Twenty years of meeting youth where they are.
From a single group session for teenage mothers in 2006 to a multidisciplinary team serving Metro Atlanta — this is the iCAN story.
Founded in 2006. Driven by lived experience.
The International Center for Adolescents in Need, Inc. (iCAN) is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2006 with a mission to support teenage mothers and equip them with the resources needed for successful parenting.
Over the years, we broadened our scope to serve urban youth and their families throughout Atlanta — adding mentoring, parenting workshops, STEM and service-learning projects, and a full mental and behavioral health practice in 2019.
Today, we operate from the Georgia Hills Neighborhood Center — a City of Atlanta facility — with a dedicated teen center, early childhood treatment room, group session room, and small workshop area.
Dr. Shadonna Davis, LCSW, PhD
Dr. Davis began her journey in 2000, driven by a profound commitment to support teenage mothers. Having experienced teenage motherhood herself, she was determined to provide young mothers with the resources they needed to improve their children’s quality of life.
A Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years of experience in school social work, child welfare, juvenile diversion, and mental health treatment, Dr. Davis previously managed the Atlanta Public Schools Truancy Center, served as a Program Officer for Atlanta Housing, and provided therapuetic services at Transformative Therapy Group, LLC.
She holds a Doctorate in Educational Policy Studies, a Master of Social Work, and a Bachelor of Business Administration — all from Georgia State University. Her research on transformative youth development has been featured in Urban Review, Reflections: Narratives of Professionals Helping, and the Journal for African American Women and Girls in STEM.
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- PhD, Educational Policy Studies — Georgia State University
- Member, NASW & Council on Social Work Education
- 15+ years in school social work, child welfare, juvenile diversion, mental health treatment
Multidisciplinary by design.
Expertise across social work, juvenile diversion, mental health, child welfare, and K-12 education.
What we believe — and how we practice it.
Culturally Relevant
We design programs that honor lived experience, language, and culture.
Trauma-Informed
Every interaction is grounded in safety, trust, choice, and empowerment.
Whole Child
We treat the student, the family, and the system around them.
Evidence-Based
TF-CBT, mindfulness, and research-driven youth development.