Foster Care in Georgia

Children are placed in foster care when a juvenile court judge deems it necessary if their safety is compromised at home. Their parents then partner alongside DFCS to address safety issues and set goals in order to hopefully have a successful reunification. While parents are working toward reunification, DFCS staff work to find a safe, stable placement where children can thrive.  

When identifying placement options for children placed in foster care, DFCS first seeks any kinship care arrangements. Kinship care arrangements are when a relative or non-relative, fictive kin, who has a long-standing relationship or bond with a child or their family, opens their home to provide care.  

In instances where kinship care arrangements aren’t available, DFCS seeks foster caregivers to provide care. Foster caregivers in Georgia can be approved by DFCS or one of our over 100  Child Placing Agencies (CPAs).  

Currently, there are just under 10,000 children and youth in Georgia’s foster care system, and the state has a growing need for foster caregivers, especially for teenagers, sibling groups, and children with complex needs. You can learn more about becoming a foster caregiver in Georgia under Caregiver Requirements. You can access past and current foster care data for Georgia on the DHS website.   

DFCS recruits, trains, and supports current and approved kinship and foster caregivers and individuals interested in becoming caregivers. The agency also partners with over 100 private Child Placing Agencies (CPAs)  for the same purpose.  The partnership with CPAs expands the options for caregivers and allows them to find the agency, public or private, that is the best fit for them.  

Georgia’s caregiver practice model is called partnership parenting, a trauma-informed, shared parenting model between caregivers and parents that is designed to keep parents connected and involved with parenting their children while they work towards reunification. This model has helped decrease the time to achieve permanency, reduce trauma, and preserve existing bonds between parents and children.  

The desire and open heart to support children and families are among the most important criteria for becoming a caregiver. The ability to act as a positive role model, parent, mentor, and constant support to children while their families work towards reunification is crucial. Caregivers are expected to demonstrate maturity and stability during the temporary placement of a child, helping them feel protected and nurtured.  

To become a caregiver in Georgia you must:  

• Be at least 21 years of age.  
• Be a U.S. citizen or provide proof of U.S. residency.  
• Complete a virtual information session.  
• Complete pre-service training.  
• Complete a medical exam.  
• Undergo both child protective screenings and criminal record checks.  
  • Note: If you or any other adult household member over the age of 18 have not been a resident of Georgia for a minimum of five years, you must be screened in the Child Abuse and Neglect Registry in each state of prior residence.  
• Provide proof of current residence and financial stability.   

The Georgia Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Division of Family & Children Services’ (DFCS) Caregiver Navigator Team is comprised of experienced foster caregivers and adoptive parents who provide an additional layer of support and advocacy for existing and prospective caregivers. Caregiver navigators act as liaisons between prospective foster and kinship caregivers and DFCS to ensure the voice of each caregiver is heard and that their needs are addressed throughout the approval process. Caregiver navigators also assist current caregivers in navigating the child welfare system by providing one-on-one mentoring support.  

If a prospective or current caregiver needs support, a caregiver navigator is available Monday–Friday from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. To speak to a caregiver navigator, you can call 877-210-KIDS (5437) and select option 1 or use the live chat feature on the fostergeorgia.com website. The Foster Georgia website live chat feature allows any site visitor to speak directly with a caregiver navigator during regular business hours.   

National Training and Development Curriculum  

The Georgia Department of Human Services’ Division of Family & Children Services’ (DFCS) trauma-informed pre-service training, the National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC), is designed to orient prospective caregivers interested in becoming foster or adoptive parents. NTDC training, delivered over a five- or ten-week course, equips caregivers by providing the information, resources, and tools needed to parent a child who has experienced trauma, separation, and/or loss. Prospective caregivers also receive access to information and resources to continue building skills once they have a child in their home.  

Recognizing that adults learn best when the information is applicable to their own situation, NTDC has a component of the curriculum called Right-Time Training. This training curriculum features 14 courses which includes topics like Accessing Services and Supports, Family Dynamics, Life Story – Birth and Adoption Story, Sensory Integration, and Preparing for and Managing Visitation. These training courses are available for immediate access through DHS’s learning management system, IOTIS. We encourage all current caregivers to review the course titles and take applicable trainings when needed.  

If you have not used IOTIS before, you will be prompted to create credentials when you first visit the site. If you need assistance with your IOTIS account, you can use the “Chat now” feature, available Monday–Friday from 8 a.m.–5 p.m., located in the bottom right-hand corner of the IOTIS webpage.  

Policy 14.9 Continued Parent Development

DFCS has Continued Parent Development (CPD) policy that focuses on the ongoing growth and development of approved caregivers after initial approval. It requires caregivers to participate in continued training and professional development to strengthen their skills and enhance their ability to meet the needs of the children in care.  Please note, this mandatory CPD does not require a foster caregiver to incur a cost. While paid trainings exist, DFCS offers plenty of free hours to satisfy the requirement. 

Additional resources are available for youth in foster care and their caregivers through your case manager, school system, therapist, CPA, and other partners, as applicable. Please reach out to your case manager for more information, as the appropriate resources may vary based on the age and needs of the youth in your care.