Georgia Community Partners

Georgia Community Partners

In partnership with local communities, the Department of Human Services (DHS) assists individuals and families in achieving safe, healthy, independent, and self-sufficient lives. The major service divisions within DHS are the Division of Aging Services (DAS), Division of Child Support Services (DCSS), and Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Many DHS programs had record numbers of enrollment as a result of the pandemic. 

The Division of Family and Children Services’ (DFCS) Georgia Community Partners Program is directed by an appointed DFCS program manager and gives Georgia Gateway Community Partner portal access to organizations that provide direct community services to the citizens of Georgia to help them apply for the following benefits:

  • Medical Assistance (Medicaid)
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • Food Stamps (SNAP)
  • Child Care and Parent Services (CAPS)
  • Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

Community Partners (CP) include:

  • Faith based organizations
  • Food banks
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Member organizations
  • Housing Authorities
  • Community Action Agencies

CPs can register as an Umbrella Organization or as an Assisted Service Site. Both Umbrella Organizations and Assisted Service Sites help customers who request assistance with their Georgia Gateway application, renewal, and/or changes. The Umbrella Organization is responsible for ensuring that all Assisted Service Sites registered with them use the Georgia Gateway Community Partner portal and comply with all program requirements. The Umbrella Organization may choose but is not required to register Assisted Service Sites, however Assisted Sites must be sponsored by an Umbrella Organization.

What can a CP do?

Using the Georgia Gateway Community Partner portal, you can do the following on behalf of clients:

  • Start a new application
  • Submit a renewal and/or change request
  • Perform case and transaction searches
  • Upload verification documents
  • View and print notices
  • Retrieve real time case status and details
  • Retrieve and export a set of standardized reports

How does being a CP benefit your organization?

As a registered CP, you’ll do the benefits referral work you have always done, but more efficiently and effectively and serve as a liaison for the client with the state. You’ll also have a dedicated point of contact at DFCS to help you with case issues when they arise.

As a CP, you’ll also have opportunities for continuous learning and networking through monthly meetings, educational sessions on trending topics and the opportunity to participate in a SNAP workgroup.

What are the benefits to customers?

Through CPs, customers have more access points to benefits. Through a CP, customers can apply for, renew, and make changes for benefits through the portal or by phone and can receive additional help with processing, application follow up, and document uploading. Customers can also receive referrals to other community agencies based on their needs and CPs act as liaison on behalf of the client with agencies that participate in the Georgia Gateway Community Partner portal.

What are the requirements for being a CP?

Each prospective CP site must complete the Community Partner Application and must designate an Administrator. Administrators are individuals assigned for each site who are responsible for managing user access and sending monthly reports to the state.

Site visits are required to verify that each site has an appropriate space to help families enroll in public benefits. All users of the Georgia Gateway Community Partner portal must participate in the following training:

  • DFCS mandatory training for HIPAA, Civil Rights, Information Security Awareness, Customer Service, and ADA (must be done annually)
  • On-site or virtual training / demonstration of the Georgia Gateway Community Partner portal

For more information on the Gateway Community Partner program, email [email protected].