A novel state initiative selected multiple organizations across the state for added support in their efforts to keep children safe, strengthen families, and spur community engagement.

The initiative, State of Hope, is designed to activate public-private collaboration to safeguard children and support families.

After a robust application cycle, the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services in partnership with Georgia State University’s Center for Professional Excellence (a part of the School of Social Work) and Georgia Family Connection Partnership, announced that over 60 big ideas from all over the state were submitted for consideration. Of those applications, 42 were selected to be designated as State of Hope sites.

Five of the selected organizations will receive funding and specialized technical assistance for their projects. An additional 11 were selected to be designated as Emerging sites. All 53 State of Hope and Emerging sites have accepted the invitation to become part of a larger learning community – the Hope Ecosystem – where they can access technical assistance and opportunities for funding, build partnerships, and connect with each other.

“We are grateful to have had such a large number of applicants during the first cycle application cycle for State of Hope. It is wonderful to know that the State of Hope message is clear and that communities understand the importance of collaborating to support its members.” said Interim Director Tom Rawlings.

The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services launched the State of Hope application in June -- at a Destination Hope event in Augusta -- to encourage nonprofits, philanthropies, government, businesses and other community members to collaborate in building local safety nets that will focus on four areas: education, trauma-informed service, quality caregiving, and economic self-sufficiency.