Georgia department of human services quick facts
Pdf File 1,519.51 KByte,
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES QUICK FACTS
Robyn A. Crittenden, Commissioner
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. DHS Mission, Vision and Core Values II. Division of Family and Children Services
Child Protective Services Foster Care and Adoptions Family Independence III. Division of Child Support Services Community Outreach: Parental Accountability Court Program Community Outreach: Fatherhood Program IV. Division of Aging Services Home and Community-Based Services Adult Protective Services V. Office of Inspector General Benefits Recovery Unit Residential Child Care Licensing VI. DHS Contacts: Quick Reference
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
MISSION
Strengthen Georgia by providing individuals and families access to services that promote self-sufficiency, independence, and protect Georgia's vulnerable children and adults.
VISION
Stronger Families for a Stronger Georgia.
CORE VALUES
? Provide access to resources that offer support and empower Georgians and their families. ? Deliver services professionally and treat all clients with dignity and respect. ? Manage business operations effectively and efficiently by aligning resources across the
agency. ? Promote accountability, transparency and quality in all services we deliver and programs
we administer. ? Develop our employees at all levels of the agency.
1
GEORGIA DIVISION OF FAMILY & CHILDREN SERVICES
Child Protective Services
Strengthening Georgia by protecting its most vulnerable children from the risk of abuse and neglect.
Reporting
DFCS receives reports of abuse and neglect through a centralized line (1-855-GACHILD) that operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
Report of abuse/neglect
Not accepted or assigned (screen out or screen out & refer to outside resource)
Accepted & assigned for investigation
Accepted & assigned for Family Support Services
Substantiated Unsubstantiated Assessment of family functioning
is completed. No maltreatment finding is made.
? Opened for Family Preservation Services ? Opened for Foster Care or Case Closure
Safety threats are identified. Case sent
to investigations
Case Closure or Opened for Family Preservation Services (if safety threats are identified)
? No safety threats identified
? Services needed
? Services not needed ? Services provided
or in progress
Increased Community Awareness & Impact on DFCS Caseloads
Since the implementation of a centralized reporting system for child welfare concerns in April 2014, reports of abuse and neglect have risen tremendously in Georgia. To help manage an increased demand for DFCS services, Gov. Nathan Deal has committed funding to reduce case managers' caseloads to 15 per worker -- a nationwide best practice -- by 2017.
AVERAGE CASELOAD FOR CASE MANAGERS IN 2015 BY REGION*
Region 1 18.33
Region 2 17.85
Region 15 17.95
Region 3 20.74
Region 5 19.60
Region 14 13.50
Region 4 20.11
Region 13 14.92
Region 7 16.56
Region 6 14.95
Region 9 32.06
Region 12 18.63
Region 8 21.87
Region 11 22.73
Region 10 17.07
*Averages calculated for case managers carrying caseloads of five or more.
To report abuse or neglect call 1-855-GACHILD (1-855-422-4453)
Bobby Cagle, Director Virginia Pryor, Deputy Director, Child Welfare
Jon Anderson, Deputy Director, Family Independence Carol Christopher, Deputy Director, System Reform
4,099
Investigations were opened as a result of abuse or neglect referrals in October 2015.
3,574
Family Support cases were opened as a result of abuse or neglect referrals in October 2015.
4,529
Investigations were opened as a result of abuse and neglect referrals in October 2014.
3,567
Family Support cases were opened as a result of abuse and neglect referrals in October 2014.
Revised 1/2016
2
GEORGIA DIVISION OF FAMILY & CHILDREN SERVICES
Foster Care & Adoptions
Reasons for Entry
Top 5 reasons children entered DFCS custody (SFY2015):
NEGLECT
4,525
DRUG ABUSE
2,892
INADEQUATE HOUSING
1,906
ABANDONMENT
1,011
INCARCERATION
1,004
Greatest Need for Foster Homes
By county. Darkest red = greatest need.
Those interested in foster parenting can call 1-877210-KIDS or visit dfcs.dhs. generalinformation for answers to frequently asked questions concerning foster parenting, links to related sites and upcoming events for the foster care and adoption communities.
From inquiry to approval, the process can take from five to 10 months due to safety screenings, pre-service training, required documentation and home evaluations.
After calling the 1-877-210-KIDS inquiry line, prospective parents are assigned to a resource development case manager from the local DFCS office to begin the process.
Bobby Cagle, Director Virginia Pryor, Deputy Director, Child Welfare Jon Anderson, Deputy Director, Family Independence Carol Christopher, Deputy Directory, System Reform
11,551
approximate number of children in DFCS custody as of 9/30/15.
SFY2015 Adoptions
843 children transitioned from state custody into adoptive families in 2015.
FINALIZED ADOPTIONS BY COUNTY
Atkinson
1 Evans
1 Muscogee 3
Baldwin
5 Fannin
9 Newton
4
Banks
6 Fayette
3 Paulding
8
Barrow
13 Floyd
32 Peach
3
Bartow
37 Forsyth
9 Pickens 10
Berrien
5 Franklin
1 Pierce
1
Bibb
39 Fulton
50 Pike
6
Brantley
1 Gilmer
10 Polk
4
Brooks
9 Glynn
28 Putnam
2
Bulloch
13 Gordon
8 Rabun
4
Butts
4 Grady
3 Randolph 3
Camden 10 Greene
3 Richmond 19
Candler
2 Gwinnett 13 Rockdale 6
Carroll
12 Habersham 5 Schley
1
Catoosa
6 Hall
23 Spalding 12
Chatham 16 Haralson
5 Stephens 6
Chattooga 7 Hart
2 Sumter
3
Cherokee 26 Henry
3 Taylor
1
Clarke
12 Houston
3 Terrell
4
Clayton
15 Jackson
8 Thomas
3
Cobb
42 Jasper
1 Tift
9
Coffee
4 Jeff Davis 1 Toombs
2
Colquitt
11 Jefferson
1 Towns
3
Cook
5 Jones
5 Troup
3
Coweta
8 Lamar
6 Turner
1
Crawford 7 Lanier
2 Union
1
Crisp
1 Liberty
1 Upson
10
Dade
3 Lowndes 10 Walker
4
Decatur
1 Macon
4 Walton
12
DeKalb
33 Madison
9 Ware
1
Dodge
2 Meriwether 3 Washington 1
Douglas
6 Monroe
11 White
5
Effingham 13 Morgan
2 Whitfield 24
Elbert
3 Murray
11
Revised 1/2016
3
GEORGIA DIVISION OF FAMILY & CHILDREN SERVICES
Family Independence
Strengthening Georgia by providing individuals and families access to services that promote self-sufficiency and independence.
Nutritional Assistance
SNAP The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as the food stamp program, provides low-income Georgians help with their monthly food costs.
$2.8 billion
Amount food stamps added to Georgia's economy in SFY2015.
Gross income must be
Average size of household receiving food stamps.
of the federal poverty level to qualify for benefits.
850,628
Households receive food stamps in Georgia.
Medicaid
SNAP Works
Using a $15 million grant, Georgia is testing a program in select counties to provide intensive job training and placement services to SNAP recipients who are between the ages of 18 and 49, able to work and do not have a dependent child in their home. Working much like a managed care provider for medical services,
the program seeks to help recipients become self sufficient through coordination with multiple state agencies, including the Technical College System of Georgia, the Department of Labor and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
Currently, Georgia provides employment and training services to SNAP recipients in 12 counties. Over the next three years, the Division plans to serve 2,500 Georgians using grant funds.
718,457
applications submitted for Medicaid in SFY2015.
Medicaid provides health coverage to low-income families, pregnant women and adults who are determined to be aged, blind or disabled. DFCS is a contractor of the Department of Community Health, providing eligibility determinations to applicants of the program. Apply for or renew benefits online at pass.
Childcare and Parent Services
DFCS continues to provide eligibility determinations for applicants of the Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program operated by the Department of Early Care and Learning. Georgia residents can apply for CAPS at pass..
For information on economic assistance or to report fraud, call 1-877-423-4746.
Bobby Cagle, Director Virginia Pryor, Deputy Director, Child Welfare Jon Anderson, Deputy Director, Family Independence Carol Christopher, Deputy Director, System Reform
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program was created in 1996 as part of welfare reform legislation. The program provides time-limited cash assistance to Georgia's neediest families. During SFY2015, Georgia had a total of 17,777 families who received TANF; 14,995 were child-only cases, including foster children in the care of relatives and 2,782 were adult recipients. Adults must participate in a work program, unless there are special circumstances. The average benefit amount is $159.69 per month.
Revised 1/2016
4