CARE: Chronic Homelessness, Access to Health, Rehabilitation, Economic Literacy
CARE: Chronic Homelessness, Access to Health, Rehabilitation, Economic Literacy
This initiative is an interdepartmental and interagency collaborative effort to reduce and eliminate the
complex trauma students may bring with them to school each day. This trauma, which may result from
chronic homelessness, inaccessible health services, a culture of violence or drugs outside of school, and/or
familial economic and financial instability, often manifests as aggressive or anti-social behavior in children
at school. Evidenced-based programs and events (i.e. Words Not Hands) developed under this initiative
directly connects DCSD parents to resources and providers who can address these needs before they
lead to adverse childhood experiences that negatively affect student academic achievement. The C.A.R.E.
initiative primarily functions as a Hub and living database, that connects parents to resources, supports,
and services, while monitoring their progress throughout the delivery and implementation phases.
Initiative Collaborators: DCSD Student Support & Intervention, DCSD Title IV Prevention, Wellroot
Wellness Services, WellRefugee Center, CHRIS 180, Legal Aid, Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic
Violence, United Way of Greater Atlanta, Kaiser Permanente, DeKalb Community Service Board and
DeKalb County Department of Family and Children Services.
To receive assistance through the C.A.R.E. initiative please complete the C.A.R.E. initiative entry form.
Regroup
It’s Time to Regroup! Regroup is an
interdepartmental and interagency Mental,
Social, and Emotional Wellness Initiative for
DCSD parents who are experiencing life events
and situations that may affect the mental,
social, or emotional health of their children and
families. These life changes and situations may
include grief, divorce, professional transitions,
trauma, or other anxieties and difficulties. This
district-wide initiative will be implemented
(August 2020 - May 2021) through 1) monthly
peer-led Family Support Groups that are
facilitated by professional counselors and liaisons
via the Regroup class in Microsoft Teams, 2) live
and prerecorded mental, social, and emotional
wellness workshops available via the Regroup
class in Microsoft Teams, and 3) live large scale
forums and townhall meetings offered once or
twice quarterly via Zoom.
Families against bullying
This collaborative initiative is
led by our department and the
Department of Student Relations
is designed to address and counter
bullying and youth violence among
our students through direct parent
engagement and intervention. The
four (4) main goals are: 1) Provide
parents with opportunities to learn
and adapt holistic approaches
that increase their children’s
confidence and capability; 2) Equip
parents with skills, approaches
and knowledge that enable them
to help their children effectively
navigate life choices; 3) Coordinate
a supportive cultural network of
parents that promotes bullying
awareness and community
responsibility; and 4) Create
collaborations with local agencies
that develop and implement youth
& family-centered policies and
practices.
Through this initiative we will offer
parents and guardians a series
of workshops presented by Dr.
Quentin Fretwell, Administrator
in the Department of Student
Relations. Dr. Fretwell brings expertise in anti-bullying initiatives through his work as school
administrator, retired Director of Student Relations, and a state and regional presenter on school
discipline, safety/security, attendance and bullying. The workshops will be accessible through
The FAB Life class in Microsoft Teams, with a live video meeting for each workshop, supplemental
materials, and evaluation forms. Each parent who completes all nine workshops will receive special
acknowledgment during an end-of-year celebration in May 2021.