GPHSA

We are excited to announce a new GPHSA Gives Back project made possible through the generous support of our professional partner, Amerigroup!

Basic Essential Kits:
Through this initiative, GPHSA will assemble basic essentials kits for families with children and individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability. We plan to partner with law enforcement and homeless outreach teams who encounter families in need and can provide these kits when they need immediate assistance.

Amerigroup has committed $1,000 to help us launch this project! The kits will include practical essentials such as hygiene products, socks, feminine hygiene products, wipes, snacks, water, and other supplies we identify as helpful. We could also collect blankets and flashlights.

We are inviting GPHSA members to help us fill the bags! Members will have opportunities to donate specific items and help us assemble the kits. Our goal is to multiply Amerigroup's generous investment through the power of GPHSA members working together!

Our GPHSA Gives Back Volunteer group will be leading this initiative. They will provide more details. If you have items to donate, please contact Haley Efferth, Adrienne Walden, or Jennifer Brogdon.

If you're attending our upcoming board meeting and collect items, please bring them to the meeting! Thank you!

GPHSA is thrilled to welcome Goshen Valley as our newest Professional Partner.

Strategic partnerships are essential to driving our mission forward and empowering the professionals who serve across Georgia. Thank you, Goshen Valley, for your investment in our community and our shared vision. We look forward to a fantastic collaboration!

GPHSA is more than a professional association; it is a community of people who understand the work, challenges, and the importance of supporting one another.

We are excited to launch our new GPHSA Member Resource Groups, designed to give members more opportunities to connect, grow, serve, and recharge.

Based on feedback from our members, we are starting three groups:

•GPHSA Experienced Professionals Network - Connect with other experienced, mid-to-late-career professionals to share knowledge, build relationships, mentor others, and continue growing personally and professionally.

•GPHSA Gives Back Volunteer and Community Service Group - This group will participate in service projects, donation drives, volunteer opportunities, and other ways to make a difference in communities across Georgia.

•GPHSA Mental Health and Wellness Group - Make time to recharge and connect. This group will focus on wellness, stress management, work-life balance, and fun through virtual and in-person activities, challenges, social gatherings, outdoor activities, and more.
Why Join?

Your GPHSA membership should be more than simply belonging to an association. It should give you opportunities to meet people, build your network, learn something new, contribute your talents, and invest in yourself!

You don't need a particular title to join. These groups are for GPHSA members at all levels. We want members to help shape each group's activities and direction.

Join one, two, or all three!

Ready to get involved? Simply email [email protected] with the information below:

Name:
Best contact #:
Personal email (preferred) :
Member Resource Group:

This is your GPHSA, your network, and your opportunity to get involved.
Let's connect, Let's grow, Let's give back. And Let's have some fun along the way!

Mark Your Calendars for the Next Dementia Friends Webinar
In Georgia, there are nearly 190,000 people living with dementia. The Dementia Friends webinar teaches the signs and how to best communicate with those living with dementia. Save the date for our next Dementia Friends webinar on Friday, Sept. 25, at noon. RSVP at the link below and share this post with others who can use the support!

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September is National Workforce Development Month, and at the Georgia Professional Human Services Association (GPHSA), we know that strong, resilient communities start with a well-supported workforce. Our human services professionals show up every day for Georgia’s families—and we show up for them.

Throughout the year, GPHSA equips members with the tools, connections, and skills needed to thrive:

Targeted Professional Training: Access specialized workshops, webinars, and policy updates designed to keep you ahead in an evolving field.

Leadership & Career Growth: Leadership development programs that empower frontline staff to step into supervisory and executive roles.

Peer Networking & Mentorship: Regional events connecting you with statewide colleagues facing similar challenges and victories.

Advocacy & Support: A unified voice advocating for better workplace resources, competitive support, and professional recognition.

When human services professionals grow, Georgia wins.
Are you utilizing your member benefits this month? Tag a colleague who goes above and beyond, or visit www.gphsa.org to explore our upcoming educational sessions and join the movement.

LeadershipInAction PublicService

Register Today: Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run, Walk, and Roll 5K

Join GPHSA and the DHS Heart and Sole team on Sept. 24, 2026, for the Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run, Walk, and Roll 5K. The event starts at 5 p.m. and the price to register is $40 per participant. To register, please visit runsignup.com/CorporateTeams/DHS_2026 and use the code DHS_2026.

Today we are highlighting a recent recipient of a GPHS Foundation Grant! Tanisha Kelly is an OFI employee with DFCS, and she shared this with us:

"The GPHSA Foundation grant supported my educational and professional development by providing me with the chance to obtain a grief certification course to become a grief coach. This opportunity has impacted me both professionally and personally, as my own experience with grief showed me how deeply grief affects individuals. Through this certification, I hope to be a voice and source of support for those experiencing grief, including in the workplace, and use what I have learned to help others navigate their journey with a greater understanding, compassion, and support."

Want to learn more about the GPHSA Foundation and how it can benefit you? Visit https://gphsa.org/gphsa-foundation/

Go Green on Aug. 27!

As National Child Support Awareness Month comes to a close, we want to continue celebrating the work of child support professionals across Georgia. Help us close out the month by wearing green on Thursday, Aug. 27. Add a photo of you and your team wearing green in the comments on Thursday!