For many children, returning to school can be a mix of emotions, from excitement to nervousness, especially when thinking about fitting in and making friends. Social pressure and peer relationships impact school life and can sometimes feel difficult and overwhelming...
As school-based therapists, we often encourage youth to participate in extracurricular activities that help create a healthy mental state. In the bustling world of academics and social media, it's easy to overlook the importance of after-school activities for kids....
Two CHRIS 180 families who initially set out on the path of adoption found themselves opening their minds to the possibility of foster care. Both families shared their unique journeys and personal experiences providing foster care to children in need with the support...
"You are Awesome! Thank you for sitting in on this teacher meeting and advocating for my child", are often words spoken from a parent to a CHRIS 180 school-based therapist. Advocating for students is only one small piece of what consumes the day of a school-based...
Georgia's foster care program plays a crucial role in providing temporary homes for 11,000 children who cannot live with their biological families due to various circumstances. Foster parents can contribute to the well-being of these children through various avenues,...
For most, the holiday season can be considered the most wonderful time of the year. However, for others, it is often a time of stress, depression and grief. One thing we have in common is that as parents and caregivers, we want to celebrate the joy found in gift...
by: Mina Holliday, CPA Adapted for CHRIS 180 by Lisa Schnaubelt, CFRE, Director of Development Many thanks to our amazing community partner Smith + Howard for writing this blog post outlining the 2023 Georgia Qualified Foster Child Donation Tax Credit. Read on to...
We’ve all read stories and seen statistics on the rising rates of anxiety, depression and suicide in our youth and going back to school can put added pressure on students of all ages. But as kids across Metro Atlanta get...
CHRIS 180 adds more families to annual Holiday Wish List program, provides in-person shopping for parents and caregivers This year, CHRIS 180 is expanding its annual Holiday Wish List program to include more CHRIS 180 families and asking the Metro Atlanta community to...
In a digital-first world, it is very important to be aware of not only what bullying looks like but also the impact it has on the children in our community. National Bullying Prevention Month was first established in 2006 to expand awareness to the consequences of...
Virtual reality (VR) offers clients a three-dimensional environment, generating a sense of immersion in another world in which the client interacts. Although the environments are artificial, the human brain does amazing things with it – it experiences the environment...
The death of a parent is a traumatic event that can leave a lasting impact on those who have lost their loved ones. Losing a parent to suicide can be even more traumatic than losing a parent from natural causes. Studies from the Department of Psychiatry at the...
While it may still feel like summer outside, the rumble of school buses and displays of school supplies at every store are a sure sign the new school year is in full swing. As students go back to class, they also must adjust to early mornings, new classmates, teachers...
I have spent the majority of my career in mental health, working with youth and young adults, so I know that what happens to you as a child plays a significant role in the person you become. When we’re young, our brain is elastic and ready to adapt to our...
“Before becoming a foster parent, I never really had to care for anyone but myself. Being a foster dad and being responsible for another human being has humbled me a lot. It made me realize that there are things in this world that are so much bigger than me. It has...
May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, where we celebrate the great service that our foster parents pay to their community by inviting foster children into their homes. Since our founding in 1981, CHRIS 180 has served foster children throughout the state of...
Thanks to funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, Georgia’s metro-Atlanta area organizations and leaders have come together as the Coalition for the Georgia Child Victims of the Opioid Epidemic. Through this public/private partnership...
By: Jessica Travis, M.S. and Brittney Walters, LCSW No matter how hard adults try to shield children from having to encounter distressing news and tragedies, young people will still have access to what is occurring in the world, which can be terrifying for parents....
At just 12-years-old, Jocelyn had her first encounter with CHRIS 180. Her grandmother was looking for help after taking in Jocelyn and her brother, in the wake of their mother’s issues with substance use. Knowing that both children had experienced significant trauma,...
There are infinite ways to practice mindfulness. Well-known mindfulness practices include breathing exercises, sensory activities, meditation and mindful movement like yoga. But any activity can be made mindful by “paying attention, on purpose” to it and maintaining...
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...
