21 Jul

Posted at 16:37h in Adoption, All Blog Posts, Children, Foster Care, Relationships by
0 Likes

Almost two years from the day they first arrived at CHRIS 180’s Gateway to Adoption program, brothers Logan and Layne were adopted into their forever family! Sibling relationships can provide support, love, and stability, but siblings in foster care often experience separation. The data tells us that as many as 75% of siblings in foster care are placed apart from their brothers and sisters. Separated siblings struggle to adapt to new situations, may experience more behavioral and emotional challenges and perform more poorly in school than siblings placed together in the...

08 Jul

Posted at 10:09h in All Blog Posts, Children, Diversity, News, Relationships, Resilience, The Latest, Trauma by
1 Like

Home for neighborhood matriarch will provide stability for young mothers CHRIS 180, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing trauma-informed holistic health services to children, youth and families, held a groundbreaking ceremony to announce the launch of a project to stabilize families on Atlanta’s Westside. CHRIS 180 partnered with the MicroLife Institute to construct a single-family home in the Washington Park neighborhood for Deborah Glover, a 71-year-old woman who has lived in the area for decades, in a shed without water or electricity. Glover connected with CHRIS 180 through its Community Health...

03 Jul

Posted at 14:05h in All Blog Posts, Anxiety, Children, Culture, Productivity, Routines and Structure, Stress, Trauma by
0 Likes

We all need rest to function well in each area of our lives. Sleep, exercise, video games and spending time with loved ones are a few examples of activities commonly used to recharge. But sometimes, what you think is a break is actually a form of escapism that saps your time and energy. CHRIS 180 clinical experts Chris Haider-Bardill, LPC, CPCS, and Rob Collins, LCSW, LSSGB, discussed escapism and its role in our lives during a Lunchtime Live episode in May 2021.   What is escapism? Typically, escapism involves engaging in an activity to...

25 Jun

Posted at 15:36h in All Blog Posts, Feelings, Grief and Loss, Post-Traumatic Stress, PTSD, Resilience, Trauma by
6 Likes

Often when the term Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is used, it is associated with members of the military, especially war veterans. As times change and people become more familiar with trauma and its impact on each of our lives, we are starting to recognize just how the stress connected to past and present events impacts our daily lives. How does PTSD affect the brain? PTSD is often accompanied by a significant psychological shock. First, it is essential to understand that considerable stress and trauma, when experienced or witnessed, puts the brain in...

24 Jun

Posted at 09:41h in All Blog Posts, Anxiety, Culture, Feelings, Grief and Loss, Injustice, Relationships, Resilience, Trauma by
0 Likes

Michelle’s Story When Michelle lost her housing, a friend told her about CHRIS 180 and our Drop-In Center. The Drop-In Center provides a range of free services for youth ages 16-24 who are experiencing homelessness. These services include meals, life coaching, job and housing assistance and walk-in therapy sessions. But Michelle was hesitant. She had just come out as a trans woman and worried about reaching out for help and being met with judgment. However, when Michelle arrived at the Drop-In Center for the first time, she was surrounded by a welcoming...

18 Jun

Posted at 11:36h in All Blog Posts, Anxiety, Children, Diversity, Feelings, News, Relationships, Resilience, Routines and Structure, Stress by
0 Likes

Children are small people with very big emotions. Although they can show you what they are feeling, most children have yet to attach a name to their feelings and have not learned healthy ways of dealing with their emotions. As children grow, they face many challenges and obstacles. Therefore, it is important to promote healthy social and emotional development by helping children identify and name their feelings, and sharing methods to help them cope effectively.   Why should I promote emotional awareness in my child early?  Promoting early emotional awareness helps your child...

17 Jun

Posted at 10:12h in All Blog Posts, Children, Culture, Diversity, Resilience, Routines and Structure, Trauma by
1 Like

For Johnny Brown, Fatherhood Session Coordinator at CHRIS 180’s Cure Violence Atlanta program, helping fathers is a calling. “All of us are on this journey of being fathers,” Johnny shared. “We work with participants to learn the life skills to be able to work, stay out of trouble and start talking about what it takes to be a good parent. When we help them show up in their child’s life, we are breaking the cycle of generational violence.” Every Monday from 11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. at the Cure Violence Atlanta office,...

22 May

Posted at 16:27h in 40th Anniversary by
0 Likes

On June 8, 1981, a new nonprofit organization named Georgia CHARLEE opened its doors to fill gaps in the foster care system. Georgia CHARLEE – now known as CHRIS 180 – was organized by a purpose-driven group of women from The Junior League of Atlanta, Inc. (JLA), who saw a need for a safe, stable, environment for youth in foster care. “At the time, we were so concerned about foster children who were literally getting tossed around from home to home,” said JLA Past President Ann Cramer, who serves on CHRIS...

07 May

Posted at 13:56h in All Blog Posts, Children, Feelings, Relationships, Resilience, Trauma by
1 Like

Valancia Abdullah considers it her calling to care for youth who some may think of as “challenged.” After working with special needs students at Atlanta Public Schools, in 2000, she joined CHRIS 180’s foster care program. She serves as a Resident Assistant. The kids affectionately refer to her as Ms. Val. “The RA to me is just like being a mom in care: we have to make sure their needs are met,” Abdullah shared. “They look up to us. They’re learning from us. Kids who are grown now have come back...

19 Mar

Posted at 21:54h in Diversity, Injustice, Trauma by
0 Likes

We stand with our Asian American colleagues, partners, clients and all affected in the wake of the horrific mass shootings in Atlanta and Acworth. This act of terrorism has produced additional anxiety and unease in the AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) community, which has been targeted by acts of racism and xenophobia since the beginning of the pandemic. As a trauma-informed organization, we know that words matter, and we all must call out bigotry, hate and white supremacy. CHRIS 180 is committed to being a safe space for those who are dealing with...