REQUIREMENTS

The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) shall: 

1. Process all inquiries from prospective foster and adoptive parents received in person, via the Foster Georgia Inquiry Line (1-877-210-KIDS [5437]) or the Foster Georgia Website (www.fostergeorgia.com). 
2. Contact prospective foster and adoptive parents within three business days of an inquiry to schedule an Information Session. 
3. Make Information Sessions available each calendar month. 
4. Require all prospective foster and adoptive parents to attend an Information Session as part of the approval process. 
   1. Caregivers approved by other states and move to Georgia must attend an information session. 
   2. Applicants who are couples must both attend an Information Session. 
5. Provide an Information Session to any interested persons and not systematically or inappropriately select out persons interested in transracial or interethnic placements. The arbitrary use of race-neutral factors (e.g., income, age, education, family structure, home ownership status, etc.) that also have the effect of excluding groups of prospective families is prohibited.

PROCEDURES

Processing inquiries received by the Caregiver Recruitment and Retention Unit (CRRU) 

When processing inquiries with Webinar attendance, the CRRU State Office Inquiry Response Team will: 

1. Respond within the standard of promptness to telephone and web-based inquiries from persons interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent. Persons inquiring via the web will be contacted by phone within one business day to confirm their interest. 
2. Obtain inquiry information including but not limited to demographic information. 
3. Carefully screen Georgia SHINES (using partial first and last name, DOB, and address) to see if an applicant’s information has previously been entered into the system before creating a new Home Information Page and Person Detail pages for all household members. 
4. Create or reopen a Foster/Adoptive Home (FAD) Stage in Georgia SHINES for the prospective caregivers where all future casework activities regarding the applicants will be documented. 
5. Facilitate a Webinar Information Session. 
   1. Enter the date of the webinar invite and attendance in Georgia SHINES. 
   2. Document all caregiver interaction in the contact narrative in Georgia SHINES.
6. Send the applicant the Prospective Caregiver Application and Instructions as well as the Live Scan Application Form after the Information Session has been completed. 
   1. Provide a Live Scan Application for both the primary and secondary caregiver, if applicable (see policy 19.8 Case Management: Criminal Records Checks). 
   2. Explain that the Prospective Caregiver Application and Live Scan Application forms must be completed and returned within 10 business days to continue the caregiver onboarding process. 
7. Notify the DFCS Regional point of contact of a new inquiry assignment via email. 
8. Assign the FAD stage to the DFCS Regional point of contact. 
9. Assign a Caregiver Navigator to provide support to the applicant through the application process. Kinship caregivers with children placed in their home via a voluntary kinship arrangement or immediate placement will receive support from a Kinship Coordinator. 
10. Contact applicants within two business days of a missed Information Session appointment to offer a reschedule date. 
11. Close out applicants in Georgia SHINES after three missed Information Session appointments.
    1. Send written notification of closure asking applicants to inquire again when they decide to proceed with the process. 
    2. When appropriate, consider other ways to partner with applicants who decide not to foster or adopt, such as: 
       1. Special activities/events (Secret Santa, picnics, etc.); 
       2. Volunteer activities for families; 
       3. Recruitment activities; 
       4. Operating clothes closets/food pantries;
       5. Providing refreshments for future group training events; 
       6. Sponsoring a child’s expenses for scouts, ballet, prom clothing, etc.; 
       7. Using special skills (art, athletics, etc.); 
       8. Serving on citizen panels; and 
       9. Becoming a fully approved “respite only” foster parent

When processing inquiries without Webinar attendance, the CRRU State Office Inquiry Response Team will: 

1. Respond within the standard of promptness to telephone and web-based inquiries from persons interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent. Persons inquiring via the web will be contacted by phone within one business day to confirm their interest. 
2. Obtain inquiry information including but not limited to demographic information. 
3. Carefully screen Georgia SHINES (using partial first and last name, DOB, and address) to see if an applicant’s information has previously been entered into the system before creating a new Home Information Page and Person Detail pages for all household members. 
4. Create or reopen a Foster/Adoptive Home (FAD) Stage in Georgia SHINES for the prospective caregivers where all future casework activities regarding the applicants will be documented. 
5. Notify the Regional point of contact of a new inquiry assignment via email.
6. Assign the FAD stage to the Regional point of contact. The Regional point of contact will: 
   1. Invite the prospective caregiver to a local information session. 
   2. Provide the applicant with the Prospective Caregiver Application and Instructions as well as the Live Scan Application Form after the applicant has completed the Information Session. 
7. Assign a Caregiver Navigator to provide support to the applicant through the application process. 
8. Contact applicants within two business days of a missed Information Session appointment to offer a reschedule date
9. Close out applicants in Georgia SHINES after three missed Information Session appointments. 
   1. Send written notification of closure asking applicants to inquire again when they decide to proceed with the process. 
   2. When appropriate, consider other ways to partner with applicants who decide not to foster or adopt, such as: 
      1. Special activities/events (Secret Santa, picnics, etc.); 
      2. Volunteer activities for families; 
      3. Recruitment activities; 
      4. Operating clothing closets/food pantries; 
      5. Providing refreshments for future group training events; 
      6. Sponsoring a child’s expenses for scouts, ballet, prom clothing, etc.; 
      7. Using special skills (art, athletics, etc.); 
      8. Serving on citizen panels; and 
      9. Becoming a fully approved “respite only” foster parent

When notified of a new inquiry assignment, the Regional point of contact will: 

1. Contact prospective caregivers within one business day and invite them to a local information session. 
2. Provide the applicant with the Prospective Caregiver Application and Instructions as well as the Live Scan Application Form after the applicant has completed the Information Session. 
   1. Provide a Live Scan Application for both the primary and secondary caregiver, if applicable (see policy 19.8 Case Management: Criminal Records Checks). 
   2. Explain that the Prospective Caregiver Application and Live Scan Application forms must be completed and returned within 10 business days to continue the caregiver onboarding process.

Processing inquiries received by a local DFCS 

When processing inquiries, the local DFCS Caregiver Recruitment and Retention Specialist (CRRS) will:

1. Respond within the standard of promptness to telephone and web-based inquiries from persons interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent. Persons inquiring via the web will be contacted by phone within one business day to confirm their interest. 
2. Obtain inquiry information including but not limited to demographic information. 
3. Carefully screen Georgia SHINES (using partial first and last name, DOB, and address) to see if an applicant’s information has previously been entered into the system before creating a new Home Information Page and Person Detail pages for all household members. 
4. Create or reopen a Foster/Adoptive Home (FAD) Stage in Georgia SHINES for the prospective caregivers where all future casework activities regarding the applicants will be documented. 
5. Invite the prospective caregiver to a local information session and provide a list of upcoming dates. 
   1. If an applicant desires webinar, the CRRS must email the CRRU at crru@dhs.ga.gov to request an invitation. 
   2. Enter the date of the webinar invite and attendance in Georgia SHINES. 
   3. Document all caregiver interaction in the contact narrative in Georgia SHINES. 
6. Provide the applicant with the Prospective Caregiver Application and Instructions as well as the Live Scan Application Form after the applicant has completed the Information Session.
   1. Provide a Live Scan Application for both the primary and secondary caregiver, if applicable (see policy 19.8 Case Management: Criminal Records Checks). 
   2. Explain that the Prospective Caregiver Application and Live Scan Application forms must be completed and returned within 10 business days to continue the caregiver onboarding process. 
7. Complete the required DFCS Safety Screenings (see policy 19.9 Case Management: Safety Screenings). 
8. Contact applicants within two business days of a missed Information Session appointment to offer a reschedule date.
9. Close out applicants in Georgia SHINES after three missed Information Session appointments. 
   1. Send written notification of closure asking applicants to contact the Information Line again when they decide to proceed with the process. 
   2. When appropriate, consider other ways to partner with applicants who decide not to foster or adopt, such as: 
      1. Special activities/events (Secret Santa, picnics, etc.); 
      2. Volunteer activities for families; 
      3. Recruitment activities; 
      4. Operating clothes closets/food pantries; 
      5. Providing refreshments for future group training events; 
      6. Sponsoring a child’s expenses for scouts, ballet, prom clothing, etc.; 
      7. Using special skills (art, athletics, etc.); 
      8. Serving on citizen panels; and
      9. Becoming a fully approved “respite only” foster parent.

Processing inquiries received by a Child Placing Agency (CPA) 

When processing inquiries, the CPA Resource Development Staff will:

1. Obtain inquiry information including but not limited to demographic information. 
2. Invite the prospective caregiver to a local information session and provide a list of upcoming dates. 
3. Provide the applicant with the Prospective Caregiver Application and Instructions as well as the Live Scan Application Form after the applicant has completed the Information Session.
   1. Provide a Live Scan Application for both the primary and secondary caregiver, if applicable (see policy 19.8 Case Management: Criminal Records Checks). 
   2. Explain that the Prospective Caregiver Application and Live Scan Application forms must be completed and returned within 10 business days to continue the caregiver onboarding process.
4. Complete and submit the DFCS CPS Screening Request to initiate safety screenings that must be completed by DFCS (see policy 19.9 Case Management: Safety Screenings).

PRACTICE GUIDANCE

Inquiries 

Prospective caregivers may inquire about becoming a foster or adoptive parent by calling a toll-free number (1-877-210-5437) which serves as the central intake line for all telephone inquiries. They may also make web-based inquiries at www.fostergeorgia.com. The County Department should contact the Caregiver Recruitment and Retention Unit (CRRU) at the state office regarding concerns about the inquiry line or website.

Information Session 

The Information Session (previously referred to as Orientation) constitutes the first phase of IMPACT Family Centered Practice (FCP) pre-service training/preparation and is mandatory for all potential foster and adoptive families. The scripted IMPACT FCP Information Session video and PowerPoint presentation should be used. Families approved by other states are also required to have the fundamental information needed to consider fostering or adopting in this state. The Information Session provides a basic introduction of applicable DFCS policy to assist interested parties in making an initial decision about becoming a foster or adoptive parent. Subsequently, they can determine whether to continue the process. The Information Session may be completed within a scheduled group setting or individually. Regardless of the format, persons interested in becoming foster or adoptive parents should not have to wait more than 14 calendar days to attend an Information Session. Making people wait leads to increased dropout rates, therefore DFCS must move quickly to help people act upon their initial interest and nurture their desire to foster or adopt. Otherwise, such interest and desire may gradually disappear resulting the loss of a potential resource for a child. 

Following the Information Session, persons interested in continuing the application process must complete all required onboarding documentation and supplemental verifications (see policy 14.10 Resource Development: Initial Family Evaluation). Any negative findings from safety screenings and criminal history record checks should be reviewed and approved by the County Director/Designee or CPA Director/Designee before an invitation to IMPACT FCP PreService Training is extended.

Applicant 

This term refers to a prospective foster or adoptive parent who has made an inquiry or submitted a Prospective Caregiver Application but has not yet obtained final approval as a foster or adoptive parent. No individual should be denied the opportunity to apply based on race, color, or national origin (of the person or child involved).

FORMS AND TOOLS

Prospective Caregiver Application
Prospective Caregiver Application - Instructions