objectives for program excellence include:
Enhance Service Delivery: Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of program administration, training, and support services for youth and Mentoring Families.
Strengthen Trauma-Informed Practices: Expand training and resources for staff and families to deepen their understanding of trauma and its impact on youth.
Support Youth Development: Provide comprehensive wraparound services that empower youth to achieve stability in housing, education, employment, and emotional wellbeing.
Expand Staff Capacity: Invest in staff development to ensure they are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to deliver exceptional care
Optimize Program Infrastructure: Refine operational processes, measure program efficacy, technology systems, and resource allocation to support sustainable growth.
The Thrive Map is a comprehensive assessment tool designed to guide youth in the Don't Go Alone program toward thriving by measuring their progress across two key dimensions: Self-Efficacy and Belonging. By leveraging the Thrive Map's insights into Self-Efficacy and Belonging, we refine our interventions to better meet the evolving needs of our youth, ultimately enhancing their journey toward thriving
HousingEmployment Income
FoodHealthcare Coverage
INTIMATERELATIONSHIPS
THRIVE MAP
Intimate (i.e.Relationships deep relationship)romanticfriendships, RelationsCaregiverRelationsBioFamily InvolvementCommunityConnectionYouth Still Connected Mentoring(to Family) Parent-Child EducationChildren'sChildcareRelations
Special thanks to Linda Steelman and her wonderful young lady, Ky, who arranged a Day of Inspiration for several of our young adults at the Hope Worldwide building in Atlanta. Participants received gift bags, great inspration from speakers, and a day of hope!
Thought Leadership
Connections Homes’ Vision 10,000 strategy includes a strong focus on establishing the organization as a recognized leader in addressing the needs of youth aging out of foster care or experiencing homelessness.
In 2025, the primary objectives for thought leadership include:
Expand Educational Outreach: Increase awareness of the Redemptive Connection Framework through training programs, content creation, and expert-led initiatives
Develop Scalable Training Models: Develop a "train-the-trainers" model to equip affiliates and partners with tools to implement the framework effectively.
Amplify Public Engagement: Use platforms like the DGA Podcast to share insights, success stories, and best practices, fostering a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable youth.
Advance Trauma-Informed Practices: Collaborate with consultants and experts to refine training content and research trauma-informed approaches that guide mentoring relationships.
DGA Voices: Amplify Your Story is a unique program designed to empower young adults by helping them craft and share their personal narratives; empowering them as brand ambassadors for those with lived experience in foster care. The program is led by a foster care alum and provides participants with the skills to tell their stories compellingly and authentically
"Redemptive Connection, " a book by Pam Parish, offers a transformative framework for mentoring teens and young adults, providing practical tools for healing and relational growth. The release of this book is crucial for the work of Connections Homes and the DGA Program, as it equips families and service providers with essential strategies to support vulnerable youth, fostering redemptive connections that can transform their lives.
We are so proud of our two 2024 DGA Voices participants who worked really hard on sharing their stories. It was a joy for our Board Vice-Chair, Casey, to present them each with a monetary gift for completing the program and speaking at our annual gala.
OUTCOMES
<5% 98% <1% VS 95% 93% of girls connected to a Mentoring Family have experienced unplanned pregnancy of youth who entered our program already pregnant or parenting, have maintained care & custody of their kids of boys connected to a Mentoring Family have had any interaction with the law of youth remain connected and stable in their Mentoring Family relationship. of connected youth are completing education goals. 53% are pursuing college or a skilled-trade
$56,000 per year $15,000 once
Due to factors beyond their control, vulnerable youth are highly likely to remain stuck in a generational, cyclical state of dependency which costs the community $56,000 annually per person in public assistance and economic costs
Through Connections Homes, a one-time investment of $15,000 can provide a lifelong connection that is proven to break this vicious cycle of poverty and homelessness so that these young adults can thrive in life and impact their world
2024REVENUE
$1,467,170
OURLEADERSHIP
NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Board Chair, Henry Jackson President, Buckner Children & Family Services
Vice Chair & Acting Treasurer, Casey Deyton
Senior Director, Philanthropic Financial Services, Chick-fil-a Corporate
Secretary, Deborah A. Ausburn Partner, Taylor English
Past Chair, Robyn Smith Chief Human Resources Officer, Jackson Healthcare
Director, Pam Parish Founder & CEO, Connections Homes
Director, Tom Rawlings Principal, Child Welfare & Justice Transformation
Director, Joe Thomas, Jr. President & Managing Member, Five Star Realty Partners, LLC
Director, Kim Harrington Market Leader, Movement Mortgage
Director & Brand Ambassador, Ty Montgomery
Retired NFL (Packers, Ravens, Jets, Saints, & Patriots) & Foster and Homeless Youth Advocate
Director, Anne Patton Vice President of Corporate Marketing, Jackson Healthcare
Director, Allison Bramlett Executive Pastor, Covenant Church
Director, Isaiah Burgin Program Manager, Google LLC
Board Member Emeritus, Julia Amendola
CPA & Firm Manager, Worth & Associates
CENTRAL SUPPORT
Pam Parish, Founder & CEO
Kristan Bhandari, Vice President of Operations
Tynesha Anderson, Director of Engagement
GEORGIA BRANCH
TEXAS BRANCH
Shawana Black, Executive Director Missy Bailey, Director of Relationship Management
TENNESSEE BRANCH
Jamie McAfee, Executive Director
DGA AFFILIATES
Margaret Hoffer, DGA Director at Project Belong | Northern Virginia
Kayley Parker, DGA Director at Wild Oak Haven | Southern Virginia
Ariel Kraft, DGA Director at South Texas Alliance for Orphans | San Antonio, Texas
Thank you for your
