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Doing what we are called to do; doing what we are able to do; doing what must be done.

 

December 5, 2012
Remember ICM on GA Gives Day, December 6

Make Thursday, December 6 a Day of Giving--

Choose Interfaith Children's Movement on GA Gives Day!

GA Gives Day Logo  

 

Join Others in Taking Action and Supporting the Work of ICM on behalf of Georgia's Children.

 

Be a part of the solution with your generous gift.

 

Click on Interfaith Children's Movement and show that You Care!

 

Securing the Education Pipeline, December 8
 
Register Today -- 100 Stories ~ Building 100 Solutions for Securing the Education Pipeline for Georgia's Children

 

 

Organizers/Presenters:  ACLU of Georgia, Advancement Project, Atlanta Community Engagement Team, Gwinnett STOPP, Interfaith Children's Movement

 

Invite you to join us Saturday, December 8, 2012, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the A. Worley Boys and Girls Club, 5360 Old Norcross Road, Norcross, GA 30071.

 

This event is free and open to the public.  Complimentary lunch will be provided for registered participants.

 

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Are concerned about the recently released graduation and/or discipline rates at your school?

 

Join us in this community collaboration and improve your child's

learning environment and educational outcomes at school.

 

Forum Agenda Highlights:

- Specific Community Demographics/Statistics

- Local School Council as a Tool of Parent Engagement and Advocacy

- Effective Discipline Models
 
To register, click here.  Contact us at 770-498-2141 or at ICM e-mail with any questions.
ICM Advocacy Training, December 11

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 ICM Advocacy Training, December 11
 Be an Advocate for Georgia's Children!

 

Just in time for the upcoming legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly...  

 

ICM Advocacy Training

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

 

At ICM, advocacy is about using your voice (verbal and written) to speak on behalf of Georgia's children and raise awareness of the issues and conditions Georgia's children face and to offer solutions that are good for children.  

 

ICM Advocates work together to create an environment of love and care where children are safe, healthy and whole.  

 

ICM Advocates encourage our elected officials to enact public policies that support positive outcomes for children.

 

At this training, we will introduce you to advocacy; what it means to be an advocate; and how, together, we can be effective advocates for Georgia's children.

 

Register Today!

 

Complimentary lunch will be provided to registered participants.  Space is limited.  Registration will close at the earlier of December 9, 2012, or upon reaching the maximum number of attendees.

 

ICM Awareness:  This Week on Juvenile Justice Reform for Georgia's Children  -- Children in Foster Care

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Interfaith Children's Movement is a member of the JUSTGeorgia Coalition.

 

CALL TO ACTION!

Tell Governor Deal and Lawmakers to Include Children in Foster Care when Reforming Georgia's Juvenile Laws

 

Don't wait until January, you can start advocating for Georgia's children now.  As we get ready for the 2013 legislative session, it is imperative that we remind our lawmakers about the important revisions and best practices found in the juvenile code rewrite ("The Child Protection and Public Safety Act").

 

What can you do?

 

Call and/or write Governor Deal and legislators with the following:

 

  1.  Let them know that you are pleased with the direction of the Criminal Justice Reform Council's work on juvenile justice reform (see previous article below).

 

   2. Remind them that children in foster care must not be forgotten in those reforms.  And that access to independent living services for older foster youth (as provided for in "The Child Protection and Public Safety Act") should be included in the proposed reforms. 

 

   3.  If you have a personal story that speaks to the needs of children who age out of foster care, please share it.  We must reveal the human stories behind this issue and bring the thousands of children who are affected out of the shadows. 

 

Background Information:  Many youth who age out of foster care do so without the basic support, family network, community connections, jobs, housing, and health insurance needed to become self-sufficient, responsible adults. More effective support and court oversight for these children will help ensure that they mature into productive and healthy adults and avoid expensive problems like homelessness, incarceration and poor health. 

 

MAKE CONTACT TODAY!

 

To contact Governor Deal, call (404)-656-1776 or email him (please select the Foster Care category on the form).

 

To contact the House and Senate leadership of both the majority and minority parties, click here

 

Do you know who to contact in the Georgia General Assembly? Click here to find out who your State Representative and your State Senator are for the upcoming legislative session.

 

NOTE: In your correspondence, always include your name, address and phone number where you can be reached.

 

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MORE ON THE EFFORT TO REFORM GEORGIA'S JUVENILE CODE

 

The 2013 Georgia General Assembly will consider a major overhaul to the state's outdated juvenile justice system that could improve the outcomes for court-involved children while saving taxpayer dollars and creating long-term, positive social and economic impact.

 

Last year, a bipartisan committee - the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians - was commissioned by the General Assembly to analyze the state's sentencing and corrections data for adults. Earlier this year, Gov. Nathan Deal extended the work of this council to also focus on reforms for juvenile justice.

 

The council's own study of Georgia's juvenile justice system along with the Child Protection and Public Safety Act (also referred to as the juvenile code rewrite) previously considered by state legislators, is expected to modernize Georgia's juvenile justice system.

 

The juvenile code rewrite is expected to include key measures such as provisions to ensure that older children in foster care are given the opportunity and assistance they need to plan for their futures; a new approach for intervening with children who are currently considered unruly that addresses offenses such as truancy and running away with family involvement and community-based resources; and a provision allowing judges to consolidate delinquency and dependency hearings to hear all proceedings with the same child and tailor each disposition, resulting in conservation of court resources.
 [Read more]
ICM Mission and Goals

 

The Interfaith Children's Movement (ICM) is an interfaith, grassroots, advocacy movement dedicated to improving the well-being of children in Georgia.  ICM was formed in 2001 as an intentional association of individuals and communities of faith from all religious traditions.

 

The Interfaith Children's Movement strives to be a voice for all children in Georgia, but especially the poor and marginalized whose voices are often unheard. 

 

ICM works closely with Georgia's policy-oriented child advocacy organizations, such as: 

Make a Special Contribution 
to ICM Today!

 

Your contributions help to create a better Georgia for children.  Make a monthly tax-deductible gift of $25.00 or a one-time gift of $100.00. Please make a secure, on-line, tax-deductible contribution. Do what must be done... GIVE to ICM today.
 
Make a Donation
Mark Your Calendar
January 26, 2013
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
ICM in Cobb
"Celebration of Children"
Turner Chapel AME 
Marietta, GA

***
 
February 12, 2013
9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
ICM Day at the Capitol
"Have a Heart for Children"
Georgia State Capitol

Information
Resourcing

(Get informed...get involved!)

Congregation
Or Hadash
Invites You
to Attend a
Movie Screening
 and
Director's Discussion
of "David"
*** 
Wed., Jan. 9, 2013
5:00 p.m.
Location:
Congregation
Or Hadash
6751 Roswell Road
Atlanta, GA 30328
See the flyer for more information.
***
ICM Asks You to Help Build the Bridge to Harmony.

 

 

One of the most important things faith communities can do for children is to pray for them.

 

Every child is a child of God.  All children deserve justice, compassion and our prayers.

 

ICM encourages every faith community to become a spiritual witness for children. Hold a worship service in your church, synagogue, masjid / mosque or temple and invite others to join in praying for the well-being of all children. 

  ICM Prayer Breakfast Logo
Learn more about who we are and what we do; and how you can become a part of the Movement.