CHRIS 180 is dedicated to helping children, youth, adults, and families overcome trauma to become productive citizens. We accomplish this through inclusive and innovative counseling, foster care and adoption, family and community support programs, preventing homelessness and violence, and providing professionals with the tools they need to serve their community.
Our History
Since 1981, CHRIS 180 has served more than 200,000 children, youth, adults and families, helping them build resiliency through tough times. From Georgia CHARLEE, CHRIS Homes, CHRIS Kids and now as CHRIS 180, our name may have changed, but our commitment to standing beside those we serve has never wavered.
1981
Georgia CHARLEE (Children Have All Rights- Legal, Educational, Emotional) started as the state’s first specialized group home for children and youth with behavioral and emotional challenges.
1986
Started Georgia’s first independent living program for youth aging out of foster care.Â
1992
Georgia CHARLEE became CHRIS Homes, representing the core values of Creativity, Honor, Respect, Integrity and Safety. Â
2000
Opened the Rainbow House, the first program in the Southeast to serve LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness.Â
2004
CHRIS Homes rebranded as CHRIS Kids.Â
2007
Opened the first CHRIS Counseling Center in Atlanta to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment services to the community.
2010
Opened Summit Trail Apartments to provide supportive housing to youth ages 17 – 24, who are experiencing homelessness or aging out of foster care.
2013
Began trauma-informed adoption services and established the state’s first foster home for sibling groups in foster care.
2014
Began school-based mental health services and school partnerships.
2016
CHRIS Kids rebranded to CHRIS 180 to focus on the life-changing services offered to the entire family.
2018
Launched contract with Fulton County Behavioral Health to provide counseling and other behavioral health services to children, adolescents, and young adults.
2019
Built Center of Excellence for Training, Education and Connections and additional safe housing for children and families.
2019
Opened Integrated Health Clinic in partnership with Mercy Care and Westside Empowerment Center to connect residents to therapy, health care and resources.
2020
Provided well checks and more than three million emergency meals to thousands of people across Atlanta during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020
Started the Institute for Spiritual Health and Wellness, opened the CHRIS Counseling Center – Dekalb office and launched the Cure Violence Atlanta program.
Our Mission is to heal children, strengthen families, and build community.
Our Vision
To improve our community by providing children, adults, and families with high-quality, trauma-informed behavioral health services and support systems.
Our Values
CHRIS is an acronym that stands for our core values: Creativity, Honor, Respect, Integrity, Safety. 180 represents change, as our organization is changing directions and changing lives.
LEADERSHIP
Our People
CHRIS 180 is a provider and employer of choice, made up of an experienced, passionate, committed, and hard-working team.
Our work would not be possible without the support of our partners.
Advocacy Pillars
We embrace our role as advocates and work to educate the community about issues that impact the lives and futures of those we are helping. Our advocacy focuses on four cornerstone priorities aligned to our mission:
Behavioral Health & Trauma
Behavioral Health & Trauma
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Housing Security / Affordable Housing
Housing Security / Affordable Housing
Housing affordability for the middle class and below has significantly decreased. Many of CHRIS 180’s constituents have been significantly impacted, which has been exacerbated by high housing costs; income equality declining over time; job instability, lack of generational wealth; discrimination; economic instability and the pandemic.
LGBTQIA+ Issues
LGBTQIA+ Issues
The LGBTQ+ community is impacted by several unique concerns including gender identity issues; lack of full protection under non-discrimination laws; unexpected homelessness when youth come out; disproportionately high suicide rates among teens; and the stigma of HIV/AIDS and other illnesses.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice are central to how CHRIS 180 provides effective trauma-informed services and how we show up in the workplace and our communities. Our values are grounded in the truth that each person must be accepted for who they are, recognized for where they are in life, and treated with dignity and respect.
LGBTQIA+ History
CHRIS 180 is the first and largest non-profit organization in Georgia to openly celebrate and serve LGBTQIA+ youth. For More than 30 years, CHRIS 180 has focused on the needs of at-risk youth, filling gaps and targeting services to reach them where they are.
INTEGRATING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTHCARE
Certified Community Behavioral Health Center
To improve our community by providing children, adults, and families with high-quality, trauma-informed behavioral health services and support systems.
Want to make a difference and join our team?
Accreditations & Distinctions
