Chris 180 Inc

TO HEAL CHILDREN, STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, AND BUILD COMMUNITY. CHRIS IS AN ACRONYM FOR OUR VALUES: CREATIVITY, HONOR, RESPECT, INTEGRITY, AND SAFETY.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES: CHRIS 180 IS A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION WITH TRAUMA INFORMED CARE AT THE CENTER OF ALL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. CHRIS 180 MEETS PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, CELEBRATES THE GIFTS OF DIVERSITY, PROMOTES EQUITY, WORKS TO ACHIEVE EQUAL JUSTICE AND RECOGNIZES THE IMPACT OF STRUCTURAL AND SYSTEMIC RACISM AS A MAJOR SOURCE OF TRAUMA IN OUR SOCIETY. THERAPISTS ARE EMBEDDED IN ALL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN ADDITION TO BEING IN THE COUNSELING CENTERS. THE ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE (ACE) QUESTIONNAIRE HAS BEEN UTILIZED SINCE 2007 TO HELP ASSESS LEVELS OF TRAUMA. RESEARCH BY THE CENTERS OF DISEASE CONTROL OVER TWO DECADES REVEALS THAT WITHOUT INTERVENTION AN ACE SCORE OF FOUR (4) OR MORE IS PREDICTIVE OF POOR LONG-TERM PHYSICAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONING OUTCOMES AS WELL AS A SIGNIFICANTLY SHORTENED LIFE SPAN. CHRIS 180 IDENTIFIES, UNDERSTANDS, AND TREATS THE IMPACT OF CHRONIC STRESS AND ACES SO THAT CHILDREN, YOUNG ADULTS AND FAMILIES CAN RECOVER, BUILD RESILIENCY, LIVE FULL LIVES AND AVOID NEGATIVE LONG TERM PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES. CHRIS 180 IS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL CHILD TRAUMATIC STRESS NETWORK (NCTSN). CHRIS 180 OFFERS TRAUMA INFORMED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE GREATER METRO ATLANTA AREA TO HELP THEM THROUGH TOUGH TIMES SO THAT THEY CAN FEEL AND FUNCTION BETTER. CHRIS 180 RECOGNIZES THAT THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IMPACT A PERSON'S ABILITY TO BENEFIT FROM MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES AND ITS PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND PARTNERSHIPS ADDRESS THESE DETERMINANTS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN LEARN TO THRIVE. CHRIS 180 FOCUSES ON DECREASING STIGMA, ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO INCREASE ACCESS, AND EXPANDING OUR IMPACT THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, PLACE-BASED COUNSELING AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES IN COMMUNITIES AND THROUGH TELEHEALTH. DURING 2021, COUNSELING WAS PROVIDED TO 8,331 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS ALL LOCATIONS AND VIRTUALLY. ACE (ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE) SCORES FOR THOSE SERVED ACROSS CLIENT LOCATIONS INDICATED THAT FROM 41% TO 78% OF INDIVIDUALS HAD A SCORE OF FOUR (4) OR MORE. THROUGHOUT 2021, IN ADDITION TO DIRECT COUNSELING, CHRIS 180 PROVIDED BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL SERVICES INCLUDING CHAPLAINCY/SPIRITUAL CARE EDUCATION AND TRAINING THROUGH OUR INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL AND NORTHSIDE GWINNETT HOSPITAL. RESIDENTS AND INTERNS IMPACTED COUNTLESS HOSPITAL PATIENTS AS WELL AS CLIENTS AND STAFF OF CHRIS 180 THROUGH PROVIDING SPIRITUAL CARE AND GUIDANCE. CHRIS 180'S SPECIAL FOCUS IS ON HELPING PEOPLE HEAL, RECOVER FROM TRAUMA, AND BUILD RESILIENCY. DURING 2020 AND 2021, THE SHARED COLLECTIVE TRAUMA OF THE PANDEMIC BECAME THE BACKDROP AND THE QUICKSAND FOR PRE-EXISTING TRAUMA AND THE TRAUMA RELATED TO THE MANY LOSSES SUFFERED BY CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES DURING THE PANDEMIC. THERAPISTS AT CHRIS 180 UTILIZE 27 DIFFERENT EVIDENCED BASED TREATMENT MODALITIES TO ENSURE PEOPLE RECEIVE THE INDIVIDUALLY TAILORED ASSISTANCE THEY NEED TO HELP THEM DEVELOP THE SKILLS REQUIRED TO BUILD PERSONAL RESILIENCY AND SUSTAIN RECOVERY. THERAPISTS USE THEIR SKILLS TO HELP PEOPLE BUILD RESILIENCY AND HEAL FROM PAST SEXUAL ABUSE, PHYSICAL ABUSE AND/OR OTHER ADVERSE CHILDHOOD/LIFE EXPERIENCES. PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND THE EMORY UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL ENABLE PSYCHIATRIC FELLOWS TO FURTHER THEIR TRAINING. PARTNERSHIPS WITH SEVERAL COLLEGES PROVIDE SUPERVISED INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES FOR MASTERS LEVEL CLINICAL INTERNS. TELEPSYCHIATRY AND TELECOUNSELING WERE PROVIDED VIRTUALLY AS WELL AS IN PERSON AT OUR LOCATIONS INCLUDING: THE CHRIS COUNSELING CENTER IN ATLANTA; THE CHRIS COUNSELING CENTER IN DEKALB COUNTY; ADAMSVILLE HEALTH CENTER, OAKHILL FAMILY AND CHILDREN CENTER, AT PROMISE CENTERS, WESTSIDE EMPOWERMENT CENTER AND NORTH FULTON ANNEX IN FULTON COUNTY; THE CHRIS COUNSELING CENTER IN GWINNETT COUNTY; 72 SCHOOLS IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA, CLAYTON COUNTY, DEKALB COUNTY AND FULTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS; PARTNER LOCATIONS; AND IN THE METRO COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY SERVICES: CHRIS 180 OFFERS AN EXPANDING ARRAY OF TRAUMA INFORMED COMMUNITY SERVICES DESIGNED TO HELP CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND ADULTS, STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND BUILD SAFE, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. OUR UNIQUE APPROACH MEETS PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND COMBINES A THERAPIST WITH A CASEWORKER WHO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE FAMILY, HELP EACH FAMILY MEMBER BUILD THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO THRIVE. UTILIZING EVIDENCE-BASED MODELS THAT INCLUDE HIGH FIDELITY WRAPAROUND AND MULTI SYSTEMIC THERAPY, FAMILIES ARE HELPED TO NAVIGATE MULTIPLE SYSTEMS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES WHILE RECEIVING THERAPY, PREVENTION, REUNIFICATION, AND SUPPORT SERVICES THAT HELP THEM STRENGTHEN THEIR FAMILIES AND BUILD NATURAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. MULTI-GENERATIONAL TRAUMA IS ADDRESSED IN HOUSEHOLDS WITH VERY YOUNG CHILDREN THROUGH THE NEW GENERATIONS PROGRAM WHICH WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EARLY LEARNING CENTERS HELPING CHILDREN, 0-5, AND FAMILY MEMBERS. IN ADDITION, SPECIALIZED WRAPAROUND SERVICES ARE ALSO PROVIDED FOR FAMILIES IMPACTED BY ADULT OPIOID AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. OVER 2,000 INDIVIDUALS BENEFITED FROM THESE SERVICES IN 2021. A TRAUMA INFORMED ADOPTION PROGRAM HELPS CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE SECURE A FOREVER FAMILY AND CHRIS 180'S JAIL RE-ENTRY AND YOUTH BUILD PROGRAMS FOCUS ON HELPING YOUNG ADULTS HEAL FROM PAST TRAUMA, OBTAIN A GED, BECOME CAREER READY AND DEVELOP THE SKILLS AND RESILIENCY NEEDED FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY. COMMUNITY SERVICES INCLUDE FOCUSED PROGRAMMING IN CITY OF ATLANTA POLICE ZONES (1,3, 5 & 6) IN THE WEST, SOUTH AND EAST SIDES OF THE CITY OF ATLANTA THROUGH THE DROP IN CENTER, THREE AT PROMISE CENTERS, THE WESTSIDE EMPOWERMENT CENTER AND THE CURE VIOLENCE ATLANTA PROGRAM. THESE SERVICES WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS TO INTERVENE IN THE LIVES OF TEENS, YOUNG ADULTS, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES TO HELP THEM CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THEIR LIVES TO PRODUCTIVITY AND SUCCESS. THESE PROGRAMS INTERFACE WITH CHRIS 180'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SCHOOL BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED IN TITLE 1 SCHOOLS AND WITH CHRIS 180 PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND FOOD INSECURITY. CHRIS 180 ALSO OPERATES A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER PROGRAM AND A 24/7 HELPLINE TO CENTRALIZE ACCESS TO SERVICES ON THE WESTSIDE. DURING 2021 CHRIS 180 CONDUCTED OVER 20 VACCINATION EVENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CORE AND MERCY CARE AND FOOD DELIVERY AND PICK UP WITH WELL-CHECKS WHICH FACILITATED TRUST, HEALTH AND COMMUNITY BONDING ON THE WESTSIDE, SOUTHSIDE AND EASTSIDE. CHRIS 180'S CURE VIOLENCE ATLANTA PROGRAM FOCUSED ON DECREASING COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, RE-CLAIMING SPACES AND HELPING COMMUNITY MEMBERS BUILD STRONG, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THROUGH INTERVENTION AND INTERRUPTION OF COMMUNITY AND GUN VIOLENCE WITH THE GOAL OF RE-DIRECTING AND SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS IN DEVELOPING THE SKILLS AND RESILIENCY NEEDED FOR SELF- SUFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY. HEALING CIRCLES AND TRAUMA RESPONSE NETWORK TRAININGS FOR RESIDENTS PROVIDED RESIDENTS WITH TOOLS TO HELP EACH OTHER AND HEAL. DURING 2021, WHILE GUN VIOLENCE AND HOMICIDES INCREASED THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF ATLANTA, IN NEIGHBORHOODS IN NPU-V WHERE CURE VIOLENCE OPERATES HOMICIDES DECREASED BY 30%. ALL COMMUNITY SERVICES WORK TOGETHER AND ARE FREQUENTLY PROVIDED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER COMMUNITY PROVIDERS, LEVERAGING EACH PARTNER'S STRENGTHS TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOAL OF HELPING STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND BUILDING SAFE, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS: IN ORDER TO ENHANCE SERVICES TO POPULATIONS WITH NEED WHILE AVOIDING DUPLICATION OF SERVICES, CHRIS 180 SEEKS TO LEVERAGE OUR STRENGTHS AND THE STRENGTHS OF PARTNERS THROUGH CREATING PARTNERSHIPS DESIGNED TO FULFILL OUR MISSION IN THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT MANNER. TO THIS END, DURING 2021 CHRIS 180 MAINTAINED MOUS WITH OVER 50 NON-PROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT PARTNERS INCLUDING THE ATLANTA POLICE FOUNDATION, LUTHERAN INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE SERVICES, ATLANTA VOLUNTEER LAWYERS, THE URBAN LEAGUE OF ATLANTA, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF METRO ATLANTA, ENDEAVORS, FOUR DIFFERENT PUBLIC-SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN METRO ATLANTA AND TWO FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS, MERCY CARE AND GOOD SAMARITAN HEALTH CENTER. TO SUPPORT FOOD DELIVERY, COVID TESTING, VACCINATIONS, EMERGENCY RENTAL/HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND OTHER SERVICES, CHRIS 180 SIGNED MOUS WITH CARE, CORE AND ARCHI. THESE ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDED ESSENTIAL FUNDING TO CHRIS 180, NOT TO MENTION THE MANY FOOD SERVICE PARTNERS WHO DONATED FOOD, MEALS AND FRESH PRODUCE WHICH WERE DELIVERED. AS A RESULT, BASIC NEEDS WERE MET, BARRIERS TO SERVICES WERE REDUCED AND ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL TRAUMA INFORMED COUNSELING AND OTHER SERVICES WERE INCREASED FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS AND FAMILIES AS WELL AS FOR CLIENTS OF OTHER NONPROFITS. A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GEORGIA PARTNERSHIP FOR TELEHEALTH CONTINUES TO EXPAND SERVICES ON BEHALF OF OUR CLIENTS. PARTNERS INCLUDE: ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FULTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PURPOSE BUILT SCHOOLS, KIPP SCHOOLS, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, THE YMCA, SHELTERING ARMS, UNITED WAY, AND THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES. OTHER COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS IN 2021 INCLUDED YEAR UP, THE GRADY TRAUMA PROJECT, OUR HOUSE, OPEN DOORS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL, GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FULTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND THE JUVENILE COURTS OF FULTON, DEKALB, AND GWINNETT COUNTIES.

RESIDENTIAL AND HOUSING SERVICES: IN 2021 CHRIS 180 OPERATED TRADITIONAL FOSTER HOMES, TWO GATEWAY HOMES FOR SIBLINGS IN FOSTER CARE, FOSTER TO ADOPT HOMES AND OUR JOURNEYZ GROUP HOME PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE WITH HIGH ACUITY NEEDS. DUE TO REQUIREMENTS IN THE FEDERAL FAMILY FIRST ACT THAT PRECLUDE GROUP CARE IN FAVOR OF THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE WITH AN IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINE IN OCTOBER 2021, CHRIS 180 MADE THE DECISION TO BEGIN THE TRANSITION OUR PROGRAM FOR FOSTER CHILDREN TO A THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE MODEL. DURING 2021, CHRIS 180 PROVIDED TRAUMA TRAINING VIRTUALLY IN PERSON FOR PERSONNEL WORKING IN MIGRANT SHELTERS AND DETENTION CENTERS. THIS CONTRACT LED TO IN PERSON TRAUMA TRAINING AND CHILD WELFARE CONSULTATION WHEN THE CRISIS OF UNACCOMPANIED MINORS AT THE BORDER OCCURRED. IN MID-2021, CHRIS 180 RECOGNIZED THAT WE COULD USE OUR HOMES TO HELP TRAUMATIZED UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN, INCLUDING MINOR GIRLS WHO ARE PREGNANT OR HAVE BABIES/YOUNG CHILDREN, WE OPENED SOME OF OUR HOMES FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE GOAL OF THE TRANSITIONAL FOSTER CARE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN FEDERAL FOSTER CARE IS TO PROVIDE THERAPY THAT IMMEDIATELY ADDRESSES THE TRAUMAS SUFFERED AND PREPARES THE CHILDREN AND CHILD MOMS FOR UNIFICATION WITH FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE U.S. THE GOAL IS TO UNITE CHILDREN WITH FAMILY WITHIN 45 DAYS. HOUSING SERVICE COMPONENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY INCLUDE CHRIS 180'S DROP-IN-CENTER, EMERGENCY RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, EMERGENCY/TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AT SUMMIT TRAIL APARTMENTS (WHICH IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY CHRIS 180), AND SCATTERED HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY. THROUGH THE DROP-IN-CENTER, TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE CONNECTED WITH SUPPORT, COUNSELING, EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING. FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN RECEIVE SUPPORT VIRTUALLY AND COMMUNITY HOUSING. COUNSELING AND SUPPORT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO EVERY PERSON TOUCHED BY THESE SERVICE COMPONENTS AND 90% USE AT LEAST ONE SERVICE. IN THE TRANSITIONZ PROGRAM AT SUMMIT TRAIL APARTMENTS THE GOAL OF SERVICES IS TO HELP SINGLE AND PARENTING YOUTH WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND THOSE AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE, AGES 17 - 24 (UPON ENTRY), BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT ADULTS THROUGH A COMBINATION OF HOUSING, COUNSELING, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND SUPPORT SERVICES. SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT, LIFE SKILLS, EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, JOB COACHING AND PARENTING SKILLS. SINCE THE END OF 2017, CHRIS 180 HAS STEADILY INCREASED EFFORTS TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS THROUGH EXPANSION OF "BRIDGE HOUSING" OPTIONS WHILE WORKING TO HELP YOUNG ADULTS AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN TO SECURE MORE PERMANENT HOUSING. OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITY MAKES CLEAR THAT SERVICES ARE INCLUSIVE OF RACE, RELIGION, ETHNICITY, GENDER IDENTITY AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION. PARTNERS INCLUDE THE FULTON AND DEKALB CONTINUUMS OF CARE, SALVATION ARMY, PARTNERS FOR HOME, QUEST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, OPEN DOORS AND THE WESTSIDE FUTURE FUND. IMPORTANTLY, THE OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY HOUSING AND RE-ENTRY PROGRAMS HELPED A COMBINED 1,523 PEOPLE ACHIEVE HOUSING, STABILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY.

THE CHRIS TRAINING INSTITUTE