Part 2: A Look Back at WGA’s First Single Focus Area
In 2012, WGA members chose Mental Health as our first single focus area, marking a strategic shift in our grantmaking approach. This decision was informed by our 10th anniversary report, Stronger Voices…Better Lives, which built on findings from the 2004 Voices Heard study and highlighted mental health as a critical, underfunded need for women and girls in Northeast Florida.
From 2012–2018, WGA invested $1.96 million in grants to 17 nonprofits, supporting nearly 9,000 women and girls. Our work centered on three priorities: trauma-informed care, co-located and wraparound services, and innovative practices—all fueled by countless hours of member-led contributions toward research, education, and advocacy.
The 2016 Voices of Hope report further guided our work with four goals: break the cycle of poverty, educate girls, support trauma-informed addiction care, and address reproductive health. Kudos to each and every Member who had a hand in this exemplary effort to lead in mental health awareness, advocacy, and grantmaking!