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The feature below is brought to you by Restoration Atlanta, an organization that has received a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here. To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here. Since 2013, Restoration Atlanta (RATL) has been a space for families in crisis to be seen, known, and loved. We exist because we “See Beautiful” in those around us, and we want to uplift the beauty of others in all that we do. Serving families experiencing homelessness, clients often come to us in the midst of feeling beaten down by the world around them. They have oftentimes lost hope in themselves, and their ability to see beauty in themselves. While we cannot be anyone’s savior, what we can do is remind individuals of their beauty. We can see them as they are, accept them as they are, and walk together. At RATL, we have always believed that resources and relationships bring restoration. We strive to be a respite for families. While we provide tangible resources, we also believe that mental health is just as important as physical health. There is a correlation between homelessness and poor mental health, and individuals facing poverty do not have equitable access to mental health services. According to Forbes Health, the average cost of one therapy session in the U.S. is $100-$200. At RATL, we believe that receiving mental health support should be easily accessible. Thanks to generous supporters such as See Beautiful, we are able to provide care during our programs to students and their parents.  Recently, we had a mother arrive to pick up her children from the RATL After School Program. With tears in her eyes, she asked if I could talk with her. She shared a lot of heartache with me, the current struggles that were weighing her down, and she even identified that she could really use counseling services. In previous years, I would have had to go on a long journey of referring her to other agencies. If I’m being honest, the referrals are rarely successful. At times, we felt helpless witnessing the immense need for mental health support, yet were unable to provide support ourselves or find alternative options for families. The reality is that there simply are not enough services to meet this demand. Thanks to organizations like See Beautiful, I was so grateful to offer this mom immediate services on-site, at no cost. I am able to have the peace and confidence that we don’t have to just sit back and apologize that “everywhere is full.” We can say “yes” to creating equitable access to mental health. __ A quote from Eric, weekly on site therapist, about the impact he has seen the Mental Health Program have on RATL students - “The value added by including a mental health program is something I view as vital and such a privilege to provide to RATL. Through this program, I have witnessed firsthand the growth that it has fostered in the rather short time it has been enlisted. I’ve watched kids go from instantly reactive to slow to anger. From quiet and alone to connecting strongly with their peers. With these students also coming from low SES backgrounds, giving them a resource like this allows them a place to process, connect and grow from possibly traumatic or difficult circumstances in a safe setting with peers who might be going through similar situations.” Submitted by: Anna Jackson
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See beautiful in yourself.
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