COBB COLLABORATIVE VOLUME 8 - 2024 Q4
A WORD FROM IRENE BARTO
COBB COLLABORATIVE’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear Cobb County,
If you’re anything like me, you are wondering how in the world we are facing the end of the year! It’s been a challenging year people we serve – inflationary pressures, affordable housing shor in Georgia and beyond, and the continuation and escalation world. And perhaps all of these things are runners up to the unc divisions that permeated the weeks and days leading up to g November 5.
Taking care of ourselves so that we can continue in our roles has never been more important. And that care includes being aware of our own emotions and feelings and having supports when we recognize that we are struggling. As always, the most important support is a healthy connection with others, but there are other ways to build resiliency including exercising, spending time outside, journaling, hobbies, faith traditions. Make plans to join us the first week in February during at least one of our Resiliency Week activities to learn and practice more!
It’s our hope that this final quarterly edition of our Mind Your Mind e-magazine will be one more valuable tool for you in that regard. As always, it is filled with valuable information and resources, not only from our team members but also from other community leaders. It's been our pleasure to produce this quarterly digital resource over the past two years. Your feedback has let us know how much you value the information. We are going to shift our communications focus in 2025 and look forward to sharing that with you.
On behalf of our entire staff, volunteers and Board, we wish all of you a holiday season filled with joy, warmth and light. We are looking forward to a 2025 filled with resiliency and hope.
Happy Holidays!
Warmly,
Irene Barton
Irene M. Barton, Executive Director
SAVETHEDATE! SAVETHEDATE!
The holiday season can be a time where emotions can heighten.
Joy, excitement, and comfort can overwhelm our bodies. But stress can too. And so can sadness or grief. It’s important to acknowledge that these emotions can co-exist during the holidays. And sometimes, the latter emotions can overshadow the others. As humans, this can be normal.
During this holiday season, let us go into it with compassion and integrate moments of wellness to find moments of peace amongst the difficult.
Try out some of the following wellness skills to support yourself and others the next time you are finding yourself overwhelmed by the holidays:
WELLNESS TOOLS
TAKE TIME TO CHECK IN WITH YOURSELF OR OTHERS AROUND YOU
Notice when your breathing slows or when your shoulders relax. Focus on what sensations your body is experiencing and if you are stressed or calm. This practice helps understand what may trigger our stress and helps us recognize when we are feeling calm. If we notice that we are stressed, we can then utilize other wellness skills to get back to feeling calm.
CREATE A “HOLIDAY RESILIENCE LIST” OF SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE, MEMORIES, OR ACTIVITIES THAT BRING COMFORT.
When feelings of stress or sadness arise, acknowledge them and then turn to the list to recall moments that make you feel strong, loved and connected.
FIND QUICK AND SIMPLE STRATEGIES TO HAVE IN YOUR MENTAL HEALTH TOOLKIT FOR WHEN YOU HAVE INTENSE EMOTIONS.
Some examples are holding ice or a cold pack, taking advantage of leftover Halloween candy (sour candy may help shock the nervous system, reducing symptoms of anxiety), or using the 5-4-3-2-1 method (5 things you see, 4 things you hear, 3 things you touch, 2 things you smell, 1 thing you taste) These are quick, simple methods that are personal to what works to offer relief for you in times of spiked emotions.
PRACTICE GROUNDING TECHNIQUES
LIKE MINDFUL BREATHING, LISTENING TO A SOOTHING PLAYLIST, OR TAKING A MINDFUL WALK.
These techniques can help you to stay centered and in the present moment whenever you feel overwhelmed.
IDENTIFY A SELFSOOTHING GESTURE TO CREATE AN INNER SENSE OF SECURITY AND CARE.
Maybe that looks like placing a hand on your heart, hugging yourself, or squeezing your hands together. Any small movement that brings comfort and support.
NOTICE THE LITTLE THINGS THAT BRING YOU COMFORT OR JOY.
Savor a quiet holiday moment, find comfort in a nice warm drink, or enjoying the glow of holiday lights. Staying with these pleasant moments can help create a buffer against holiday stress.
Each of these techniques can foster a sense of comfort, safety, and well-being, helping us navigate the holidays with more resilience
Each tip is based upon the 6 wellness skills of the Community Resiliency Model (CRM)®, an evidence-based model that focuses on resetting the natural balance of the nervous system to better handle life’s ups and downs.
To learn more about CRM and other training opportunities, head to our website at cobbcollaborative.org/training-opportunities.
GROWING GROWING THROUGH IT THROUGH IT
The Emotional Growth pillar of the HOPE (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences) Framework focuses on providing children with opportunities to develop emotional skills and feel supported when experiencing difficult emotions.
Emotional growth is crucial for children to develop into healthy and emotionally stable adults. It is an internal process that happens naturally, and it’s difficult to plan specific moments for growth to occur. When children experience moments of complex emotions through various circumstances, it can be an opportunity to learn how to manage emotions that every human will face in life. Complex emotions are a part of life; while we must normalize that, we also must learn how to manage them through healthy coping skills and supportive relationships.
Through each experience in life, individuals can improve their emotional regulation skills and strengthen their emotional intelligence, which is essential for maintaining healthy relationships, personal growth, and overall well-being.
Emotional Growth happens in hard moments, and how we handle those moments can shape how we see the world and our place in it.
WAYSTOPROMOTE WAYSTOPROMOTE EMOTIONALGROWTH EMOTIONALGROWTH
We all have the power to foster and encourage emotional growth for the children in our life. Each of these strategies below help children gain emotional awareness, develop empathy, and learn skills for handling their emotions in healthy ways. The earlier children learn how to manage their emotions, the more emotionally healthy and more resilient they will be later in life.
Model Emotional Expression: Show them how to identify and express emotions by naming your own feelings in various situations. This helps children learn that expressing emotions can be healthy and positive.
Encourage Open Communication: Create a safe environment where children feel comfortable sharing their feelings without judgement. This helps build trust in the overall family unit.
Don’t Hesitate to Show Support: Cheering children on in whatever they do helps children feel worthy of celebration and can increase confidence.
Teach Self-Regulation Techniques: Introduce age-appropriate strategies for managing emotions like deep breathing, counting to ten, or using art to express feelings. Helping children develop self-regulation skills can reduce stress and improve resilience in the face of challenges. And don’t forget to nurture your own self-regulation skills as well!
To learn more about the HOPE framework, head to https://positiveexperience.org
HEALING HEALING WOUNDS WOUNDS
CREATING CREATING SAFER SAFER COMMUNITIES COMMUNITIES THROUGH THROUGH UNITY UNITY
Operation Recovery is a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide support to grieving parents and advocate for safer communities, while offering youth opportunities to make a positive impact in underserved communities.
*Disclaimer - this article contains topics of loss to gun violence.
HEALING WOUNDS
For Zanetia Henry and her family, 2019 started out as an exciting new year full of opportunity to offer others a place of healing. Operation Recovery, her nonprofit organization, began in January, with a focus on supporting parents and children with estranged relationships.
Fast forward to April, and everything changed. Zanetia and her family were catapult into deep devastation when they found out that their 22-year-old son, DreCharles ‘Dre’ Henry, lost his life at the hands of gun violence On that day, Operation Recovery was given a whole new mission
It was then that Zanetia and her husband understood the deeper need for support for parents who were also snatched into this journey - they felt a calling to stretch wider then how they were operating at the time Understanding and navigating their own grief, they knew they never wanted other parents who are experiencing the loss of a child to feel lost or unsupported.
The goal shifted from supporting families with estrangement, to supporting parents who have survived the death of their children. For Operation Recovery, it was critical to establish a framework that not only provided momentary support for families, but an ongoing effort to give parents a space to be able to move through grief, navigate their flowing emotions, and get to a point where they can thrive through loss.
To prevent other parents from having to walk the same walk, Operation Recovery aims to teach parents and young people how to properly manage their emotions by gaining tools to deal with strong feelings, like anger, to stop the cycle of “hurt people hurting people ”
Support Groups
One-on-One Grief Support Calls
Monthly Zoom Calls Emotional Intelligence Strategies
National Student Pledge
Law and Order Series
National Night Out Events
United Hearts In The Park Volunteer Opportunities
As human beings, our emotions are a major part of us. They play a huge role in shaping our journeys and our sense of self. Yet, we don’t always know how to navigate our emotions, especially big ones like anger and fear.
The loss of a loved one comes with many emotions, but when the loss was caused by any type of violence, anger can often overwhelm along with sadness and confusion It is vital in these moments to learn how to navigate this roller coaster of emotions inside and control your response to these emotions so that you don’t allow your emotions to control you.
“WE GIVE SPACE FOR PARENTS TO BE HEARD AND RELEASE SO THEY ARE ABLE TO MOVE THE GRIEF FORWARD AND NOT GET STUCK IN IT.”
Understanding how trauma is impacting our emotions and behaviors allows for growth and healing, which leads to positive responses, like resilience despite traumas and adversities Through support groups, youth summits, and mentor groups, Operation Recovery provides awareness, prevention, and healing strategies alongside grief coaching designed to meet survivors where they are and walk with them through the journey.
A large portion of Operation Recovery’s programing includes monthly support groups (via Zoom) for parents and caregivers who have lost a child, no matter how the loss occurred; and one-on-one grief support calls where families are given tools to identify the stages of grief, their reactions to each stage, and their emotions throughout the process During these support groups and calls, individuals will get help tapping into their emotional intelligence while learning a variety of traditional and non-traditional coping strategies
In addition to the emotional aspect of loss, Operation Recovery also tackles the issue of mistrust between the community and law enforcement in order to end gun violence.
Through the “Cobb County Violence Reduction Initiative”, a project of the Woodson Center Voices of Black Mothers United of Washington, DC, rebuilding this trust through advocacy efforts, such as participating in National Night Out events, and getting students to sign The National Student Pledge Against Gun Violence has been instrumental and gaining a brighter outlook on a community safety Their advocacy efforts provide the space for lawenforcement to come together with a community in a positive atmosphere
Operation Recovery and VBMU aim to serve the Cobb County community in the most positive and productive way. If you’d like to get involved with this work, volunteer opportunities are available. You don’t have to suffer alone, join a support group today!
CONNECT WITH PURPOSE
For more information about Zanetia and Operation
W I N T E R 2 0 2 4
UPCOMING EVENTS FROM COBB COLLABORATIVE AND OUR COBB COUNTY COMMUNITIES
COBB COLLAB EVENTS
FOR THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR CALENDAR & SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER!
B COLLABORATIVE MEETINGS/NETWORKING
General Membership Meeting
Q4 & Human Services Awards - December 3rd (11:30a-1:15p)
Coffee with the Collaborative December 10th (9a-11a)
Nonprofit Capacity Building
Advocacy Strategies for Nonprofit Engagement (VIRTUAL) - December 12 (10a-11a)
LITERACY/EARLY LEARNING EVENTS
Basics Playground Paloozas
Count, Group & CompareDecember 18th (10:30a-11a)
Maximize Love, Manage StressJanuary 4th (10:30a-11a)
Strategy Team Meeting
Children & Families - December 11th (11:30a-1p)
PCA Trainings
Virtual Mandated ReporterDecember 17th (10a-11:30a)
AS THE HOLIDAY SEASON APPROACHES, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A MOMENT TO PAUSE, BREATHE, AND RECONNECT WITH THE PRESENT.
EMBRACE THE JOY OF NOW, AND LET IT GUIDE YOU THROUGH THIS BUSY TIME OF YEAR.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Need something to do this Winter? Check out some of these events happening around Cobb County! Be sure to check out your local county and city websites to find out the latest community event going on in your area!
NOVEMBER 28
NOVEMBER 30
DECEMBER 3
MUST Ministries Gobble Jog
Marietta - N Park Stret
Tree Lighting Presented by Wellstar
The Battery Atlanta
Home for the Holidays Tree
Lighting
In front of City Hall in Smyrna
Marietta Christmas Tree
DECEMBER 5
DECEMBER 6
DECEMBER 6
Lighting
Glover Park in Historic Marietta Square
Santa’s Arrival & Tree Lighting
City of Acworth
Christmas Parade & Tree
Lighting
Thurman Springs Park
DECEMBER 7
DECEMBER 13-15
DECEMBER 21
A Day With Santa & Tree
Lighting
Downtown Kennesaw
2024 Holiday Artisan Market
Cobb County Civic Center
Winter Festival 2024
Sewell Mill Cultural Center
“ I have been fortunate enough to have witnessed dozens of lives change for the better as we see struggling Veterans back on the road to self sufficiency. I have seen single mothers with children get into a new apartment and get their children enrolled in school. I have witnessed Veterans that had fallen from high places only to be humbled by homelessness and not give up on the dream of being completely self-sustaining. The numerous accounts of clients coming to us to file disability claims and being a witness to those claims being approved and immediately changing the lives of Veterans forever. There is much to witness in this line of work that inspires the human spirit to see others overcome so much.”
- Tyler Bowser, Connecting Cobb Veterans
Connecting Cobb Veterans (CCV) started as a quarterly strategy team as a way to convene local stakeholders to discuss and tackle critical veteran issues Time and time again, there was one glaring issue that couldn’t be avoided - unhoused veterans.
Shortly after Tyler Bowser came on staff for Connecting Cobb Veterans, he knew he needed to move from planning to action fairly immediately towards that immanent issue. The first veteran Tyler served solidified his journey to helping others find a more solid path forward on the rocky road of life.
Tyler recalls, “The first Veteran I helped here at CCV was a Veteran that was moving here from Brooklyn The Veteran was referred using a network referral portal and the Veteran made the move within the first couple of weeks that I was here at CCV Upon arriving we helped to establish the Veteran and helped make arrangements for medical appointments and for a job interview. Within 3 weeks of arriving the Veteran established employment, went through the intensive process to get into VA subsidized housing and established himself and his wife here in Marietta.”
CONNECTING COBB VETERANS HAS SERVED
354+ VETERANS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM IN FEBRUARY OF 2023
While there are many programs supporting Veterans in the community, there are many shortfalls that leave countless Veterans facing homelessness, both temporary and long-term The mental impact of being unhoused has an enormous weight of cognitive burden that eliminates an individual's ability to plan for the future because they are continuously worrying about the immediate here and now
One of the biggest challenges that Veterans face are flaws within the system. The Veterans Affairs (VA) offers two main rehousing programs - the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD VASH). These two programs are supposed to rapidly rehouse homeless Veterans, but the reality is that it can take several weeks to several months for Veterans to be placed into permanent housing. Whether they are waiting on test results or paperwork, the gap continues to expose the Veteran to homelessness with nowhere to turn.
According to Tyler, “the largest gap that Veterans face is from the time they present themselves as being homeless to the time that they are ultimately being housed can take days or even weeks. We provide emergency lodging that bridges this gap and enables a Veteran to stay off the streets in a safe and comfortable environment as they navigate their way to a more permanent housing solution.”
Tyler and the CCV saw a dire need for emergency shelter that would fill in where the current programs fall short. Since starting the program in February 2023, CCV has served over 350 Veterans, not only in Cobb County, but ranging all the way to Macon, Georgia.
As CCV continues to reach beyond the borders of Cobb County, Connecting Cobb Veterans will be going through a re-brand to Connecting Georgia Veterans as a way to more appropriately represent the individuals served, and broaden connections to other organizations serving Veterans.
Starting on January 1, 2025, Connecting Cobb Veterans will be operating under the new name of Connecting Georgia Veterans.
“With our new re-branding and efforts to increase our size and scope of service area, we are committed to giving the same type of compassionate one on one care that all of our clients receive.” - Tyler Bowser
If you know of a homeless Veteran in need, reach out to Connecting Cobb Veterans today
THANK YOU to everyone involved in the making of MYM Magazine as a step towards reducing the stigma of mental health and increasing access and awareness to support and services.
We wouldn't be able to do this amazing work and further our mission without the support of Resilient Georgia. Be sure to check out our events, many of which are sponsored by Resilient Georgia. COLLABORATIVE
