Georgia’s foster care program is guided and supported by both State and Federal legislation. The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) is designated by law as the agency to develop and administer the State’s Foster Care Program. The department develops standards for the State’s public and private child placing agencies through the Division of Family and Children Services and the Office of Regulatory Services. 

Non-public (private) agencies providing foster care services are licensed by DHR through the Office of Regulatory Services. Such non-public agencies include: Families First, United Methodist Children’s Home, Palmetto Campus of Georgia Baptist Children’s Home, AGAPE, Extended Families, Lutheran Ministries, Child Kind and others. 

DHR also administers a program of foster care services through its public agencies: the Division of Family and Children Services and the Division of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse. The Division of Family and Children Services implements its programs through case managers in county DFCS agencies who share with you, the foster parent, the responsibility for the care and maintenance of the child placed in your home. 

In most instances, the county departments derive the authority to place and maintain children in foster care through a series of orders handed down by local courts, primarily juvenile. These orders give the department temporary custody, or at some point permanent custody, by terminating parental rights. An initial order giving temporary custody is in effect no longer than twelve months. At this time a Permanency Hearing is held for the purpose of extending custody, if required, and finalizing the permanency plan for the child. Throughout the duration of the court order, the County DFCS agency acts as legal custodian. 

The Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 1aw 105-89) has established strong national goals for children in our nation’s child welfare system. These goals are safety, permanence and well-being. You will find as you review the new Foster Parent Manual, changes in our state’s foster care policy and practice that emphasize the safety and health of children as being of paramount concern in providing services.

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