December 19, 2008 - The Division of Family and Children Services is informing a number of current and former clients of a breach of confidential records that may expose personal information. As a precaution, DFCS is urging these clients to review all credit records and other financial account information for any suspicious activity. Affected clients will receive a letter from the County Department explaining the situation and recommending they contact the three credit bureaus - Experian, Equifax and Trans Union.
December 17, 2008 – As part of an effort to help Georgia’s foster children make a “lifelong connection,” the Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Family and Children Services (DHR DFCS) is partnering with a nationally-renowned private foundation that specializes in helping child welfare agencies find permanent homes for more children.
November 25, 2008 – As the holiday season begins, the Georgia Department of Human Resources wants to remind parents not to allow a time meant for family to turn into an opportunity for family tragedy. Make sure your children have proper supervision at all times. Know where your children are and what they are doing.
November 21, 2008 – A report issued Wednesday by court monitors tracking child welfare outcomes in Fulton and DeKalb counties concludes that “significant” improvements were made in 2008 and the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) is on the “right course” in improving its services.
November 3, 2008 – Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) Commissioner B.J. Walker announces the appointment of Mark A. Washington as assistant commissioner at DHR responsible for both the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS). The former commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Community Based Services who helped improve Kentucky’s child welfare system, Washington brings a wealth of government and private sector experience to DFCS. You can listen to the press conference for the announcement by clicking here.
October 17, 2008 – As the colder winter months approach, the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) will once again help Georgians struggling to keep up with the cost of heating their homes. DHR’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has received approximately $74.5 million dollars in federal funds to assist low-income, elderly and disabled Georgians with their heating bills.
September 12, 2008 – The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) will kick-off Georgia’s second pilot farmer’s market to accept food stamps on Saturday, September 20, 2008, from 9-10 a.m. at the Walker County Agricultural Center with the Battlefield Farmers Market, 10052 N. Hwy 27 in Rock Spring, Georgia. The first pilot was held in Atlanta and others are planned for Chatham and Wilkes counties.
August 4, 2008 – On August 9, the Fulton County Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) will host a back-to-school community health fair for more than 1,300 foster children. The health fair will be at the Southwest DFCS Service Center at 515 Fairburn Road from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. This year’s event theme is "Growing Healthy Families" and is meant to enhance the personal, physical, material and nutritional readiness of every DFCS child and family as they return to school in August.
June 24, 2008 - Approximately 20 children, each with the hope of finding a permanent family, and prospective adoptive families will have the opportunity to get acquainted at an adoption gathering and videoconference on Saturday, June 28, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Northwest Georgia Trade & Convention Center in Dalton.
May 21, 2008 – Graduating from high school and enrolling in college are milestones that most foster care youth don’t reach. Yet for more than 200 Georgia foster care teens, these accomplishments are a reality as they will be honored during the annual "Celebration of Excellence." In addition, 28 Georgia foster care teens will be awarded more than $67,500 in scholarships for their academic achievements.
April 22, 2008 – Anyone may apply for food stamps. The program not only helps households where income is at poverty level, but also helps more financially stable families and individuals that may be experiencing temporary crisis. Due to recent state policy changes which exempt most resources for eligibility, more people may qualify for food stamps benefits. As of March 2008, resources such as property, stocks, bonds, certificates, and bank accounts are exempt for most families and will not cause ineligibility of benefits.
April 18, 2008 - Ft. Yargo State Park in Winder will play host to Open Homes/Open Hearts, a 5K Run/Walk, 1 Mile Fun Run, and Community Fun Day to raise awareness about the need for more foster and adoptive parents. The event, which is sponsored by DHR's Division of Families and Children Services, takes place Sunday, May 4 beginning at 2:00 p.m. The Barrow County DFCS in Winder is coordinating the run along with 11 other regional DFCS offices. The event is open to the public.
April 18, 2008 - Statistics show the older a child when he or she enters foster care, the least likely his or her chance of being adopted. In Georgia, of the nearly 1,300 foster children adopted last year, only 140 were over the age of 13. The Department of Human Resources Division of Family and Children Services is working to reverse these numbers by making the community more aware of the challenges teens in foster care are faced with.
April 8, 2008 - The Department of Human Resources' 270 After School and Summer Learning programs serve thousands of students across the state each year. To make it more convenient for parents, students, schools, community organizations, and others to connect to these programs, DHR's Afterschool Services Program has launched a new Web site, www.afterschoolservices.net.
March 31, 2008 – Food stamps recipients who lost food during the recent tornadoes are eligible for replacement benefits. The Division of Family and Children Services Food and Nutrition Program will replace food that was destroyed as a result of the storms that hit Fulton, Dekalb, Polk, Floyd, Bartow, Burke, and Jefferson counties. The replacement also includes food that was lost due to power outages for more than 48 hours.
March 31, 2008 – In Georgia there were more than 50,000 cases investigated for child abuse and/or neglect last year. And tragically, many more cases never get reported. Child Abuse Prevention Month is April, and the Division of Family and Children Services is making a statement statewide, to bring about more awareness.
March 26, 2008 - The Division of Family and Children Services, DFCS, will bring its popular adoption party and video conference to Gainesville on Saturday, April 5 from 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Georgia Mountains Center. The event, which is open to the public, is designed specifically for those who are considering adoption. Families and individuals will have the opportunity to get acquainted with a diverse group of children who need forever homes.
February 19, 2008 - Foster youth transitioning out of Georgia's foster care system can benefit financially from a new savings plan specifically design for foster teens. Those who participate will be able to get their money matched dollar-for-dollar up to $1,000 through a savings program offered by Georgia's Department of Human Resources' Independent Living Program (ILP). This program is one of many offered by the Independent Living Program to help foster youth achieve independence and transition more successfully into adulthood.
Feburary 15, 2008 - Families interested in learning about children who are available for adoption, or more about the adoption process, are encouraged to attend the Got Heart? Share it Through Adoption! matching meeting Saturday, February 23 at the Belair Conference Center in Augusta from 1:00-3:00, located at 4081 Belair Road. The event, where individuals and families will be able to get information about specific children who need adopting, is sponsored by the Georgia Department of Human Resources' Division of Family and Children Services. County DFCS offices and private adoption agencies from around the state will also be available to provide general information about Georgia adoptions and foster care.
February 8, 2008 - The Celebration of Excellence program, which provides scholarships to foster teens bound for college or vocational school, has opened its application process for the 2008 program year. Sponsored by the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and a coalition of public and private community partners, the program is expected to award tens of thousands of dollars in college scholarships to foster teens this summer at the annual Celebration of Excellence event, where foster teens statewide are recognized for their academic achievements.
January 18, 2008 – The Department of Human Resources today announced $1.6 million in emergency contingency funds to help low-income families meet home energy costs. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds will provide households across the state with heating assistance for the winter months ahead. The federally funded program helps more than 80,000 eligible Georgia families with heating and cooling assistance each year.