Origins

The origins of the Initiative began in 2002, when a national foundation, the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative (Jim Casey) invited leaders in Georgia to partner in a metro Atlanta-focused effort to test a theory of change that would result in better outcomes for foster youth in the metro Atlanta area. This effort became to be known at the Metro-Atlanta Youth Opportunities Initiative (MAYOI).

These youth and system outcomes included:

• Permanency
• Employment
• Education
• Housing
• Personal and Community Engagement
• Physical and Mental Health

In partnership with The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta (The Foundation), the state partners embarked on a three-year pilot project to create replicable and sustainable programs to support desired outcomes that could be successfully integrated into the programming of community partners at the conclusion of the pilot period.

In 2005, initiative leaders reviewed the accomplishments of the pilot phase and undertook a critical review of current strategies. With support from Jim Casey, leaders created the Georgia Youth Opportunities Initiative and developed plans over the next several years to expand the Initiative statewide and transition core strategies of the Initiative to community partners.

These core strategies are:

• Increased Opportunities
• Partnership and Resources
• Public Will and Policy
• Research Evaluation and Communications
• Youth Engagement

Between 2006 and 2007 MAYOI released a request for vision proposal to identify a community partner with shared values and philosophy of youth-adult partnership. The Multi-Agency Alliance for Children (MAAC) was chosen by MAYOI to help grow 3 of the strategies statewide, which are Partnership and Resources, Research Evaluation and Communications, and Youth Engagement. During this same time the Increased Opportunities strategy moved to the Georgia Independent Living Program with support from the Department of Human Services. The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta continues to serve in a leadership capacity, and all partners maintain a shared commitment to advancing the strategy of Public Will and Policy. In 2010, with grant support from Jim Casey concluding, the Initiative is now entering a new phase of its work to ensure lasting sustainability in Georgia. This involves institutionalizing core strategies within public systems and expanding the base of financial resources supporting the Initiative.

All along the journey, young people were directly involved in dreaming, deciding, and driving this important work!

Some of our accomplishments include:

• Advancement for Youth impacted by the Department of Juvenile Justice
• Court Involvement Awareness
• Expansion of shelter for Runaway Youth
• Fostering Connections Act for Georgia
• Individualized Development Accounts (IDA)
• Medicaid to 21 (Chafee)
• Peer Support Program
• Raise Me Up Campaign
• Regional Expansion of the Georgia Youth Opportunities Initiative
• Teen Parents maintaining custody of child/children while in care
• TeenWork

“EmpowerMEnt lets me know that I’m not by myself. Empowerment allows me to express myself and know that nobody would ever judge me and I can let go of my past by sharing it with my big brother…” –La’Shauna

“EmpowerMEnt gives me a sense of belonging and lets me know that my voice is heard and my concerns and ideas are taken into consideration! Empowerment lets me know that what I have to say matters!” –Nita