Transcript Slide 1

Services and Resources
Available for
Families & Children
Georgia Department of Human
Resources
Division of Family & Children Services
County DFCS
159 counties
Child Welfare
Office of Family
Independence
Additional Social
Services
Child Protective Services
Process
Intake
Investigations
On-Going
Protective
Services
Foster Care
Adoption
Legal Basis for Child Protective
Services, Foster Care & Adoption
 1963 – The Children and
Youth Act authorized and
empowered the Division of
Family & Children Services to
provide protective services to
children. Protective services
will investigate complaints of
abuse, neglect or
abandonment of children and
youth by parents, guardians,
custodians or caregivers.
Legal Basis (Federal Laws)
Foster care and Adoption
 Social Security Act, Title XX, Social
Services Block Grant Act
 1973 – P.L. 95-608 - Indian Child Welfare
Act
 1980 – P.L. 96-272 – Adoption Assistance
and Child Welfare Act
 1994 – (MEPA/IEPA) - The Multiethnic
Placement Act
 1997 – P.L. 105-89 –(ASFA) – Adoption
and Safe Families Act
Legal Basis (State)
Foster Care and Adoption
Children and Youth Act – Chapter
49-5 of the Official Code of Georgia
(O.C.G.A.)
Juvenile Court Code of Georgia –
Chapter 15-11 of the Official Code
of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.)
Adoption of Children – Chapter 19-8
of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated (O.C.G.A.)
Flow Chart for Child Abuse/Neglect
Cases
Child Welfare
Intake
Diversion
Early Intervention
Investigation
On-Going CPS
Foster Care
Adoption
DFCS Social Services Program
Areas
• Child Protective Services
– Intake – accepts reported cases of
suspected cases of child abuse/neglect.
Child safety assessment begins at
intake
– Diversion – an early intervention
program that works to resolve problems
within a family, refers families to
community resources, assess safety,
time-limited support services,
prevention measures to keep children
from coming into foster care
• CPS (cont.)
– Investigations – investigates reported
cases of child abuse/neglect. If
substantiated the case is carefully rated
for risk to the children
– On-going Protective Services –
works with the families to reduce the
risk to the children, connects families
with community resources, supervises
parents ability to improve skills to care
for their children
• Foster Care – temporarily provides
homes for children whose family are not
willing or able to provide a safe and
nurturing environment for their children
• Adoption – services that develops,
promotes and support quality permanent
homes for children when they can not
return to their family of origin
• Independent Living Program – a
transition program that prepares teens
ages 14-21 for independence and
adulthood. Some children are free for
adoption and have decided not to be
adopted, some are in foster care and not
yet able to return to their family of origin
• Foster Care – temporarily provides
homes for children whose family are not
willing or able to provide a safe and
nurturing environment for their children
• Adoption – services that develops,
promotes and support quality permanent
homes for children when they can not
return to their family of origin
• Independent Living Program – a
transition program that prepares teens
ages 14-21 for independence and
adulthood. Some children are free for
adoption and have decided not to be
adopted, some are in foster care and not
yet able to return to their family of origin
Intake
• Diversion: Short term, community
based DFCS response to a family
issue where the situation does not
call for a full investigation. Does not
rise to the standards of a CPS
referral.
• Early Intervention: Family is referred
to community based program for
services.
Investigations and On-Going
Child Protective Services
• Services:
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Safety Resources
PUP
Parent Aide
Homestead
Child Care Services
Psychological Testing
Counseling
Drug Screens, Assessment & Treatment
Family Service Worker Services
Intake
Investigation
Unsubstantiated &
Close
Substantiate &
Open for CPS
Substantiate &
Remove Child
Petition Juvenile
Court for Custody
Place child in
Foster Care
Work reunification
Plan w/Parents
Foster Care
(ASFA Defines Permanency)
• Reunification
• Adoption
• Guardianship
• Live with a fit & willing relative
• Other planned living arrangement
Foster Care
• Services:
– Family Team Meetings
– (CCFA) Comprehensive Child & Family
Assessment – formerly known as First
Placement/Best Placement
– (MDT) Multi Disciplinary Team
– Relative Placement Funding Program
– Case Plans and Case Reviews
Foster Care Services (cont.)
• Visitation between parents and
children as well as sibling visits
• Counseling/Therapy
• Drug Assessment, Screening and
Treatment
• Medicaid for all children in foster care
• Clothing for all children in foster care
• Placement services for children
Placement Services
• DFCS Foster Homes
• Private agency foster homes
• Therapeutic/Specialized Foster
Homes
• Group Homes
• Outdoor Therapeutic Programs
• Intensive Treatment Facilities
• Hospitals, Psychiatric Institutions
Placement with Relatives
• Relative Foster Parents’
• Relative Care Subsidy
• Enhanced Relative Care Subsidy
• TANF (Temporary Assistance to
Needy Families
• Food Stamps
• Medicaid
• ICPC services
Adoption Services
• If it is determined that parents are
unable or unwilling to care for their
children – and parents have failed to
comply with a court ordered case
plan to reunite them with their
children - a petition for the
termination of parental rights is filed.
• If grounds for TPR exist – children
will become free for adoption.
Adoption Services
• The Department of Family & Children
Services are required by law to recruit
families for waiting children.
• Children with special needs are defined
as:
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African American children age 1 & older
Three or more siblings being placed together
All children in foster care over 8
Children with documented physical, emotional
or mental disabilities
Independent Living Services
• Services are provided to children
after the age of 18 if children
continue in an educational setting.
• Youth may voluntarily sign
themselves into foster care and
remain in care until they complete
their independent living goals.
Birth Parent’s
Responsibilities
• Participate in the development of their case plan
• Work with the county department in alleviating the risk
factors that led to the removal of the children from their
home
• Visit with the children regularly
• Inform the county of any major life changes
• Participate actively in planning for the child by attending
case reviews and other meetings as requested by the
department
• Pay child support on behalf of their child in foster care
• Work with the county department on developing a
permanent plan for their child to have a home intended to
last for ever.
DFCS and Birth Parents
Responsibility
• DFCS staff
Assist the parent in
understanding the
seriousness of foster care
placement of their child
Assist the parent to understand
the need for permanency
within 12 months
Openly & honestly inform the
parents that parental rights
could be terminated is
reunification does to occur
timely
Update information
Participate with parents in
developing their case plan
Assist the parent in alleviating
the risk factors which
necessitated the foster care
placement
Arrange regular visits between
the parents and the child
Share information with the
parents about the child’s
experience during placement
Support birth parents is working
towards permanency goals for
their children