The Front Porch, Where Youth and Families Gather, a community-based risk reduction program designed t
Wow! What an awesome turnout for this month's "Grits & Grandparents" Lunch and Learn at Windsor Forest Community Center and Golden Age Center. Thank you Brooke Foley and Kyleigh Spradlin for giving us your time to speak about the Signs of Mental Illness today. Big shout out to Shawnessey Cargile and the City of Savannah Golden Age program for making it happen!
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Big Thank You to Savannah City Manager, Joseph. A. Melder, the Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement (ONSE), the Savannah Police Department (SPD), and the Office of Community Services for hosting today's Youth Violence Reduction Partnership Collaboration! What an amazing group of people coalescing to assist youth and families!
Laverne and Shirley? Betty and Wilma? Lucy and Ethel? These famous twosomes are no match for our own Heather and Stephanie! We are so proud of these ladies and the great work they do for our families!
They finish each other's sentences, and they’ve got each other's backs. You’d think Heather Hurst and Stephanie Ritzert, both Case Managers at Chatham County’s The Front Porch, might be sisters or at least must have known each other their entire lives. Friends and coworkers for the past fifteen years, they met in June of 2008, when Stephanie joined the probation staff of Chatham County’s Juvenile Court, where Heather was already serving. They worked side by side there for over ten years, and in October of 2018, together they became part of the team that opened The Front Porch.
Here they work with families and kids who are having issues at home or school that could evolve into something that might involve the court system or DFCS. Stephanie actually began her career with DFCS and has a heart for kids whose lives can be changed by the right care, support, and guidance. For parents, teachers, and kids who are struggling to find their best way forward, Stephanie says, “The Front Porch is like a beacon of light. We’re able to look at the big picture, where maybe they were focused on a particular issue, and we can help connect them to the resources they never knew were out there, to help them deal with things holistically.”
Parents themselves, these two understandably feel that the best part of what they do is to give parents encouragement. Stephanie understands, “when parents are working all day, they may not have the time to do all the research and make all the calls and wait for the call-backs themselves. I’m sure it’s probably overwhelming at times.” Heather picks up Stephanie’s thought, “So then when parents can feel very hopeful about things not being as dire as they felt they were, and when you see a child that’s been struggling, and the parent calls you back and tells you they’re doing so much better and thanks you for getting them connected with a counselor – you know you’ve helped them, and that always makes you feel good.”
That help comes in large and small ways at The Front Porch. They reach out into the community with events like a big bash Summer Camp Fair, to help families think ahead and secure the things kids will need when school is out. And they reach into the individual lives of the people they serve, in quiet little ways that also help, like providing cleats for a couple siblings who need them for sports, or hemming school khakis, to take something off the plate of a mom who works long hours.
Service projects and kids are still the first things that come to mind when they clock out – Stephanie is a huge fan of local service organization PACK, and Heather’s the biggest fan of her daughter’s flag-football team. They may have first bonded over Bunco, way back in the beginning, but nowadays, they’re more likely to find their fun at painting parties or axe-throwing get-togethers with other friends. All work and no play is nobody’s recipe for long-term success, so Heather and Stephanie find the balance of work AND play to feed their long-term friendship and their successful and purposeful work.
Say hello to Stephanie Ritzert and Heather Hurst, Team Chatham’s dynamic duo who team up to make a difference in the lives of our county’s children and families.
We are teaming up with Parent University for our annual drive-thru sock giveaway! Cookies will be given out as well! Mark your calendars!
Gotta love this team! ❤️
Thank you to this years Pride parade organizers! We had a blast and got the chance to let Chatham County LGBTQIA+ youth and families know that we are a resource as well 💓🙏🤗🎈
Our teens are capable of bringing so much beauty into the world if we present them with the opportunities to do so. Thank you Hostess City Hot Glass! Ronald and Casey Martinez we thank you and Chris for the time you took teaching one of our youth glass making! Did you know that they (Hostess City Hot Glass) also make glass hearts that the clerk’s office gives to parents when adoptions are finalized? Incredible!
Well we did it. We turned our signature SWAG pens into mascots and we are going to unveil them this Friday! Join us in support of our LGBTQIA+ youth and come on out to the First City Pride annual Pride Parade with us on October 20th. Did you know...according to a PBS news report, "The Trevor Project, which works to end su***de among le***an, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth surveyed more than 28,000 LGBT people aged 13 to 24. 41 percent of them said they had seriously considered su***de in the previous twelve months. 56 percent said that in the past year they wanted mental health care but couldn't get it." We want to be sure that ALL of our youth know they are welcome here at The Front Porch. Join us!
We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our SCCPSS School Social Workers and Counselors. This week, we got to celebrate our partnership with them AND had a little time to conduct some training together. What a dedicated group of professionals. TFP is so lucky to have the opportunity to work in tandem with these incredible people! 😍😍😍
What an honor to be recognized by our community at last nights “Creating Brighter Futures” event hosted by Brightside Child and Family Advocacy. Thank you Chatham County ❤️
We were so happy to see the resurgence of our step team at Peace in the Park on Sunday! Like the shirt? Become part of the team! Practice is every Thursday at 5:30 pm right here at 2203 Abercorn St.
It’s such a beautiful day for Peace in the Park with The Mediation Center and all of our friends. Come join us! We’re here till 4pm
What a beautiful gathering of ideas and people during our first ever "Elevator Mixer" event last night. Youth serving organizations came together to talk about their services and although the rain held off, there was a downpouring of fantastic program descriptions for Chatham County Youth! Thank you to all of the participants!
We are so honored to have been nominated for a "Creating Brighter Futures Award" from Brightside Child & Family Advocacy. Thank you for considering us! 🤩😍
We are so proud of Shawnessey! He is really making the rounds in Chatham County. Today he did an excellent job presenting to Metro Rotary. We even ran into Carol Bell, one of the founding members of the Front Porch. She helped us explain the history behind the formation of the agency.
Big love and thank you to CCCS of the Savannah Area Inc. for providing a fantastic Lunch & Learn about Household Budgeting today.
Today we are celebrating a 59% increase in the number of families served with assessments at The Front Porch since 2019. Thank you Chatham County! 🥳🥳🥳
Come out and enjoy the Mediation Center's Savannah Day of Peace AND watch the Front Porch Step Team Perform!
What is Shawnessey up to now? We can’t wait to tell you! In the meantime, we know he would love it if you captioned these pics 😁
Do you provide services to children and youth? Do you have a new business, non-profit or program you'd like everyone to know about? We are calling all youth counselors, youth serving non-profits, youth focused consulting agencies and recreational organizations to join us for the Elevator Mixer. Delicious catered meal, networking with new (and existing organizations with new or upcoming programs) and 60 second "elevator speeches" about who you are and what you do! Please RSVP using the QR code below! We can't wait to see you!
We still have school supplies available here at the Front Porch. Drop by and see us this week! 😍
*Update* Due to inclement weather the Front Porch will be closed both Wednesday August 30th and Thursday, August 31st.
We are celebrating $550.00 worth of gift cards awarded to our youth! If your child needs help in school we provide FREE tutoring and will reward your child with a $50.00 gift card for meeting attendance standards!
Our AI tutor solves a math problem!
We are excited to welcome Jalen Chin as a 2023/24 Intern here at The Front Porch. Jalen joins us from the Savannah State University Social Work Program. Please wish him a warm welcome to the TFP team!
Our new tutoring robots are in thanks to our grant from Georgia Department of Human Services. Misa, Miko and Lil’ Shelid are now part of our tutoring, welcoming and assessment teams! Does your child interface well with AI? Now we can cater to their learning preferences at The Front Porch!
We are so proud of our Partner of the Quarter Kate Templeton with Tharros Place and Employee of the Quarter Mackenzie W. Both of these young women have scored multiple operational home runs for us since they came on and we are so lucky to have them as part of the team! Please congratulate them, they deserve it❤️
Organized? Who? Us?!? Big thank you to staff and most especially Ms. Mackenzie W. for helping us “spark joy” and be presentable ❤️
When we come together to serve, the impact is astounding. Thank you BTSBR 2023 Vendors. Collectively, we gave out appx. $46,000.00 worth of services and supplies to families in need this year.
This young lady was the winner of 1 of the 5 tablets we raffled off this weekend. Our Administrative Assistant, Shelid Greene is handing her her prize 😍
If you see this guy around town be sure to give him a high five (you should probably introduce yourself first though) Mr. Cargile was a key organizer for this year’s BTSBR. We appreciate you Shawnessey!
We conducted a random sample survey of our BTSBR participants and discovered the following about this year's attendees: 80% rated the event as Excellent and 13% rated the event as Great. The annual household income of a majority of attendees is below 50K per year. The majority of event-goers heard about the BTSBR through our Facebook event posting. These insights will help us in an attempt to secure more funding for next year's event. Thank you Chatham County!
https://www.wtoc.com/2023/07/30/front-porch-agency-hosts-3rd-annual-back-to-school-block-rock-party/?outputType=amp
We love this story on BTSBR because it features so many perspectives ❤️
A social service agency hosted its annual Back To School Block Rock Party.
Take a journey through the BTSBR lineup. See anyone you know??❤️
Nearly 2500 people came out to enjoy our 3rd annual Back-to-School Block Rock today. We can’t thank our vendors, volunteers and a very generous grant from Georgia State of Hope enough for making it happen. A VERY special message of love and thanks to the Front Porch staff for being the absolute BEST team possible. Thank you ❤️❤️❤️
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Thank you Savannah Morning News
Get ready to go back to school with 'Back to School Block Rock' party
Students in the Savannah-Chatham school district will be able to get free school uniforms made possible through partnerships and a $20,000 grant.
2203 Abercorn Street
Savannah, GA
31401
| Monday | 8am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 8am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 8am - 7pm |
| Thursday | 8am - 7pm |
| Friday | 8am - 5pm |
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Our AI tutor solves a math problem!
Take a journey through the BTSBR lineup. See anyone you know??❤️
Dancing in the conference room is a must at The Front Porch. Big thank you to our friends at Deep Center for another successful season of Drop-in sessions with us!
You never know what’s going to make someone’s day. Sometimes it’s a bin of brand new Khaki’s donated by Specialty Sports and brought in by Stephanie Burnsed Ritzert to add to a growing collection of school uniforms! We will be giving out on July 30th at our 2nd annual Back to School Block Rock. 4-7pm WW Law Gym. Join us!
Where we at?? Stop by at 4:30 pm today as we introduce a new community resource in partnership with the Metropolitan Planning Commission and Greenbriar Children's Center!
More step moments at The Front Porch ❤️
Every great step team has a start. This was ours. Join TFP Step Team and have a stomptacular time with us. Practice is every Thursday from 5:45 pm - 7:00 pm.
The Front Porch Assessment Center meets Front Porch Improv with The Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council! Just making plans to bring therapeutic theater and empathy training into the lives of our youth. #ACTS #Theater4Development #TraumaDrama
Amber, who works with Gateway's Youth to Adult Program headquartered here at The Front Porch, created this great video of our logo highlighting how we wrap services around our children and families! Thanks, Amber!
Savannah District, U.S. Army Corps of Enginee
W Oglethorpe Avenue
Guyana Police Force Community Relations
Barrack Street Georgetown
Chatham County Board of Elections
Eisenhower Drive
Goose, the Savannah Police Therapy Dog
Habersham Street
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