Aimee to Attend World Refugee Day in D.C.!

This June, LSG staff member and former refugee Aimee Zangandou will join other former refugees in Washington D.C. to receive leadership training and advocate on behalf of refugees. Aimee was selected to attend Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service's (LIRS) World Refugee Day Advocacy and Training Event. Along with the Walk of Courage Award Gala and Refugee Sunday, this event will take place as a part of LIRS's 75th Anniversary Commemoration, celebrating 75 years of walking alongside migrants. Aimee will be joined by Yeshey Pelzom, International Rescue Committee (IRC) staff member and former Resettlement Program Manager at LSG, in representing Georgia’s refugee communities.

Aimee’s passion for refugee communities is deeply personal. Originally from Rwanda, Aimee and her family fled the violence of the 1994 genocide and crossed the border into the Democratic Republic of Congo. Aimee, her parents, and her three siblings lived in a refugee camp for one year before relocating to Niger. In 1997, when Aimee was only 16 years old, her family was resettled in Stone Mountain, Georgia. There, a local church welcomed them and guided them through their early days of life in the U.S.

Since her arrival in Georgia, Aimee has actively helped other refugees adjust to life in the U.S. She began volunteering with refugee communities through the IRC. When Aimee heard that LSG’s Refugee Services department had an opening, she decided to apply. In 2009, she came on staff as a Data Specialist. A year later, she became a Social Adjustment Case Manager and was eventually promoted to Senior Case Manager in June, 2013.

Now, Aimee manages social adjustment services that provide refugees with the resources and knowledge they need to thrive in their new homes and new communities. These services include educating refugees on everything from home maintenance to public transportation to medical appointments. She finds her work “personally rewarding” and is constantly looking for ways that she can serve refugees more effectively.

Aimee is excited for the opportunity to attend LIRS’s World Refugee Day Training and Advocacy event. The trip won’t be her first time in Washington, D.C., but it will be her first time speaking with members of Congress about issues that affect refugee communities. She looks forward to learning more about advocacy and leadership and plans to bring the knowledge she gains back to refugee communities in Georgia. “I’m hoping I can learn more about advocating for refugees and develop skills in keeping communities together,” Aimee said. “I want to empower refugee communities to advocate for themselves and strengthen their communities.” Aimee holds a B.A. in International Affairs and a M.A. in Public Administration.

For more information about the World Refugee Day event and LIRS’s 75^th Anniversary, click here.

Lutheran Behavioral Health Services Receives Three-Year CARF Accreditation

Lutheran Services of Georgia is excited to announce that the Lutheran Behavioral Health Services program (LBHS) recently received a three-year accreditation from CARF International, the maximum length of accreditation that CARF offers to health and human service providers.

LBHS offers an array of outpatient mental health and substance abuse counseling services to children, adolescents, adults, and seniors in the Metropolitan Atlanta area. LBHS utilizes a person-centered treatment plan to assist clients with reaching their personal goals to improve their lives and promotes mental health through service, advocacy, and education.

Since the launch of LBHS in August, 2013, LSG has sought accreditation from CARF International to support this crucial program. CARF International is an accreditation body that assists service providers in improving service quality, demonstrating value, and meeting internationally recognized organizational and program standards. Organizations like LSG must undergo a comprehensive review of policies and procedures to ensure that they meet CARF standards.

Dr. Lucy Cannon, LBHS Program Director, and Ms. Joy Jones, LSG’s Senior Manager of Quality and Improvement led LSG staff through this process. Together, LSG staff and stakeholders developed a plan that allowed LBHS to succeed. As an accredited program, LBHS can now take steps towards becoming a certified Medicaid provider in Georgia and is eligible for federal, state, and local funding sources. LSG will further develop and implement survey and outcome measurement tools to improve its mental health and substance abuse services for clients and families.

LSG thanks Dr. Cannon, Ms. Jones, LSG staff, CARF Surveyor Ms. Lesley Levin, LCSW, clients, and other stakeholders who successfully assisted LSG through this process.

For more information about LBHS or to make a referral, visit the LBHS webpage.

ASAP Students Transform Conflict!

For Clarkston High School students in Lutheran Services of Georgia’s Conflict Transformation workshops, learning is much more than listening to lectures or taking notes. One Monday afternoon, students demonstrated that learning is a creative activity. Accompanied by giggles and an acoustic guitar, they sang powerful words they had written about justice: “People, can’t you see that justice is our nature? Let us all be brothers and sisters.” Even as they enjoyed creating together, they learned about justice, nonviolence, and conflict transformation.

After an incident at Clarkston High School escalated, LSG and CHS wanted to equip students to better respond to conflict. Carolyn Blair, LSG’s 21^st Century Community Learning Coordinator, and Erin Mills, the ASAP Parent Coordinator, decided to incorporate conflict resolution into LSG’s Afterschool Academic/Arts Program (ASAP) curriculum.

They reached out to local community members Erin Davenport, Paul Reeser, and Ike Reeser to help coordinate the program. Erin and Paul live in a small Christian community in Clarkston that is devoted to nonviolence and working for peace in their community. Together with their community, they run Peace Playground, a summer program that gives elementary school-aged kids in their neighborhood to opportunity to explore nonviolence. Paul, a youth pastor in Clarkston, holds a BA in Theology and Ministry from Lipscomb University and has a deep passion for nonviolence. Ike Reeser, a minister at Northlake Church of Christ, holds a Master’s Degree in Conflict Resolution and has over 25 years of experience working with youth. Motivated by their love of the Clarkston community, Erin, Paul, and Ike agreed to help.

Now, each Monday afternoon, ASAP students participate in interactive Conflict Transformation workshops. Conflict Transformation workshops provide a safe, supportive environment for students to gain a deeper understanding of conflict. Through a diverse curriculum that includes conflict style surveys, roleplaying, storytelling, music, drama, object lessons, and group reflections, students develop their abilities to respond to conflict in healthy, effective ways.The workshops complement ASAP’s efforts to prepare students to succeed inside and outside of the classroom.

According to Paul Reeser, “Almost everyone deals with conflict on a regular basis. Learning healthy ways of processing conflict prepares young people to enjoy better relationships with the people in their community.” Paul hopes that these workshops will deepen relationships between students and empower them to become peaceful members of their communities. “Our community struggles with youth violence,” he said. “We see a real need to call our young people to join us in a more peaceful way. We want to open our community to the great potential that is within us when we find peaceful ways of transforming the conflicts we face.”

For more information on LSG’s Afterschool Academic/Arts Program, click here. You can also support ASAP at Clarkston High School, Indian Creek Elementary School, or Tobie Grant Manor by purchasing and donating an item from ASAP’s Amazon wishlist.

Augusta FACES The Winter Storms

This winter, the weather outside grew frightful as storms swept through Georgia, affecting LSG clients across the state. As the weather worsened, LSG’s Augusta staff worked quickly to ensure that all FACES clients were protected from the storm.  LSG’s Facilitating Advocacy, Care, Education, and Shelter (FACES) program serves individuals with developmental disabilities, creating supportive and meaningful living environments that allow them to thrive.

LSG staff and Support Companions astutely faced the dangerous weather.  LSG staff contacted all Support Companions for an update on their locations and statuses. Together, they also responded a potentially difficult situation with a FACES client.

A female FACES client lost power and staff were temporarily unable to contact her. Vanessa Pooser, a FACES Case Manager, and Pat Cumiskey, the Lead Case Manager and Recruiter, emailed the client’s daughter. The daughter called them to tell them that her mother was at home. Vanessa and Pat contacted a local deputy who sent a car out to check on the client and her host home provider. The deputy helped relocate them to the provider’s brother’s house until they were finally able to return home.

Impressed and grateful, Vanessa said, “Through ongoing back-and-forth communications, I am extremely proud to say that our team was proactive in resolving issues that could have escalated into additional crises.” Thanks to quick thinking and action by LSG staff and Support Companions, all FACES clients stayed warm, safe, and sound during the winter storms.

LSG Advocates for New Americans at the Capitol!

On February 5th, 2014, LSG's Atlanta Refugee and Immigration Services team participated in the Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies (CRSA)'s New Americans Celebration at the Capitol! Ten RIS staff, volunteers, and interns educated lawmakers about the amazing contributions refugees make in Georgia. We joined other refugee- and immigrant-serving organizations to distribute informational packets to legislative offices and reach out to our elected officials to share the amazing stories of new and future Americans in our state.

Several members of our team acted as team leaders for the day and led groups of 3-4 participants to legislative offices. We shared personal stories and had great conversations with both legislative staff and legislators themselves.

One participating LSG staff member who came to the United States as a refugee several years ago had the opportunity to meet his representative. He reflected on the experience:

"Using myself as an example, I told my Rep that, when I came to the U.S. five years ago, I received $425 as "welcome" money, public benefits, and Medicaid for eight months. Six months after arrival, I stared working. Since then, we didn't receive any aid from the government. Today, six out of eight of my family members are working. As a new American myself, I told her that refugees are contributors to the American economy--not simply consumers. She seemed well-convinced and promised that she'll support future refugee bills and that she'll also advocate for New Americans."

Other teams from LSG introduced lawmakers to "New Americans" who told their resettlement stories. Many legislators and staff members were moved by hearing firsthand accounts of refugees who have taken long, often difficult journeys to arrive at their new homes in America.

Our goal for the day was to inform legislators about the many contributions refugees and other New Americans make to our state and communities. We found that many legislators agreed with us. One responded to a thank-you email by writing, "It is easy to celebrate new citizens!" We certainly agree.

To get the facts about refugees in Georgia that we shared with legislators, click here. For more information about the Coalition of Refugee Services Agencies, click here.

Savannah Celebrates a Great Start to the New Year!

Staff, clients, and volunteers at Lutheran Services of Georgia's Savannah office had a great start to 2014! In January, we celebrated the birth of Elisabeth Deidre Sang, Savannah Refugee and Immigration Services's first citizen baby. Elisabeth is the newest member of the Sang family, a refugee family resettled in June 2013.The Rock of Ages Clothing Closet, Candler Hospital, Bible Baptist Church, and Eden Village all graciously provided in-kind donations to assist with clothing and furnishing Elisabeth's nursery. Elisabeth's four siblings--Ngai, Nam, Johnatan, and Van Tui--welcomed her into the world with love and excitement.

In February, LSG's Savannah office recruited new staff members and volunteers that will support our refugee resettlement and employment placement services. Sarmad Hameed, previously the Administrative Assistant for LSG's Atlanta office, accepted a promotion to become the full-time Reception & Placement (R&P) Case Manager. Sarmad is bilingual in Arabic and English and has already made great strides in building relationships in the community. Max Youngblood is excited to serve as the new Employment Specialist and Morgan Francisco, our new Logistics Coordinator, is ready to respond to all donation inquiries.

Dedicated volunteers and interns have joined LSG staff in helping clients of all backgrounds and ages on the journey to self-sufficiency. Felix Montanez, an attorney for Georgia Legal Services, is a Savannah native and bilingual in Spanish and English. Felix generously volunteered over 40 hours of his time in January and February, assisting with case file management and creating a weekend ESL class at the Savannah State Library. Anine Picard, a retired county school administrator, provided more than 60 hours in February, transporting clients to medical appointments and advocating for refugees in the community. Anine felt called to volunteer with LSG because she was once a new immigrant. After leaving her native Norway, Anine needed to learn how to communicate and adapt to American culture, and she wants to help other newcomers do the same.

Thanks to new staff, volunteers, and Elisabeth's birth, January and February were exciting months for LSG's Savannah office. We can't wait to see what the rest of the year holds!

Taylor Brand Made Vice Chair of Foster Family-Based Treatment Association--Georgia!

Lutheran Services of Georgia congratulates Taylor Brand, LSG's Senior Program Manager for Specialized Foster Care and Family Intervention Services in Atlanta, on being selected as the 2014 Vice Chair of the Foster Family-Based Treatment Association (FFTA)'s Georgia Chapter! Taylor will serve as the Vice Chair to Chair Sally Buchanan, CEO of Creative Community Services, Inc.

FFTA is an association of organizations that provide treatment foster care, a unique model of care that combines a nurturing family environment with structured treatment. FFTA aims to strengthen agencies that support families caring for vulnerable children.

Taylor said, "I'm excited to be the Vice Chair of FFTA. I've worked in and around foster care for many years and have seen first-hand the benefits of treatment foster care. This is a great opportunity to sit at the table each month with Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) leadership and advocate for children and families. FFTA is recognized nationally, so I will be in a position to advocate for children in foster care on a national and state level."

Taylor is not the first LSG staff member to serve in a leadership role with FFTA's Georgia Chapter. Alie Redd, LSG's State Manager for Specialized Foster Care, Family Intervention Services, and Adoption previously served as the Co-Chair of FFTA. Alie said, "I am excited to present and pass the torch for 2014 Vice Chair to Taylor. Her voice, expertise, and advocacy for children and families will ring throughout both the state of Georgia and the nation."

Congratulations, Taylor!

To learn more about FFTA, click here.

Remembering Sue Benner

Lutheran Services of Georgia honors Sue Benner, a long-time LSG supporter who died on February 14, 2014. Sue’s passion for individuals and families in need was admired by all who knew her. An active member of Living Grace Lutheran Church, Sue lived out her faith as Chair of their Community Outreach Committee. She participated in sewing and quilting groups, served in the Women’s Prison Ministry program, and organized the Gas Cards for Foster Families Annual Campaign. Thanks to Sue’s campaign, for the past six years, LSG foster care parents and FACES support companions in metro Atlanta received gas cards as a small token of thanks for the care they give every day to the children and adults in their homes. She also served in the Southeastern Synod Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (WELCA) in several capacities. To honor Sue, the Southeastern Synod WELCA requested that gas cards to benefit LSG be brought to Sue’s memorial service, which was held on February 22. Sue is survived by a loving family—her husband, two daughters, a son, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many extended family members. Sue truly lived a life of service, ministry, compassion, hope, and love. She will be greatly missed.

Prevent Child Abuse Georgia Relaunches Statewide 1-800-CHILDREN Helpline

Prevent Child Abuse Georgia recently announced the return of 1-800-CHILDREN, its free referral line for Georgians concerned about the healthy development of children and the prevention of child abuse. The 1-800-CHILDREN Helpline is professionally staffed by operators from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia and will operate Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Unlike the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) statewide centralized intake number, the Helpline is not a number to call in crisis or when making a report of child abuse or neglect (Click here to learn how to report child abuse or neglect). Rather, operators will be available to provide information regarding parenting support, community resources, counseling services, referrals for legal needs, concern about the well-being of a child or family member, family violence, and other child maltreatment prevention issues.

PCA Georgia is a state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America. The organization provides statewide direction to prevent child abuse and neglect, promote healthy children, and develop strong families through its prevention network, public awareness, prevention programs, and advocacy.

Click here to find out more about 1-800-CHILDREN and PCA Georgia.

Support LSG Through Kroger's Community Rewards Program!

Lutheran Services of Georgia recently enrolled in Kroger's Community Rewards Program! Thanks to this program, you can support LSG while shopping for groceries.  Simply follow the directions below to link your Kroger Plus Card along with your telephone number to our rewards numbers.

1) Visit www.kroger.com/communityrewards to register online. Have your Kroger Plus Card available. If you do not have a Kroger Plus Card, they are available free of charage at the Customer Service desk at any Kroger. 2) Click on Sign In/Register. 3) If this is your first time visiting the site, click Sign Up Today in the "New Customer?" box. 4) To sign up for a Kroger Rewards account, simply enter your zip code, select your favorite store, enter your email address, create a password, and agree to the terms and conditions. 5) You will receive a message to check your email inbox. Click on the link within the body of the email. 6) Click on "My Account" and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step. 7) Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and enter your Kroger Plus Card number. Enter your telephone number as well in case you forget your Kroger Plus Card. 8) Update or Confirm your information. 9) Enter Lutheran Services of Georgia or 12818, select LSG from the list, and click to confirm. 10) If you have enrolled correctly, you will see Lutheran Services of Georgia on the right side of your information page.

Please remember:

-Purchases will not count for LSG until after you register your card(s).

-Members must swipe their registered Kroger Plus Card or use the phone number that is connected to their registered Kroger Plus Card when shopping for each purchase to count.

--Do you use your phone number at the register? Call 800-576-4377 and select option 4 to get your Kroger Plus Card number.

Thank you for supporting Lutheran Services of Georgia. Happy shopping!

Two Ways to Volunteer with LSG!

Lutheran Services of Georgia works to bring restored hope, transformed lives, and healthy tomorrows to individuals and families in need throughout Georgia. Our work depends on the generous support and skills of our many volunteers. Are you interested in joining our LSG family? Here are two great ways to get involved!

Volunteer with Family Intervention Services (FIS): LSG's Family Intervention Services is looking for volunteers! Specific responsibilities may include:

--Assisting with supervising parent-child and sibling visitations --Assisting with transporting clients to and from program activities --Assisting with co-facilitating children's group --Providing childcare for participants of parenting groups or training session --Completing documentation for services provided --Assisting with administrative duties, such as filing and data entry --Working in collaboration with staff to develop innovating programming

Volunteers are especially needed on Saturdays to assist with ongoing FIS parental trainings. To learn more about qualifications for the position, click here. For more information on volunteering with FIS, contact Terri Medina at tmedina@lsga.org or (404) 591-7067.

"First Friends" Cultural Mentorship: "First Friends" provide assistance to refugee families or individuals new to the United States as a cultural guide and friend. First Friends are matched with a newly arrived refugee or refugee family and visit during the first 3-6 months in the U.S. to check on their progress, to answer questions, practice English conversation, and help with the adjustment process.

For more information on becoming a First Friend, contact Melanie Johnson at mjohnson@lsga.org or 678-686-9619.

Thank you for considering volunteering with LSG. We can't do it without you!

LSG and SafeCare to Help Adult Drug Court Clients

Lutheran Services of Georgia will provide SafeCare for adult drug court clients who are also parents to children ages 5 and under. SafeCare is an evidence-based home visitation program that has been shown to reduce child maltreatment among families with a history for maltreatment or with risk factors for maltreatment. Read the story below, reprinted with permission from the National Safecare Training and Research Institute. SafeCare is usually delivered to clients in child welfare settings with suspected or substantiated cased of maltreatment. But thanks to a 5-year grant from the Administration on Children and Families, SafeCare will be part of a package of treatments delivered to clients in Adult Drug Courts. Adult drug courts are judicially supervised treatment programs for people convicted of drug related crimes who are offered treatment instead of jail. Drug courts have an excellent track record of helping clients manage their addiction, but usually have few resources to address family issues.

Dr. Daniel Whitaker of Georgia State University and Dr. Wendy Guastaferro of John Jay College teamed with several agencies to receive a five year Regional Partnership Grant from ACF.  The grant will allow delivery of a new package of services focused on enhancing family functioning. The services provided by the grant include exposure based trauma counseling for drug court clients, child trauma using trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy, and parenting services, using the SafeCare and Nurturing Parenting models.  DeKalb County Drug Court will provide exposure based trauma treatment to drug court clients using the COPE model.  Lutheran Services of Georgia will provide parenting services: SafeCare for parents with children five and under and the Nurturing model for parents of children 6 and older. The Georgia Center on Child Advocacy, will provide trauma-focused cognitive behavioral treatment to children of drug court clients.  Services began in October 2013 and feedback from parents has been very positive.  Several clients have reported they have begun to rebuild relationships with their children.

GSU and John Jay will also be conducting an evaluation through annual interviews, creating video-tapes of parent-child interactions, and by examining administrative data on child welfare reports and criminal recidivism. The goal of the evaluation is to determine whether the new services are helping families of drug court clients relative to families at a nearby control drug court.

Along with SafeCare, LSG offers a variety of services and programs to strengthen family relationships and build or maintain strong, healthy family units. Click here to learn more about Family Intervention Services.

Fundraising Made Easy: Six Tips for Hunger Walk/Run 2014

Are you participating in the 2014 Hunger Walk/Run, but the thought of asking for money makes you sweat? Fundraising can be intimidating at first, but it can also be a lot of fun! And just think - the funds you raise for your team lead to healthier, happier people throughout Georgia. Here are six fundraising tips to help you raise more funds, reach more supporters, and increase your impact! 1) Get Started Today! The 2014 Hunger Walk/Run is a month away, and now is the perfect time to amplify your fundraising efforts. If you haven't registered yet, you can register online. Once registered, you can customize your webpage with your own notes, photos, and stories.

2) Team Up! There is strength in numbers and you'll have more fun and success. Form or join a team and you'll have a support network all working together towards a common goal. Teams are a great way to have fun, build deeper relationships, enjoy friendly competition, build teamwork with your co-workers, and achiever your goals. Click here to team up!

3) Spread the word! Use your social network to share the link to your fundraising page. Post regular status updates on your fundraising efforts so others can support you and cheer you on. Send out emails to everyone you know asking them for any amount...any little bit helps. Click here for more ways you can use social media to spread the word and here to access promotional materials!

4) Get your employer involved! Ask your employer to get involved by forming a team or supporting your efforts. Your employer may also be willing to match your gift---you won't know until you ask!

5) Ask everyone you know! The more people you ask, the more you'll be able to raise. Ask everyone you know and ask often! Even people from out-of-state can support you and will be interested in your efforts for positive change.

6) Be Creative! There are so many creative, fun ways to engage your community in fundraising. Get your neighbors involved in a community yard sale. Host a bake sale, a car wash, a chili cook-off, or a dinner party for your friends, clients, co-workers, or congregation. Creativity is a great way to keep fundraising fun!

Click here for these and other fundraising tips and here to register for the 2014 Hunger Walk/Run. Thank you for supporting LSG in the fight to end hunger throughout Georgia!

Volunteers Serve Refugees at the 2014 Lutheran Day of Service

Volunteers poured through the doors of Rock of Ages Lutheran Church, their arms full of children's books, rice, batteries, granola bars, flashlights, and first aid kits. Other volunteers, armed with hot coffee and check-in sheets, greeted them warmly. They've all come to serve refugees and to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 9th annual Lutheran MLK Day of Service.

"The Lutheran MLK Day of Service offers an opportunity for Lutheran congregations and other volunteers to join LSG in welcoming refugees from around the world by providing essential items needed for the 400-500 refugees resettled each year by LSG,” said Melanie Johnson, LSG’s Program Manager for Volunteer, Congregation, and Community Engagement. LSG partners with the Lutheran Theological Center in Atlanta and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Southeastern Synod to coordinate the event. The first Day of Service took place in 2006 and drew 50 volunteers from local congregations. This year, school groups, families, community members, Girl Scouts, LSG staff, and refugees joined Lutheran congregations in service, totaling 234 volunteers.

This year’s Day of Service began with a gathering in Rock of Age’s gym. Gene Lewis, one of the day’s leading organizers, welcomed volunteers and thanked Pastor Randy Palm for Rock of Age’s hospitality. Natalie Yasson, LSG’s Director of Refugee and Immigration Services, recognized Hope Worldwide and the Corporation for National and Community Service’s support. Thanks to Hope Worldwide’s Disaster Preparedness grant, LSG will provide disaster preparedness education through the Extended Cultural Orientation program along with basic emergency kits for every refugee household in 2014.

To celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s life, the Rev. Kevin Dudley, Senior Pastor of The Church at North Pointe, reflected on Dr. King’s beliefs regarding service and justice. “In order to serve,” paraphrased The Rev. Dudley, “we gotta be a little bit crazy.” Floyd R. Blair, LSG’s President and CEO, led the gathering in prayers of intercessions that challenged the church to be “disturbers of the status quo.” Volunteers formed a circle around the rice and bowed their heads as Blair offered a blessing for the day.

A bustle of voices and movement filled the church as volunteers dispersed to help prepare various items to be given to refugees. “These essential items are rice, the staple food item for refugees from around the world; basic emergency kits, so that newly arrived refugees don’t have to face any future emergency unprepared; and books for refugee children, a lifeline to learning about their new country and new language,” said Melanie. Together, the volunteers….

--Packed over 1500 lbs of rice into over 1000 family-sized bags for newly arrived refugees

--Prepared over 150 Basic Disaster Preparedness kits for refugee households

--Donated and sorted over 600 books for distribution to

• Students in LSG’s Afterschool Academic/Arts Program (ASAP) sites in the Clarkston area who will each receive a book
• Newly arrived refugee children who will choose a book to take home when they visit LSG’s Refugee Clothes Closet during their first week in the U.S.

--Read books to 25 children who each got to choose a book to take home from the Day of Service

--Distributed 400 door hangers with Fire Prevention Info in 2 apartment complexes in Clarkston where many refugees resettled by LSG live.

LSG thanks all the volunteers for their help welcoming refugees and looks forward to serving again next year!

During the Lutheran MLK Day of Service, over 65 volunteers and LSG staff shared their stories of why they serve refugees. Their photos are available on our Facebook page. If you couldn’t attend the Day of Service but would like to share your story of serving refugees in other ways, contact Abby Koning at akoning@lsga.org.

Get The Facts About Refugees in Georgia!

DID YOU KNOW: 

1) 80 percent of refugee households in Georgia are working and paying their own expenses within six months of arrival--the highest early self-sufficiency rate in the country!

2) Refugees in Georgia are a net asset to the state within six months of arrival and contribute more to local, state, and federal budgest than costs associated with their initial resettlement.

3) Annually, Georgia's communities welcome 2500-3000 newly arriving refugees!

Today, Lutheran Services of Georgia and the Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies (CRSA) gathered at the Georgia Capitol to share these and other facts about refugees with state legislators. The New Americans Celebration aims to raise awareness and understanding of refugee contributions to our state.

Click here to get the facts about refugees in Georgia. You can help raise awareness by sharing this information with members of your communities.

For more information on the New Americans Celebration, click here.

Thanks for joining LSG in welcoming refugees to Georgia!

Raise Your Voice for Refugees at the New Americans Celebration!

We are just two short days away from the New Americans Celebration at the Georgia Capitol! We are very excited at the prospect of meeting with our elected officials to share the amazing contributions refugees make to our state.

Visiting the Capitol to talk to your elected officials can be quite daunting if you have never experienced it before. But it can also be a lot of fun! You may not know your elected officials personally, and that's okay! It's very easy to get to know your elected officials, especially on the local level. All you need to do is reach out and contact them.

Some of you may be thinking, "What? Contact them? I'm not important. They'll never listen to me!"

Actually, yes they will. Because you are a constituent. If you are registered to vote, and if you voted for your representatives, then you hired them. If you didn't vote for them, they'd like you to vote for them to get rehired at the next elected. Your elected officials work for you, and they will listen to you.

Here are some steps to help you prepare for this week's New Americans Celebration:

1) Click here to register for the New Americans Celebration at the Capitol.

2) If you don't know your Georgia Senator or Representative, visit Project Vote Smart. Enter your full address to get all the information you need. The organizers of New Americans Day will also look up this information for you, but Vote Smart is a great tool to give you a head start.

3) After you locate the names of your State Representative and State Senator, go to www.legis.ga.gov to get their official contact information and office location.

4) Send them an email or give their office a call. This should be done today or Tuesday. Introduce yourself as a constituent and tell them that you'll be at the Capitol on Wednesday for the New Americans Breakfast. Inform them that they should receive a hard-copy invitation on Tuesday. The Breakfast will begin at 8 a.m. for the legislators and is in room 216 of the Capitol. Let them know that you would like to meet them sometime that morning if they are available. If you're comfortable, you can continue your email or phone call by sharing why you are coming and why you personally are passionate about New Americans and Refugee Resettlement.

If you're unsure what to say, here's a sample email message that you can use:

"Dear [Senator or Representative's Name],

My name is [Insert Name] and I am a constituent in [insert city]. I am emailing you to let you know that I will be at the Capitol this Wednesday, February 5th in the morning. I'll be attending the New Americans Celebration and Breakfast with Lutheran Services of Georgia and the Coalition of Refugee Services Agencies. You should receive a hard-copy invitation to the breakfast on Tuesday, February 4th. The Breakfast is for all legislators and will be held in room 216 of the Capitol beginning at 8 a.m. I will be participating in this event all morning and I would love the opportunity to meet with you. I believe that refugees and new Americans are an asset to our state and contribute many great things to our communities.

Thank you for your time, and I hope to meet you on Wednesday.

[Your Name]"

These steps should only take 10-15 minutes to complete and are a great way to get prepared for Wednesday. Our goal is to reach as many of Georgia's legislators as possible, and we can't do it without the help of concerned Georgia residents like you.

For more information and an agenda for the New Americans Celebration, click here.

See you on Wednesday!

-Emily Laney, Atlanta Program Manger for Refugee Services-

LSG Refugee Client Receives Much-Needed Dental Care

 By Emily Laney, Program Manager for Atlanta Refugee Services

It’s no secret that our refugee clients face unique challenges as they adjust to life in the United States. We love watching clients grow and thrive in their new community, but some face very difficult challenges in that process, especially in the area of health.

We have a client who has a major medical concern that will require lengthy treatment. The client was told by his doctor that the needed treatment would be delayed until he could get some dental work done- including a deep cleaning. Many of our clients face major dental barriers because Medicaid does not typically cover dental cleanings and newly arrived refugees usually do not have the extra funds to pay for cleanings out of pocket.

But in the case of this client, we knew that we had to find a resource for him. We are so thankful for our friends at the Good Samaritan Health Center of Cobb who took on our client’s case and provided him with excellent dental care. Many of the dentists and doctors at Good Samaritan are volunteers and truly care about the wellbeing of the people they treat. We have been blown away by the care shown to our client. At a recent event several staff from the clinic asked us for an update and expressed their desire to keep up with his treatment. They truly have servant’s hearts and genuinely care about people. There are so many amazing organizations who work hard to serve the vulnerable, including Good Samaritan. We want to make sure our supporters know about this awesome organization. They are always looking for skilled medical and dental volunteers to increase the amount of free and reduced cost medical and dental care to Georgia residents. Check out their website at www.goodsamcobb.org.

Grants in Action - LSG's Extended Cultural Orientation Program

On weekday mornings, refugee men and women gather in a small apartment in Clarkston to learn about life in the United States. Brightly colored posters hang on the walls, containing information on types of American currency, a map of the United States, the Pledge of Allegiance, and answers to FAQs. At the front of the classroom, Jacque Ulrich, LSG’s Cultural Orientation Coordinator, leads the group with energy and enthusiasm. After each question asked or lesson taught, she pauses briefly. Fountains of language—Nepali, Somali, Arabic, Burmese, Farsi, and English—trickle through the room as interpreters, mostly former refugees, translate her words until every student understands.

In March 2013, Lutheran Services of Georgia launched its Extended Cultural Orientation (ECO) program to give refugees an in-depth orientation to the United States. Within 30 days of arrival in Georgia, LSG’s refugee clients begin taking nine class sessions spanning three weeks. ECO offers pragmatic lessons in subjects crucial to everyday life as a refugee—personal finance, public transportation, the U.S. education system, immigration law, and more. Some ECO classes feature local organizations that introduce refugees to resources in the Clarkston area.

Funding for the ECO program comes from the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s Preferred Communities Grant, distributed to LSG through Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), LSG’s national affiliate. Since the early 1990s, the Preferred Communities grant has provided funding for organizations working in smaller cities and towns that boast a wealth of opportunities for resettled refugees, like Clarkston.

Prior to establishing ECO, LSG’s approach to cultural orientation was limited to a “four-hour welcome-to-America—here’s your rundown on everything you need to know before you’re a permanent resident,” said Jacque. Now, refugees are able to learn more about U.S. culture and have their questions answered in a safe, welcoming space. Unlike many cultural orientation programs, ECO does not separate refugees according to their country of origin. “We want to build infrastructure between communities,” Jacque said, “not necessarily within ethnic groups.” ECO gives refugee clients the opportunity to meet refugees from other countries who have also been resettled in Clarkston.

Jacque enjoys coordinating the ECO program. “I get to hang out with people from all over the world with all different experiences and learn from them,” she said. She also enjoys discovering the ”preexisting knowledge and experiences” that each refugee brings with them to the classroom. In the future, she hopes to see the program grow to offer lessons in even more subjects, better preparing refugees to succeed in the U.S.

If you’d like to support LSG’s ECO program, consider donating snacks and beverages for the refugees. LSG provides snacks, soda, tea, and coffee during each class session to help create a more relaxed, communal atmosphere. According to Jacque, “When a lot of people get a cup of something hot in their hands, it’s culturally appropriate to start talking.” You can also donate new or gently used toys for children of refugees. ECO offers childcare during the classes so mothers and fathers can fully participate.

Contact Jacque Ulrich at julrich@lsga.org or (678) 852-8591 for more information about ECO or to donate.

Take the Next Step with LSG at the 30th Annual Hunger Walk/Run!

Join thousands in the fight against hunger on Sunday, March 9th at Turner Field. The 5K walk/run benefits the Atlanta Community Food Bank and one of its partners, Lutheran Services of Georgia, with hunger relief programs. Everyone is welcome to join or donate!

The event opens at Noon and the 5K walk and 5K “fun run” begin at 2 p.m. Pre-register online as a team or individual at www.HWR2014.org/LSG or at the registration tent the day of the event. Walk Registration is $25 and includes an official Hunger Walk/Run 2014 event t-shirt. Run Registration is $35 and includes a special moisture-wicking t-shirt.

Create your team TODAY and enjoy the fun, festival-like atmosphere with activities for the entire family including games, Atlanta’s finest food trucks, live entertainment and more on March 9th! If you’re unable to attend, you can still fight hunger by joining the Lutheran Services of Georgia Team by visiting www.HWR2014.org/LSG. For more information, contact Terri Medina at tmedina@lsga.org or 404-591-7067.

Serve with LSG on the 2014 Lutheran MLK Day of Service!

On January 20, 2014, the city of Atlanta will remember Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King believed that all people had the ability and the responsibility to serve others and work to create a better world . This year, you are invited to celebrate MLK day by serving some of the most vulnerable people in contemporary society: refugees.

Volunteers will gather at Rock of Ages Lutheran Church (5135 Memorial Dr., Stone Mountain, GA 30083) at 9:00 a.m (Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.) and serve until 1:00 p.m. You may choose from any of the following projects:

• Packaging Rice for Refugees—Bring as many bags of rice as you can. We will repackage rice in family-size bags and give them to newly arrived refugee families.
• Books for Refugees—Bring new or gently used children's books to give to refugee children. You can also sign up to read to refugees and other children during the Day of Service.
• Preparing Disaster Kits for Refugees—Help refugees be prepared for disasters by putting together a disaster kit for each household.

Click here to sign up for a project by January 17, 2014.

We strongly encourage you to bring one or more of the following items to the Day of Service: a bag of rice (any size); new or gently used children's books; AAA batteries; granola/energy bars; first aid kits. Click here to download and share a flyer about needed donations.

Individuals and families may bring donations to the Day of Service. Congregation groups are encouraged to gather donations and deliver them to Rock of Ages Lutheran Church before January 20, 2014. Contact Gene Lewis at gene1950@gmail.com or 404-299-8880 to arrange deliveries.

If you have questions, please contact Abby Koning, LSG's Communications Coordinator, at akoning@lsga.org or at 678-686-9633.