2025 Impact Report
OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Koge Receives a Life-Changing Donated Car
On a memorable day at CCYA, Koge was surprised with a beautiful car generously donated by Roots & Wings Ranch and Julie Wickman Selander. After excelling through a competitive application process that included an essay and interview, Koge rose to every challenge. His mentoring family and CCYA staff gathered to witness his priceless reaction of shock, emotion, and gratitude This gift removes major transportation barriers and opens exciting new opportunities for his future
A Letter from
Dear Friends,
I want people to imagine what it would be like to turn 18 with no one to call home no family to celebrate your wins or help you when you stumble. That’s the daily reality facing thousands of youth aging out of foster care. Through Don’t Go Alone, we restore what was broken in relationship… and give them a place to truly belong.
2025 was a milestone year for Connections Homes. We served a record 290 young adults a 121% increase over the past two years bringing our lifetime total to 963 youth served through our various programs, and 571 matched to permanent lifelong connections. We’ve witnessed powerful outcomes: 93% pursuing education or skilled trades, dramatically lower rates of unplanned pregnancy and justicesystem involvement, and a near-zero rate of chronic homelessness. These results generated $31.97 million in annual societal cost savings.
One story that captures the heart of our work is Aiyan R ’s Matched in just 18 days with Shane and Jenny Bruce, Aiyan moved rapidly from transitional living into full family belonging He earned his driver’s license, purchased his first car, received the prestigious “Defy the Odds” award at graduation, and this Christmas appeared on the official Bruce family card. This is redemptive connection made real. Our Redemptive Connection Framework and L.I.F.E. Guide equip Mentoring Families to create secure belonging while guiding youth toward self-efficacy and thriving independence. What was broken in relationship is truly being restored in relationship.
None of this impact would be possible without your continued partnership. Thank you for believing in the power of family and for walking alongside us as we restore hope, dignity, and belonging to the next generation.
With deep gratitude,
Jer 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord!
Everyone deserves a place to belong
At Connections Homes, we are proving that what was broken in relationship can truly be restored in relationship.
By connecting youth aging out of foster care or living without family to a Mentoring Family committed to them for life, we are breaking cycles of poverty, homelessness, and isolation. We replace survival with belonging, and histories of fracture with stories of thriving.
Connections Homes Board Chair, Henry Jackson speaking at our DGA Annual Family Dinner
“I want people to imagine what it would be like to turn 18 with no one to call home no family to celebrate your wins or help you when you stumble. That’s the daily reality facing thousands of youth aging out of foster care. Through Don’t Go Alone, we restore what was broken in relationship… and give them a place to truly belong.”
Pam Parish CEO & Founder
Highlights
Program Growth
Redemptive Connection Support
Thrive Map
Youth Served in 2025 (record growth year)
Lifetime Youth Served through the DGA Program 963 $31.97 Million
Annual Societal Cost Savings from 571 Matched Youth
Details Outcome
Youth served increased from 129 (2023) - 213 (2024) - 290 in 2025
Equips Mentoring Families with L I F E Guide curriculum, traumainformed coaching, and monthly relationship management
Tracks housing, education, employment, and belonging through Needs Assessments and Thrive Map
121% growth over two years while maintaining high-touch, relationshipbased excellence
Enables families to create secure belonging and guide youth toward self-efficacy and thriving adulthood
67 youth achieved major milestones including graduations, driver’s licenses, first cars, and independent living steps 290
“I just imagine being there whenever you need them in a healthy way, I’m not really sure because I’ve never experienced too many healthy lifelong relationships.”
Aiyan,19,whenaskedatprogramentry,“whatit meansforhimtohavealifelongconnection.”
In eighteen days, Aiyan R. went from aging out alone to belonging with the Bruce family. One match. One relationship. A lifetime of difference.
When Aiyan R. walked into the Center for Children and Young Adults in Marietta last February, he was nineteen, originally from Chicago, and preparing to age out of transitional living with no family waiting on the other side.
In his discovery profile, Aiyan was clear about what he hoped for in a mentoring family: people who would “consider me as part of their family,” treat him with steady guidance, and help him “navigate his future” with the wisdom of more life experience.
On March 2, 2025, he met Shane and Jenny Bruce. The match was powerful because the Bruce family had written in their own profile that their greatest hope was for the young adult they connected with “to feel like they are a part of my family.” They were ready to offer exactly what Aiyan needed: patience, presence, inclusion in everyday life, and long-term commitment.
“There’s something so exciting about the journey from youth to adulthood, and we want to be a source of encouragement, guidance, and friendship for you. We believe God places people in our lives to reflect His love, and we hope to reflect that love to you. ”
TheBrucefamily,intheir“lettertoyou” writtentotheiryoungadultbeforematch.
Their first meeting was simple pizza and ice cream. “Our whole family just adored him,” Jenny recalls. “It was a great night, and we are all so excited about this new friendship.”
The bond formed quickly. By Mother’s Day, Aiyan was hiking Stone Mountain with the family after church. In July he joined them on a beach vacation. In November he earned his driver’s license and purchased his first car.
In May, at his high-school graduation, Aiyan stood on stage as one of only two seniors out of three hundred to receive the prestigious “Defy the Odds” award. Shane, Jenny, and their children were there cheering, hugging, and claiming him as their own.
This Christmas, Aiyan appeared on the official Bruce family card. He is no longer navigating adulthood alone. He belongs.
The Match
Pre-Match
Youth Referral: February 3, 2025
Youth Connection-Ready: February 20, 2025
Match Date: March 10, 2025
First Meeting: March 21, 2025 Outcome
Milestones since match: Driver’s license & First Car Graduation
Family beach vacation “Defy the Odds” award Lifelong family inclusion
Our Strategic Pillars
Building a Stronger Future Through Strategic Focus
At Connections Homes, our mission to empower youth without family support is guided by three strategic pillars: National Expansion, Program Excellence, and Thought Leadership. These pillars shape everything we do as we scale the Don’t Go Alone model, maintain the highest standards of matching and relationship support, and advance the field’s understanding of redemptive, lifelong connection ensuring every young adult has a supportive network where they can truly belong and thrive.
Our Three Strategic Pillars National Expansion Program Excellence Thought Leadership
National Expansion: Enables Connections Homes to reach more youth across the country, scaling the Don’t Go Alone model and extending its proven impact to new communities and states nationwide.
Program Excellence: Ensures that the Don’t Go Alone (DGA) program maintains the highest-quality services, providing effective, trauma-informed support and resources to youth and Mentoring Families.
Thought Leadership: Positions Connections Homes as a leading voice in the field of foster care and youth support, influencing policy and practice through innovative models like the Redemptive Connection Framework.
National Expansion
Ensures that the Don’t Go Alone (DGA) program maintains the highest-quality services, providing effective, trauma-informed support and resources to youth and Mentoring Families.
In 2026, the primary objectives for national expansion include:
Scaling Nationwide: Establishing new affiliate locations to reach more youth aging out of foster care or experiencing homelessness.
Program Enhancement: Strengthening infrastructure, refining operational processes, and improving communication tools to support growth.
Youth and Mentoring Family Recruitment: Increasing outreach efforts to connect more youth with trained Mentoring Families.
Affiliate Development: Training and equipping affiliate organizations to replicate the DGA model in new regions.
What is Don’t Go Alone (DGA)?
In 2020, Connections Homes launched a marketing campaign in Georgia titled “Don’t Go Alone” (DGA) to recruit youth. As the organization expanded through branches and affiliates beginning in 2022, the DGA name was adopted as the official program title across all locations. This strategic rebranding allows other nonprofits to easily license and implement the model, simply announcing the addition of a DGA Program to their services. By standardizing the program name, Connections Homes ensures consistency as it scales nationally, creating a unified brand identity and operational framework for its mission to connect vulnerable youth with lifelong Mentoring Families
We love when Mentoring Families share the everyday moments that turn houses into homes. Special thanks to Laura, who recently decorated Michael’s Christmas tree and helped him hang magical “Hogwarts” floating candles. “Memories and special times for a young man that deserves it so much,” she shared a beautiful reminder of the belonging we are building together, one tradition at a time.
Connections Homes is committed to achieving Program Excellence by executing the Don’t Go Alone (DGA) program in a timely, accurate, cost-effective, and value-added manner that exceeds expectations and delivers redemptive outcomes.
In 2026, the primary objectives for program excellence include:
Launch DGA Connect™: Roll out our new AIenhanced technology platform to accelerate matching, enable predictive relational support, and provide real-time Thrive Map analytics allowing us to scale high-quality, relationship-based care across a growing national network
Strengthen Trauma-Informed Practices: Deepen training and resources for staff and Mentoring Families, now supercharged by DGA Connect’s predictive insights that help identify needs earlier and respond with greater precision. Support Youth Development: Deliver comprehensive wraparound services that empower youth to achieve stability in housing, education, employment, and emotional well-being, with enhanced tools that keep relationships at the center. Expand Staff Capacity: Equip Relationship Managers with smarter workflows and data-driven support so they can focus on what matters most building deep, lasting connections with more youth. Optimize Program Infrastructure: Refine processes, measure efficacy, and leverage DGA Connect’s automation and cross-site analytics to support sustainable, high-fidelity growth while maintaining the relational heart of our model.
UCATION &SKILLS
The Thrive Map is a comprehensive assessment tool designed to guide youth in the Don’t Go Alone program toward thriving by measuring their progress across two key dimensions: SelfEfficacy and Belonging. Powered by the new DGA Connect platform, the Thrive Map now delivers real-time insights and predictive analytics that help us refine interventions, strengthen relationships, and better meet the evolving needs of our youth on their journey toward thriving.
We love when Mentoring Families and youth gather at Community Cafés like this one hosted by Johnson Ferry Baptist Church. Aiyan shared his new journey with the Bruce family, one hesitant mentor found the confidence to begin guiding a young adult, and a guest left inspired to become a mentor. These gatherings create space where stories are shared, support is given, and lasting friendships are formed.
Thought Leadership
Positions Connections Homes as a leading voice in the field of foster care and youth support, influencing policy and practice through innovative models like the Redemptive Connection Framework.
In 2026, the primary objectives for thought leadership include:
Amplify Youth Voices: Launch the DGA Ambassador Program the evolution of DGA Voices to equip young adults with the skills to share their stories, lead community conversations, and inspire the next generation through storytelling, public speaking, social media, recruitment, and advocacy
Expand Educational Outreach: Grow the reach of the Redemptive Connection Framework through training programs, content creation, and expert-led initiatives that equip Mentoring Families, staff, and partners nationwide. Launch the Redemptive Connection Podcast: Host by Pam Parish, this new platform will share real stories, practical wisdom, and insights from youth, Mentoring Families, and leaders creating a national conversation about belonging and healing.
Advance Trauma-Informed Practices: Collaborate with consultants and experts to refine training content and research trauma-informed approaches that strengthen mentoring relationships and influence policy and practice.
DGA Ambassador Program The DGA Ambassador Program empowers young adults who have walked the DGA journey to become leaders in their communities. Through monthly training sessions focused on personal storytelling, social media for impact, public speaking, recruitment, servant leadership, and advocacy, ambassadors learn to use their voice with confidence and purpose The inaugural 2026 cohort will represent Connections Homes at events, create content, and help recruit the next generation of youth and Mentoring Families.
Redemptive Connection Podcast Hosted by founder Pam Parish, the Redemptive Connection Podcast launches in 2026 as a powerful new platform for sharing authentic stories of healing, belonging, and thriving. Designed to support young adults aging out of foster care, the podcast will feature youth, Mentoring Families, and thought leaders offering hope, practical wisdom, and a national conversation around what it truly means to restore what was broken in relationship
We are excited to support our inaugural 2026 DGA Ambassador Cohort. These young leaders are currently completing training in storytelling, public speaking, and advocacy as they step forward to represent the Don’t Go Alone mission and inspire the next generation.
OUTCOMES
<5% 98% <1% VS 95% 93% of girls connected to a Mentoring Family have experienced unplanned pregnancy of youth who entered our program already pregnant or parenting, have maintained care & custody of their kids of boys connected to a Mentoring Family have had any interaction with the law of youth remain connected and stable in their Mentoring Family relationship. of connected youth are completing education goals. 53% are pursuing college or a skilled-trade
$56,000 per year $15,000 once
Due to factors beyond their control, vulnerable youth are highly likely to remain stuck in a generational, cyclical state of dependency which costs the community $56,000 annually per person in public assistance and economic costs
Through Connections Homes, a one-time investment of $15,000 can provide a lifelong connection that is proven to break this vicious cycle of poverty and homelessness so that these young adults can thrive in life and impact their world
$1,190,000
OURLEADERSHIP
NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Board Chair, Henry Jackson President, Buckner Children & Family Services
Vice Chair & Acting Treasurer, Casey Deyton
Senior Director, Philanthropic Financial Services, Chick-fil-a Corporate
Secretary, Deborah A. Ausburn Partner, Taylor English
Director, Pam Parish Founder & CEO, Connections Homes
Director, Tom Rawlings
Principal, Child Welfare & Justice Transformation
Director & Brand Ambassador, Ty Montgomery Retired NFL (Packers, Ravens, Jets, Saints, & Patriots) & Foster and Homeless Youth Advocate
Director, Allison Bramlett Executive Pastor, Covenant Church
Director, Peter Amico Partner, NewGate Capital Partners, LLC
Director, Sarah Strange Philantrophist
CENTRAL SUPPORT
Pam Parish, Founder & CEO
Kristan Bhandari, Vice President of Operations
Tynesha Anderson, Director of Engagement
DGA AFFILIATES
Margaret Hoffer, DGA Director at Project Belong | Northern Virginia
Kayley Parker, DGA Director at Wild Oak Haven | Southern Virginia
Ariel Kraft, DGA Director at South Texas Alliance for Orphans | San Antonio, Texas
Marci Chavalas, DGA Director at DGA Orlando | Orlando, Florida
TEXAS BRANCH GEORGIA BRANCH
Missy Bailey, Director of Relationship Management
Shawana Black, Executive Director
TENNESSEE BRANCH
Paige Cartier, Lead Relationship Manager
With Deepest Gratitude for all of your support
We are deeply grateful to every partner, donor, and Mentoring Family who makes this work possible through your generous support and open hearts. Most of all, we thank the courageous young people who trust us with their stories and allow us to walk alongside them. Together, we are restoring what was broken in relationship and creating a future where no youth has to go alone.
Thank you for being a part of this redemptive journey.