Funding Opportunities: Spotlight on Georgia

Since 2014, the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) Prevention and Community Support Section (PCS) has partnered with Committee for Children to provide funding for the Second Step® family of programs. This grant funding is specifically designed to support child abuse prevention through personal safety training and social-emotional learning (SEL) in schools.

With this unique focus, the Georgia PCS team earmarked some of their federal child abuse prevention funding to provide Second Step programs to school districts, charter schools, and community-based organizations as a part of their efforts to reduce child maltreatment. This intermediate and long-term prevention strategy has allowed nearly 450 schools across the state to teach children personal safety skills within the broader context of SEL. In January 2025, school districts in Georgia will once again have the opportunity to apply for the grant to fund any or all of the following Second Step programs:

• Second Step® Early Learning (PreK)
• Second Step® Elementary (K–Grade 5)
• Second Step® Child Protection Unit (PreK–Grade 5)
• Second Step® Bullying Prevention Unit (K–Grade 5)
• Second Step® Middle School (Grades 6–8)

Past grant recipients have reported many benefits from Second Step programs, including improved child safety and improved school climate. The Second Step family of programs helps schools become safe, supportive spaces where students learn to practice social-emotional skills—such as problem-solving, self-awareness, and social awareness—to improve communication and connectedness. Second Step programs complement and align with Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Georgia’s Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Plan.

“Second Step® has been pivotal in helping Houston County Schools focus on what matters most for learning and achievement: student well-being. The proactive teaching of social-emotional skills across our 32 elementary and middle schools has been key to preventing challenging behaviors and building a positive school climate.” —Monica Smith, Student Services Coordinator, Houston County School District

By implementing Second Step programs, schools and districts can build a stronger, safer Georgia that creates a brighter future where every child can thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. Visit Funding for Second Step® Programs for information and resources to help districts apply. Go to the Georgia DFCS Prevention and Community Support website, where a new Statement of Need is posted annually in January or February as funding allows.

Grants for Second Step® Programs Q&A

Second Step programs can help prevent child abuse and bullying, promote better connectedness among students and staff, and improve learning outcomes. To better understand how schools in Georgia can apply for a grant funding Second Step programs, we spoke with the DFCS grant team.

Why is this grant important, and what effects have you seen over time?

The grant for Second Step programs is important because social-emotional learning has been shown to greatly affect children’s educational capacity, their behavior at school and at home, their sense of self-worth, and their resilience after potential traumatic events. Second Step programs help schools in Georgia create safe, healthy, and nurturing relationships and environments for children and families. Giving children tools to succeed academically, emotionally, and in their relationships early in life allows for the healthy development of adults ready and able to be successful members of society. As a result of this grant, we’ve seen a significant decrease in in-school suspensions and a greater percentage of children safe from child maltreatment.

What are the top three things applicants should focus on when applying for this funding?

The first thing to focus on is a strong and realistic implementation plan for the program. If applying as a school, this should include collaborating with district leaders. The second is getting all the required attachments and documents completed, including getting original signatures where needed. The third most important thing to focus on is contacting Committee for Children to discuss your budget and what you need to order. The organization will help guide you toward a successful implementation.

What might cause an application to be disqualified or receive a low score?

Applications receive low scores when they don’t adequately describe their school’s need for Second Step programs and how the programs will add to their school’s climate and behavioral supports. Common factors that disqualify applicants include:

• Not submitting all the required attachments
• Lacking signatures on required attachments
• Not being registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) or Data Universal Number System (DUNS)
• Submitting late applications

How can schools and districts set themselves up for success once they’re awarded the grant?

The biggest determinant is making time in the school schedule to teach each Second Step lesson. Schools and districts often find they need to adjust the schedule they’d laid out in the application to provide teachers with more time for the lessons and to build in time for makeup lessons to accommodate unforeseen events that come up.

The key to successful implementation of the grant is to complete every lesson by the end of the school year. And, of course, staying in touch with our office helps when there are difficulties or challenges. Communication is key.

When You’re Ready to Apply for Funding, Our Experts Can Help

Regardless of a district’s size, collective voices and coordinated initiatives have a much better chance of succeeding than stand-alone efforts. Committee for Children has deep experience with SEL-related funding opportunities and our staff are available to help identify grants, draft applications, and assist with program implementation planning. Please see the Grant Application Checklist for more tips on how to find and apply for a grant to fund Second Step programs.

Jordan Posamentier, vice president of policy and advocacy at Committee for Children, offers this advice for school districts seeking funding for SEL initiatives:

• Tailor SEL efforts to support your communities’ priorities, such as student mental health, school safety, or academic recovery from learning loss due to the pandemic or other issues.
• Utilize the Committee for Children Grant-Writing Toolkit for funding tips specific to the Second Step family of programs.

Ready to take the next step? Contact us to discuss your needs.

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FAQ
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More Help for Grants

Please see the Grant Application Checklist for more tips on how to find and apply for a grant to fund Second Step programs.