Advocates for Children Video Submission

On March 19, 2024, Advocates for Children was awarded $1 Million to further our mission to protect children, empower families, and strengthen communities. This journey began in March 2023, when Yield Giving launched an Open Call for community-led, community-focused organizations whose explicit purpose is to enable individuals and families to achieve substantive improvement in their well-being through foundational resources. The Open Call received 6,353 applications and initially planned for 250 awards of $1 million each. Advocates for Children is honored and humbled to be included in the list of awardees and are energized by the powerful impact this large gift will make on the communities we serve, particularly unhoused youth.

Advocates for Children (Advocates) is led by compassionate professionals who are dedicated to improving the lives of children. Advocates provides nine program lines with separate approaches to preventing child abuse, intervening when abuse has occurred, and assisting children and families to recover from crisis. Founded in 1983 as a children’s shelter in Cartersville, Georgia, Advocates has developed a deep continuum of care that serves more than 14,000 children and families annually across 11 northwest Georgia counties.

There are no other organizations in the area – and few in the nation – that combine evidence-based approaches to prevention in families’ homes, skilled intervention when an episode of abuse has occurred, and wrap-around support to address poverty-related problems so families can thrive. Northwest Georgia communities are stronger because Advocates supports families with multiple programs and helps them navigate legal, medical, and child welfare systems to obtain other resources. Advocates’ vision is communities where all children are safe, thriving, and loved.

In recent years, an upsurge in youth homelessness led Advocates to reweave the safety net for the children of northwest Georgia. In 2019, the RISE Independent Housing program was launched for 18–24-year-olds who are experiencing homelessness and/or aging out of the foster system. Of the 77 people served by RISE last year, 98% were able to continue leasing their own unit after the 12-month program. The RISE initiative is expanding in 2024 with new offices, additional staff, and construction of Newman House.

Youth homelessness is a growing crisis in northwest Georgia. Many of the youth who experience homelessness have aged out of the foster care system with nowhere to go. Sadly, the National Youth Foster Institute estimates that 20% of youth in foster care will become homeless the moment they are emancipated at age 18.

Rural youth homelessness is especially hidden. According to research by Chapin Hall, the numbers of homeless youth are almost equal between rural and urban areas, only 23% of youth in small counties are housed in shelters, while 50% of youth in larger communities are housed in shelters.

In rural Georgia, there are hidden homeless encampments and people sleeping in their vehicles. There are also many young people living “doubled up” in crowded housing, couch surfing or staying in weekly motels. These invisible teens can go unnoticed without experiencing a stable home, completing their education, or learning independent living skills to become self-sustaining adults.

Pregnancy and parenthood are common among youth experiencing homelessness. Chapin Hall’s survey found that nationally 44% of homeless females 18-25 are pregnant or parenting. Advocates sees pregnant or parenting homeless young adults every day, and there are very few “two-generation” housing programs designed to help these fragile young families.

Advocates’ strengths are cutting-edge services that combat child abuse and youth homelessness. We are the only youth-specific housing provider in northwest Georgia.

The next three years will be crucial. Advocates will better serve transition-age foster youth ages 14-24. In 2023 Advocates increased the number of residences from one to three homes and purchased land to construct 14 efficiency apartments for youth independent living. Advocates will expand the RISE housing program in surrounding counties with additional satellite offices.

This $1 million gift from Yield Giving will ensure Advocates sustains the unique continuum of programs that builds strong families and resilient children.These funds will not only bolster our day-to-day operations but also enable us to modernize our technology, strengthen our organizational infrastructure, and offer comprehensive training and educational opportunities for our dedicated team. Together, we’re equipped to make an even greater impact in the lives of children and families in need!

Newman House, slated to open in late 2024, is the latest way we are working to meet the unique needs of unhoused youth. Located on adjacent property to our Prevention and Advocacy Center in Cartersville, Newman House will provide transitional and emergency housing and drop-in services for unhoused youth ages 10-24. Newman House will stand as an inclusive and empowering space where every young person, regardless of their background, can embrace their inherent value and limitless potential.

Established by MacKenzie Scott to share a financial fortune created through the effort of countless people, Yield Giving is named after a belief in adding value by giving up control. To date, Yield’s network of staff and advisors has yielded over $16,500,000,000 to 1,900+ non-profit teams to use as they see fit for the benefit of others. To learn more, visit www.yieldgiving.com.

Advocates for Children 2023 Annual Report