There’s always something happening in the Hostess City. Stay in the know about upcoming events and the latest information with our News & Notes.
Amerigroup Georgia and Dr. John DeGarmo bring critical resources, support and training to Savannah and Chatham County foster parents
Foster parents often grapple with substantial challenges, underscoring the crucial need to provide them essential training, support, and resources. To address this need, Amerigroup Georgia and renowned foster care expert Dr. John DeGarmo offered complimentary training sessions to Savannah-area foster parents Saturday, Aug. 12 to address mental health and related challenges for both parents and children.
Saturday’s discussion convened health care leaders and foster care parents from across Chatham County to raise awareness and gather support for foster care initiatives. Dr. DeGarmo shared his personal experiences and insights, aiming to inspire and empower attendees. The event addressed the specific needs of Chatham County’s foster care community and emphasized the importance of increased support services, enhanced training and mental health resources.
“Training foster parents is a vital investment in the well-being and future of children in foster care, equipping caregivers with the tools they need to provide stability, support, and healing so that every child has the opportunity to thrive,” said Bhavini Solanki, Director of Georgia Families 360°. “We are proud to collaborate with Dr. DeGarmo, as he brings both expertise in offering these trainings alongside firsthand experience as a foster care parent, understanding the challenges of caring for vulnerable children.”
Dr. DeGarmo, founder and director of The Foster Care Institute and a TEDx Talk speaker, alongside his wife, have cared for more than 60 children as foster parents, emphasized the pressing importance of addressing mental health, stating, “the real pandemic right now is mental health, and foster parents need support services they're not currently receiving. The purpose of this event was to provide foster parents with the critical support they need to address trauma, burnout, and stress.”
Foster parents often feel unsupported and as the needs of youth in care continues to evolve, they are in need of additional resources. By delivering continuous education and emotional support through Dr. DeGarmo’s foster parent support network, Amerigroup Georgia aims to strengthen the foster care community and create a sustainable and growing network of caregivers.
“We will continue to travel across the state, offering free training sessions on trauma-informed care and other essential topics, especially in areas of the state with limited community resources,” said DeGarmo. “We’ll also establish foster parent support groups in locations that don’t currently have groups in place. By empowering foster parents with knowledge and support, we can enhance retention and encourage more individuals to become foster parents."
Parents lacking support in their vicinity that require additional resources are encouraged to reach out to their Amerigroup Care Coordinator to ensure they receive the assistance they need.For more information about Amerigroup Community Care of Georgia, visit myamerigroup.com/ga.
Tybee Island Maritime Academy teachers prepare for 2023 school year
School’s back in session, but for many local teachers, the summer vacation was their time to go “back to school” themselves. For teachers at Tybee Island Maritime Academy, this summer meant preparing for the 2023 school year with professional development to bring new strategies and technologies to the classroom. And it’s not just about technology. Teachers are also learning the best ways to foster emotional growth for students.
Two TIMA teachers, Ms. Beck and Ms. Holliday, attended the prestigious ISTE Live event in Philadelphia. They immersed themselves in the world of educational technology, connected with educators around the globe and discovered how to implement new educational tech tools and resources, as well as innovative teaching strategies that will encourage creativity and critical thinking in their students.
TIMA’s Torey Connelly dedicated a week to attending the Responsive Classroom Institute in Charlotte, NC. She met with educators from across the country to learn new, effective ways to support students’ social-emotional learning. This year, Mrs. Connelly plans to implement these approaches in her classroom and share her ideas with her colleagues.
To learn more about TIMA, visit tybeeislandmaritimeacademy.com/.
Best Lawyers list honors 25 attorneys from Savannah’s Oliver Maner
Oliver Maner, one of Savannah, Georgia’s most prominent law firms, bolstered its reputation with the recent announcement by Best Lawyers, an esteemed peer-review publication in the legal field. Best Lawyers has named 18 Oliver Maner lawyers to its 2023 Best Lawyers in America list and seven to its 2023 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list. This recognition is a significant honor, highly regarded by both clients and legal experts, bestowed on a lawyer by fellow professionals.
“We are honored by the recognition from Best Lawyers. We strive to exhibit professionalism, and an unwavering dedication to our clients. We are proud to acknowledge those deserving of this accolade,” said Patrick T. O’Connor, Managing Partner of Oliver Maner.
Ogeechee Riverkeeper accepting entries for annual photo contest
Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) is soliciting the best photographs from across the 5,500 square mile watershed. ORK’s watershed is home to an incredible diversity of ecological features, and it provides an important habitat for more than 160 rare species of plants and animals. Judges will be looking for images that highlight what makes the Ogeechee and Canoochee Rivers, and the surrounding areas, remarkable. This is the fourth year for the contest.
“We’ve been thrilled with the past entries,” said Meaghan Walsh Gerard, communications and administrative director. “The variety of subjects has been inspiring.”
Photographers can enter in multiple categories: Landscape, portrait, wildlife, plant life, underwater, aerial, black and white, and funny wildlife. Since this will be an annual event each December, ORK requests that any images submitted be taken within the same calendar year. ORK hopes to see entries from across the 21 counties encompassing the watershed.
Gerard also notes that this will be the first year ORK will consider sponsorships.
“As always, winners. will receive a household membership and ORK merchandise, butwe are also looking for a business or two to partner with so we can offer even more prizes.” Interested companies are invited to contact Gerard.
Submissions are due by November 6, 2023. Winners receive a free membership to the organization and ORK merchandise. Winners will be announced early December 2023. Complete rules and submission guidelines at: ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/annual-photography-contest.
