Our Team.
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The BloodLine Journey
The Jars of Clay Movement began with Pastor Anita, a trauma therapist who grew frustrated watching families torn apart by the child welfare system. Time and again, she saw mothers lose their children not from neglect, but from poverty and pain. Anita believed there had to be a better way --
As family bonds weaken under the weight of modern struggles, many young parents have lost hope. But love has always been our community’s strength. For generations, especially within the Black community, neighbors helped raise each other’s children — forming fictive kin families built on love, not blood. Jars of Clay carries that legacy forward. Since 1996, we’ve provided safe, faith-filled refuges for homeless teens and their babies across Georgia.
Our conservative Christian mission is simple yet bold: to save our children from the cycles of violence, mental illness, and homelessness — Welcome to the BloodLine
about us
Jars of Clay has been around for 34 years. Our specialty is helping homeless families gain housing and rescuing teenagers who have become homeless and are in crisis. This program is faith-inspired, but not required.
There are FOUR program areas
1. Mentoring a Teen
2. Becoming Fictive Kin
3. Becoming an Ambassador
4. Policy Advisor
1. MENTOR A TEENAGER
“Redeem. Restore. Rebuild.”
PROGRAM PURPOSE
To guide each teen toward emotional healing, personal growth, and independent living through structured mentoring, skills training, and supportive community. (*MENTOR TRAINING IS PROVIDED)
PROGRAM GOALS
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Build self-worth, confidence, and resilience.
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Equip teens with essential life and parenting skills.
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Prepare residents for independent living and financial stability.
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Model healthy relationships and boundaries through mentorship.
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Support each young mother in creating a nurturing, stable environment for her child.
Many of our girls complete the program seeking a loving surrogate family for their baby. Mentors receive trauma-informed training alongside mentees, ensuring every step of the journey fosters healing, trust, and hope.
What is...
Fictive Kin?
The term in social work to describe deep, family-like bonds formed through love and commitment rather than blood.
These famies create stability, belonging, and life long connection for our girls and their babies, helping them heal, grow, and thrive in a safe nurting community.
One must be prepared to know the baby may be in your care for years...or a lifetime.
2. Fictive Kin Support
Did We Mention... Delivery!
There is a sacred beauty in standing beside a young mother as she brings new life into the world — especially one who has known rejection, fear, and loneliness. To help a homeless teen deliver her baby is to remind her she is not alone; that love, not trauma, can have the final word. In that moment, compassion becomes redemption. Your presence tells her that even though her past was marked by pain, her child’s first breath can be surrounded by safety, dignity, and care.
Through the heart of the bloodline program, we carry hope forward — teaching young mothers how to nurture, feed, and comfort their babies with confidence. When trauma makes bonding too painful, respite care becomes an act of grace, not judgment. It allows the mother to heal while her child is held in love by a trusted, fictive kin family. Together, we restore what was lost — showing both mother and child that family can be chosen, healing can be shared, and every bloodline can begin again in love.
3. BECOME AN AMBASSADOR
A Bloodline Ambassador is the voice of the voiceless. They are a passionate advocate for our mission, dedicated to sharing the story of our residential program for pregnant teens who are survivors of sexual abuse. Ambassadors serve as the personal face of our organization in their communities, networks, and social circles, helping others understand the impact of our work and inspiring support.
Key Responsibilities:
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Share Our Story: Communicate the mission, vision, and successes of Bloodline in a compelling, authentic way—through events, social media, presentations, or one-on-one conversations.
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Fundraising & Resource Development: Introduce potential donors, sponsors, and partners to our programs; help generate funding to support our girls, surrogate families, and program initiatives.
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Engage Networks: Leverage personal and professional relationships to expand awareness of Bloodline and encourage meaningful participation.
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Event Participation: Represent Bloodline at community events, fundraisers, and speaking opportunities, ensuring our message reaches wider audiences.
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Advocate for Impact: Educate others about the challenges faced by our youth and the importance of fictive kin support, encouraging ongoing engagement and investment in their future.
Impact:
Ambassadors play a critical role in helping Bloodline secure the financial and community support needed to restore, redeem, and empower the next generation, ensuring that every child’s bloodline begins anew in love, not trauma
A policy advocate can help our program by influencing laws and regulations that impact pregnant teens, survivors of abuse, and foster care systems.
They raise awareness of systemic barriers, propose policy changes, and connect our mission to decision-makers. By amplifying our voice at local, state, and national levels, they help secure funding, protect family rights, and create long-term solutions that support healing, stability, and generational change.
4. POLICY ADVISOR
