Blueprint for Family First

Georgia’s Blueprint for Family First is our state’s philosophy for evolving the child welfare system. The focus of the Division of Family and Children Services is on strengthening families so more children can safely grow up at home and, over time, reduce removals to foster care overall.

The federal Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018 is one of the essential tools we’re using to make these changes. The Family First Act allows federal Title IV-E funding to be used for evidence-based prevention services that help keep families together and keep kids out of foster care.

Other complimentary work within the Division, beyond the scope of the Act, is also part of Blueprint for Family First. All of this work has already begun and will grow in scope over the next several years.

We look forward to working with all of our community partners and stakeholders over the next several years on this important transformation for child welfare in our state.

All children deserve the opportunity to grow up in safe, stable and nurturing families. Georgia will use the tools provided by the Family First Act to build stronger families and brighter futures for our children and youth.

STRONG FAMILIES

Kids of all ages need close family relationships to develop and grow. Trauma from family separation often results in a lifetime of emotional and psychological problems. Giving caregivers access to treatment and support services that improve their ability to safely care for their kids will mean more children and youth can grow up in their own homes, and families can stay together.

EVIDENCE-BASED

Our work with children, youth and families should use techniques and programs that have been proven to build strong families and keep children safe. These evidence-based practices will narrow the number of children and families who enter the child welfare system, in part by targeting those at greatest risk.

KINSHIP

When children and teens cannot remain at home with their parents, staying with relatives is often a better option than removing the young person to foster care. Offering financial support and evidence-based programs to link kinship caregivers to a broad range of services and supports will help children remain safely with their extended families.

COMMUNITY

Transforming Georgia’s child welfare structure is a monumental task. To succeed, everyone with a stake in the child welfare system — including birth and foster parents, kinship caregivers, young people, child welfare professionals, non-profit and community organizations, policy makers and courts — will need to work together.