HR 1537: Atlanta Children's Day Shelter; 40 years of service to Georgia's children and families; commend

House Resolution 1537

By: Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Davis of the 87th, Evans of the 57th, and Berry of the 56th

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing and commending the Atlanta Children's Day Shelter for 40 years of service to Georgia's children and families; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the Atlanta Children's Day Shelter was founded in 1986 through the leadership and vision of the Junior League of Atlanta and North Avenue Presbyterian Church, who recognized the urgent need to provide stability, education, and comprehensive support to young children and families experiencing homelessness; and

WHEREAS, for 40 years, the Atlanta Children's Day Shelter has served children and families facing housing instability by providing high-quality early childhood education, trauma-informed care, mental health services, family support, and crisis stabilization resources that create pathways toward long-term achievement and stability; and

WHEREAS, across the State of Georgia, approximately 2 percent of public school students lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and nearly 60,000 children statewide are homeless or living in unstable housing, a figure that has increased substantially in recent years, placing at-risk students at a severe disadvantage in educational attainment, mental health, and overall family well-being; and

WHEREAS, while Georgia has made progress in overall educational outcomes—such as record-high statewide graduation rates—students experiencing homelessness nationally and within Georgia continue to face academic and social-emotional challenges, graduating at lower rates compared with their peers and underscoring the need for targeted early intervention, behavioral health supports, and wrap-around services; and

WHEREAS, the Atlanta Children's Day Shelter advances a nationally recognized two-generation (2Gen) approach, supporting both children and their parents simultaneously—ensuring that children receive high-quality early education and social-emotional support within a trauma-informed environment while parents gain access to workforce development, housing stability resources, mental health services, and individualized case management that strengthen the entire family unit; and

WHEREAS, by centering resilience, healing, and whole-family well-being and through the dedication of its staff, board members, volunteers, donors, and community partners, the Atlanta Children's Day Shelter has strengthened thousands of families, fostered school readiness, and helped build a more resilient and opportunity-rich future for communities across the State of Georgia.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize and commend the Atlanta Children's Day Shelter for 40 years of transformative service to Georgia's children and families; honor its leadership in advancing a comprehensive two-generation strategy rooted in education, mental health, and trauma-informed care; and extend their appreciation for its vital contributions to improving the long-term educational, emotional, and life outcomes of children and families experiencing homelessness.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Atlanta Children's Day Shelter.