Category: Poverty & Equity

Moody, who has served as Interim CEO since May 2022, to lead nonprofit building resilient families so children can thrive. Families First, Inc. today announced that Paula Moody, LCSW, MS, will lead the organization as Chief Executive Officer, effective Sept. 20, 2022. Moody has over 25 years of experience in non-profit program services and leadership. […]

When you look at a family, the parents of that family are often the ones who hold all the power. They hold the power to shape their children’s lives. They hold the power to raise their children to be the best versions of themselves. And they hold the power to set their children down the […]

Atlanta was again making waves as the Georgia Aquarium ballroom set the scene for the post-COVID comeback of Families First’s evening of recognizing extraordinary community impact and raising funds for its wraparound social services and innovative behavioral health counseling for children and families. Beginning with the vividly painted story of Families First’s inventive case management […]

“Looking at resilience and looking at empowerment, it is the heart and soul of Families First,” shares Patricia Whatley Showell, Atlanta community leader and the agency’s former CEO, who will be honored with the Legacy Award on May 12.  Families First will gather civic, philanthropic, corporate and individual partners at the Georgia Aquarium to celebrate […]

The Families First Resiliency Movement is harnessing the power of community change agents to take actions to break down barriers. Barriers to equity. Barriers to inclusion. And, in turn build up opportunities for justice and resilience. At the heart of the Families First Resiliency Movement is Families First Navigator Care Model which empowers professionals to […]

On March 31, Families First unveiled “The Threads of Resilience” Mural, an amazing visual representation of the hope for our future and the support of our families and communities to help our children succeed. The mural’s artist, Sharanda Wilburn, S.A.W, created the beautiful masterpiece to bring our mission to “Build Resilient Families so all Children […]

CBS46’s Jennifer Valdez, Teresa Rivero of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ivan Shammas of Univision Atlanta, Peter Williams of BlackRock Atlanta and Bentina Terry of Georgia Power invite you to celebrate Families First honorees during its annual evening of cocktails and conversations at Dining for a Difference on Thursday, May 12.  This year the […]

More now than ever, major corporations are making an impact beyond providing great products and customer service. They are also giving back and creating more opportunities for the communities they serve. Over and above just turning on the lights, Georgia Power is helping empower families to move from surviving to thriving. Recently, Georgia Power donated […]

As we celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, we remember the sacrifices made by women, for women to make our communities, our country, and our world more inclusive. From its inception, Families First has a long history of serving women and helping them build resilience and gain access to mental health support, coaching, […]

The challenges of the last two year have impacted all of us. From social injustices to racial inequality and COVID, our communities are suffering. We have also seen great acts of heroism with our front-line workers who have continued to serve our communities. A common thread that has emerged is the power of resilience. At […]

Building resilience is a step-by-step process. Part of that process is having a healthy well-being. With the tumultuous nature of life during COVID-19, finding the path to a healthy well-being has been challenging. We recently asked, Dr. Edward Valentin, director of Clinical Services at Families First, about the importance of wellness and how wellness can […]

With the onset of the new year, it’s a time of reflection, resolutions, and what we can do to better ourselves and our communities. Reflecting on how we can improve ourselves and the lives of others, it’s natural that January is National Mentoring Month. Beyond classes, webinars, tutorials, etc., mentors have an incredible impact on […]

As we look back on the last two years, everyone has experienced challenges. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the negative mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue their impact through 2029. Families First knows the families we serve were already hurting, and their trauma has been made worse during the pandemic. “I’ve […]

Generosity is defined as “the quality of being kind and generous.” Families First has seen the power of our community’s generosity this holiday season with our annual Adopt-A-Family Program. This year, in partnership with Macy’s and supported by corporations, civic groups, faith-based organizations and individuals, we are spreading holiday joy to 1,350 individuals – more than […]

The words resilience and adoption go hand in hand. The birth parent, adoptive parent, and child, all build resilience during their adoption journey. From supporting birth mothers and adoptive families through the process to the providing a post-adoption support network through the Georgia Center for Resources and Support (GACRS), Families First serves as first point […]

“This year I’m thankful for my kids because they are healthy and also because we as a family have a roof over our heads. This year has been very difficult because of COVID but we have overcome a lot as a family,” shared Aileenayala, a Families First CHISPA client at a recent Thanksgiving event.  The […]

As we head into the holiday season, our personal wellness is often overshadowed by baking sweet treats, decorating the house, attending holiday parties and selecting the perfect gifts. However, there are ways to help make this holiday season a season of wellness.  Here are some examples that have helped millions of people achieve greater wellness: Emotional […]

Each year Families First provides scholarships to assist our students as they transition to college or post-secondary education. These funds allow families for students to cover key costs including tuition, books, travel fees and housing. In celebration of National Scholarship Month, we recognize this year’s honorees Brenda Guillen and Nelis Pereira who both participated in […]

“During the pandemic, we would have really been struggling if it weren’t for Families First. They were getting us food and supplies, and even when there was a toilet paper shortage, they were getting us toilet paper. Everything in general they’ve helped us a lot,” shared Victoria Talavera, CHISPA parent. In Spanish, “CHISPA” means “spark.” […]