Dalton/Whitfield County Family Connection

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Dalton/Whitfield County Family Connection

Our Family Connection Collaborative is committed to helping our families & children be safe, healthy and educated; therefore creating a strong community

09/11/2026

💚 FRIDAY CONNECTION CHECK-IN: Listen Before You Fix

When our children come to us with something difficult, our instinct is often to fix it. We want to offer advice, solve the problem, correct a mistake, or reassure them that everything will be okay.

But sometimes, what they need first is simply to know that we are listening.

Try slowing down and keeping the conversation open:

💬 “Tell me more.”
💬 “That sounds really hard.”
💬 “How did that make you feel?”
💬 “I’m glad you told me.”
💬 “Do you want me to listen, or would you like help figuring out what to do?”

Listening doesn't mean we have to agree with everything they say or that we can't offer guidance later. It means giving them a safe place to share before we jump into fixing, correcting, minimizing, or lecturing.

Sometimes the most important thing we can say is simply:

“I'm here. I'm listening. Keep talking.” 💜🩵

09/09/2026

🌱 GROW YOUR TOOLBOX: BECOME A QPR GATEKEEPER

What would you do if you were worried that a friend, coworker, family member, student, or neighbor might be thinking about su***de?

QPR — Question, Persuade, Refer — is a su***de prevention training designed to give everyday people the skills and confidence to recognize warning signs, start a conversation, and help connect someone to support.

Much like CPR prepares us to respond to a medical emergency, QPR prepares us to recognize and respond when someone may be experiencing a su***de crisis. You don't have to be a mental health professional to become a QPR Gatekeeper. Parents, educators, coaches, faith leaders, first responders, community partners, and others can all play an important role in su***de prevention.

💜 Join us for QPR Gatekeeper Training at our September Collaborative Meeting!

📅 Thursday, September 17
⏰ 1:00–2:30 p.m.
📍 Mack Gaston Community Center

Building a stronger, more resilient community means making sure more of us know how to recognize the signs, ask the question, and connect someone to help.

We hope you'll join us!

***dePreventionMonth ***dePrevention

09/08/2026

💜 Today is 988 Day.

Sometimes people reach out because they’re thinking about su***de. But sometimes they reach out because they’re overwhelmed, anxious, lonely, grieving, struggling with substance use, worried about someone they love—or simply having a really hard day.

Whatever the reason, it’s okay to reach out.

The 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support 24/7. You can call, text, or chat with a trained crisis counselor who is there to listen, support, and help you determine what comes next.

📱 Call or text 988.

And today, we can all help make this resource easier to reach by making it easier to talk about. Save 988 in your phone. Share it with someone you love. Talk about it with your teens. Remind the people in your life that asking for help doesn’t require a certain level of crisis.

Because sometimes knowing who to call before you need them can make all the difference. 💜

***dePrevention

09/07/2026

Dalton-Whitfield County Public Library is hosting many free classes for all ages this month!

They are also one of the main hosts for Sharing is Caring Community Christmas Whitfield County, Georgia Classes! All of the classes in purple are SIC Classes!

09/04/2026

💚 FRIDAY CONNECTION CHECK-IN: Check In, Even When Everything Seems Fine

One of the simplest ways we can support our children’s emotional well-being is to make checking in part of everyday life—not just something we do when we know there’s a problem.

Sometimes, “How was school?” only gets us a “fine.” 😊 Try questions that open the door a little wider:

💬 What was the best part and the hardest part of your day?
💬 What’s been taking up a lot of space in your head lately?
💬 Who made you feel good about yourself this week?
💬 Is there anything you wish adults understood better right now?
💬 How are you doing…really?

We won't always get a deep answer—and that's okay. What matters is creating a pattern of asking, listening, and being available.

Regular conversations help build the connection and trust that make difficult conversations easier when they are needed most. 💚

Throughout Su***de Prevention & Awareness Month, we’ll be sharing simple ways we can strengthen connection and create safe spaces for the children and teens in our lives.

Connection matters. Keep checking in. 💜🩵

09/03/2026

📅 MARK YOUR CALENDAR: 9/8 is 988 Day!

Next Tuesday, September 8th, is 988 Day—a day dedicated to raising awareness about the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline and reminding our community that support is available for whatever the reason. 💜

You don’t have to wait until things feel unbearable to reach out. Whether you’re struggling yourself, worried about someone you love, feeling overwhelmed, or simply need someone to talk to—988 is there 24/7.

As we get closer to 9/8, we’ll be sharing more about the reasons people reach out and how this resource can support individuals and families in our community.

📞 Call 988
💬 Text 988
💻 Chat 988

Save the date and help us spread the word. You never know who may need to know that 988 is there.

09/02/2026

💚 KNOW 988

September is Su***de Prevention Month, making this an important time to make sure families and community members know about a resource that is available 24/7.

📱 The 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline

If you or someone you know is struggling, experiencing emotional distress, or facing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

You don’t have to wait until a situation becomes an emergency to reach out. You can also contact 988 if you’re worried about someone else and need guidance about how to help.

💚 One small thing you can do today: Save 988 in your phone and make sure the people you care about know it’s there.

Knowing where to turn can make a difference.

***dePreventionMonth

08/31/2026

Sharing is Caring Classes start tomorrow, September 1st! Visit our website to see the list of classes:

https://dwsharingiscaring.my.canva.site/

08/28/2026

💚 When School Feels Hard: Start With Connection

Earlier this week, we talked about looking below the surface when a child is struggling to go to school. So what can families do when school avoidance becomes a concern?

Start with connection, curiosity, and support.
👂 Listen-without immediately trying to fix the problem.
💜 Validate the feeling while continuing to work toward a solution.
🔎 Look for patterns—certain days, classes, people, transitions, or situations may provide important clues.
🏫 Partner with the school early. Teachers, counselors, social workers, and other trusted adults can help.
✅ Make a plan that addresses the underlying barrier and takes manageable steps toward regular attendance.

Most importantly, remember that supporting school attendance and acknowledging a child's distress are not opposing goals. We can communicate, “I know this feels really hard, and we're going to figure out how to help you through it.”

If anxiety or emotional distress is persistent or severe, consider reaching out to a qualified healthcare or mental health professional for additional support.

💙 The goal isn't just getting a child through the school doors. It's helping them feel safe, supported, connected, and able to stay.

08/26/2026

🎒 School Avoidance: Look Below the Surface

When a child repeatedly says, “I don’t want to go to school,” it can be easy to focus on the behavior we can see.

But sometimes, not wanting to go is only the tip of the iceberg.

Anxiety. Peer conflict. Academic struggles. Feeling disconnected. Changes at home. Fear of failure. There are many reasons a child may begin struggling to get through the school doors.

School avoidance can also show up in ways we might not immediately recognize—frequent stomachaches, trouble sleeping, emotional meltdowns before school, repeated requests to come home early, or increasing tardiness and absences.

💙 Instead of beginning with:
“How do we make them go?”

Try getting curious:
“What is making it hard to go?”

Understanding the why behind a child's behavior gives families and schools a better opportunity to address the real barrier and help that child feel safe, connected, and supported.

On Friday, we'll share some practical ways families can respond when school feels hard. 💚

Address

Dalton, GA
30721

Website

http://whitfield.gafcp.org/

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