Georgia Appleseed Inc

THE MISSION OF GEORGIA APPLESEED IS TO INCREASE JUSTICE IN GEORGIA THROUGH LAW AND POLICY REFORM AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

WE ORGANIZE ALMOST ALL OUR PROGRAMMING WITHIN OUR SCHOOL JUSTICE AND HOUSING JUSTICE INITIATIVES. THE SCHOOL JUSTICE INITIATIVE AIMS TO DISMANTLE THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE BY ENGAGING PARENTS, SCHOOL STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION, LAWYERS, JUDGES, POLICYMAKERS, AND OTHER EXPERTS AND STAKEHOLDERS. THE INITIATIVE INCLUDES SCHOOL-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMMING TO IDENTIFY AND SECURE NEEDED IN-SCHOOL SUPPORTS FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES. SUPPORTED CHILDREN ARE MORE LIKELY TO STAY IN SCHOOL AND LESS LIKELY TO ENTER THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT SCHOOL JUSTICE PROGRAM IS FAIRNESS, ADVOCACY, AND INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATION (FAIR), WHICH CONNECTS CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE FACING LONG-TERM SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION WITH ATTORNEYS AND TRAINED ADVOCATES. LEGAL REPRESENTATION PROTECTS THESE CHILDREN'S RIGHTS, KEEPS THEM IN SCHOOL, AND INCREASES THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS NECESSARY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORTS.OUR HOUSING JUSTICE INITIATIVE ENGAGES FAMILIES, LANDLORDS, DEVELOPERS, LAWYERS, JUDGES, POLICYMAKERS, AND OTHER EXPERTS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY AND SECURE NEEDED REFORMS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY, STABLE HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. CHILDREN LIVING IN UNSAFE HOUSING CONDITIONS ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER FROM CHRONIC RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES, AND EXPERIENCE HOUSING INSTABILITY. THESE CHILDREN OFTEN CHANGE SCHOOLS, DO MORE POORLY ON STANDARDIZED TESTS, HAVE LOWER GRADUATION RATES, AND ARE AT INCREASED RISK OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND FOSTER CARE INVOLVEMENT. RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS FROM OUR SCHOOL AND HOUSING JUSTICE INITIATIVES INCLUDE:NEW STATE LAWS AND POLICIES PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM DANGEROUS HOUSING CONDITIONS AND REQUIRING SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE NEEDED SUPPORT TO CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.EXPANSION OF AN INNOVATIVE EVICTION DIVERSION PROGRAM THAT HAS PROTECTED OVER 3,000 FAMILIES FROM HOMELESSNESS.TRAINING LAST YEAR FOR MORE THAN 1,250 PARENTS, TEACHERS, CASE MANAGERS, AND OTHERS ACROSS GEORGIA TO BE INFORMED AND CONFIDENT ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN.TESTIMONY BEFORE THE U.S. SENATE TO BRING NATIONWIDE ATTENTION TO GEORGIA'S UNHEALTHY, UNSAFE HOUSING CONDITIONS.ONGOING CONVENING OF STATEWIDE COALITIONS FOR HOUSING JUSTICE AND SCHOOL JUSTICE COMPRISING MORE THAN 100 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS.377,000 FEWER KIDS SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOL SINCE OUR TARGETED SCHOOL JUSTICE EFFORTS STARTED IN 2010.A REFERRAL SYSTEM CONNECTING CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE ACROSS GEORGIA WITH LEGAL SUPPORT, INCLUDING REPRESENTATION AT SCHOOL TRIBUNALS.REVENUES AND EXPENSES FOR SCHOOL JUSTICE WERE $349,187 AND $667,159. THIS REFLECTS OUR PROGRAMMATIC SPENDING IN FY2022 OF FUNDS FROM A SIGNIFICANT, MULTI-YEAR GRANT RECEIVED AND RECORDED IN FY2021. HOUSING JUSTICE REVENUES AND EXPENSES WERE $110,000 AND $88,309 RESPECTIVELY.