Project Healthy Grandparents Youth Enrichment Initiative
Project Healthy Grandparents Youth Enrichment Initiative
Project Healthy Grandparents (PHG) is housed in the Mark Chaffin Centers for Healthy Development's Center for Leadership in Disability in the School of Public Health.
In Atlanta, thousands of children and teens are being raised by grandparents who selflessly step forward in times of family crisis to provide stability, love, and safety. Yet many of the children they raise face significant barriers, including economic hardship, parental loss, trauma, and limited access to opportunities that help young people thrive.
Project Healthy Grandparents (PHG) is a community-based research program that provides a one-year intervention to support the social, emotional, and physical well-being of families in which grandparents are raising grandchildren. Through the Project Healthy Grandparents Youth Enrichment Initiative, we aim to provide experiences that inspire hope, expand opportunity, and help grandchildren envision a future filled with possibility.
Through community crowdsourcing, this initiative will support two main experiences:
- PHG Youth Day at Georgia State University and
- Summer Camp and Enrichment Opportunities, giving youth the chance to experience new environments, build confidence, and connect with mentors and peers who encourage their success.
PHG Youth Day at Georgia State University
PHG Youth Day will welcome teens from the PHG program to the Georgia State campus for a day designed to spark curiosity, confidence, and imagination. For many PHG youth, this will be their first experience on a college campus. Early exposure to a college environment helps youth recognize that higher education is attainable and that a wide range of resources and opportunities are available to support their success.
During Youth Day, participants will:
- Tour the Georgia State University campus
- Participate in interactive college-readiness workshops
- Engage in hands-on learning activities
- Meet university students, faculty, and mentors
- Build friendships with peers who share similar family experiences
Summer Camp and Enrichment Opportunities
Many grandparents in the PHG program live on fixed incomes and are unable to afford summer camps, extracurricular programs, or summer enrichment activities. As a result, their grandchildren often miss out on experiences that support healthy development and learning.
Funding will support summer camp participation and summer enrichment activities that promote:
- Social-emotional development
- Physical activity and wellness
- Creativity and exploration
- Positive peer relationships
- Academic engagement
These activities help youth build confidence and resilience while also providing critical respite for grandparents who dedicate themselves to raising the next generation.
Campaign Goal
Our campaign goal is to raise $5,000, which will cover:
- transportation, meals, and all materials for PHG Youth Day at Georgia State University for 20 teens
- support 20 children to attend summer camp and other enrichment activities
These opportunities will include sports camps (such as baseball, football, and soccer) as well as specialty camps including robotics and theatre.
Should there be remaining funds, we hope to plan summer group educational and recreational outings, such as group trips to the High Museum of Art, Georgia Aquarium, and Fernbank Museum.
