Region One Service Area lies in the northwest section of Georgia. The region is comprised of 9 counties. They include Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, Walker, and Whitfield Counties.
To report child abuse or to learn about foster care and adoption, please contact your County DFCS office listed below.
DHR
State looks to boost recruitment for Resource Parents;
ATLANTA - The State of Georgia and the Divison of Family and Children Services are seeking volunteers to become foster and adoptive parents to children who are in state custody. Across the State of Georgia, there are thousands of children who are in the custody of the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Some of these children have foster parents but more families are needed to care for these and other children who enter state custody every day.
Currently, there are over 4,100 active foster homes in Georgia and 15,000 children living in foster care, representing various ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
The need for more foster and adoptive homes in Georgia is great. This need is just as great in the Region One Service Area as it is in all areas of the state. Homes are needed not only for infants and toddlers, but for children of all ages, especially teens. Homes are needed to care for sibling groups of two or more and for children who have special needs of various degrees.
Often times these children are placed in homes outside their home counties and often times in other areas of the state. It is well known that children do best when they can remain in their own communities and their own schools. This can only be achieved if enough homes are made available in each community.
To learn more about becoming a Resource Parent for our children please call the State Inquiry Line at 877-210-KIDS or your local DFCS office. A child is waiting.
Minimum requirements for Resource parents:
Each parent in the home must attend a two hour orientation conducted by your county DFCS staff. Each parent that decides to become a resource parent based on the information they are given during orientation will attend the 20 hour training known as IMPACT. You will learn about the children that are in state custody, why these children are in custody, the special needs the children often have and the process of getting them reunited with family or relatives, or permanency through adoption if reunification is not possible. Each parent will be required to obtain 10 hours of additional training yearly to be better able to parent the children that are placed in their homes.
Each adult in the home must be finger printed and a complete back ground check conducted.
Each adult in the home must have a physical which includes a TB screen and drug screen. A health statement on each child in the home must be provided.
An environmental inspection by the local Health Department must be conducted if the home is not on municipal sewer and if the homes water supply is not from a municipal source.
The family is required to provide a financial statement. Resource parents do not have to be wealthy, just financially stable and able to maintain their home with the addition of another child or children.
A safety inspection will be conducted on each home to assure the safety of the children.
A minimum of two home consultations with the resource family will be conducted.
Various other requirements include a valid Georgia Driver License, proof of auto insurance and pet inoculations.
Each Resource Home will be reevaluated each year, or more if the need exist, to assess the family's ability and desire to continue their service to the children.
Resource parents will be provided a daily per-diem based on the age and special needs of the child they foster. The children will be provided with an annual clothing allowance and medical needs will be provided by the State.
It takes a special person to open up their heart and home for a child who is in need of a temporary and often times a permanent home. You can be one of these special people. Call your local DFCS office or the State Inquiry line at 877-210-KIDS today.
Georgia is a partnership of the Freddie Mac Foundation, WAGA Fox 5 Atlanta, and the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Office of Adoptions, formed to help find families for children in foster care with special needs who are available for adoption. A complete photolisting of all of the children available for adoption in Georgia is also available through My Turn Now.
My Turn Now Inc., is a non profit advocacy organization which helps publicize the availability for adoption of children with special needs. These children are either members of a minority race, handicapped, over the age of seven, or members of a sibling group that needs to be adopted together - in other words, those traditionally considered to be unadoptable. Such children often linger in foster homes, waiting for "forever families", while many potential adoptive families are prevented from opening their hearts and homes to them by misconceptions and lack of information.
Protecting our Children
The job of protecting children starts in the community. While certain people are required by law to report child mistreatment, anyone can make a report of suspected abuse. The sooner the authorities know about a child, the faster they can move to help.
Things to Look For - Children who are maltreated are
often left home alone
in the neighborhood for long periods without supervision
frequently hungry
dressed inadequately for the weather
absent from school frequently
bruised or have other marks of physical violence
withdrawn or overly aggressive
not receiving needed medical attention
If a child is in immediate danger (obviously being beaten or left alone overnight, for example), the police should be called immediately. In all other cases, reports should be made to the DFCS office in the county where the child lives.
People who report suspected abuse do not have to be sure maltreatment has occured. They simply report what they have seen or heard. The authorities will investigate and confirm whether or not abuse has occured. People who call are asked to give the name and location of the child and the name of the suspected perpetrator. Reports are confidential and those who call do not have to give their name. However, it is most helpful to the child in the long run if the reporter is willing to give his or her name and address and, if necessary, testify in court.
Ways To Prevent Child Abuse
Volunteer with a local program. Parent support groups, crisis centers, emergency shelters, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs, local schools and child abuse telephone hotlines are typical programs that will welcome you.
Report suspected abuse and neglect to your local DFCS or police. Keeping our children safe means each of us have an obligation to inform the authorities if we suspect abuse.
Advocate for services that strengthen families.
Contribute to child abuse prevention organizations.
Help a neighbor, friend, or relative. Someone you know may be struggling with his or her parenting responsibilities. Offer a sympathetic ear or helping hand.
Promote school programs that teach children how to protect themselves.
Above all, help yourself. Recognize the signs that indicate you may need some outside help. If you feel overwhelmed, constantly sad, angry and often out of control, talk to somebody and get help. Remember, it is a sign of strength, not weakness, to ask for help.
Child Protection Services Staff investigates reports of child abuse and neglect and provides services to protect the children and strengthen the family.
To report child abuse or neglect call your local 911 service or your local DFCS office.
Each of the 15 counties in region one are actively seeking parents to serve as Resource Homes for children in State Custody. These children are in need of temporary homes until they are reunited with their families and permanent homes through adoption for children who reunification is not possible.
For information on becoming a Foster or Adoptive Parent call your local DFCS Resource Developement staff or call the State Inquiry Line toll free at 1-877-210-KIDS.
Protecting Children and Helping Families
The following programs are administered by your local Department of Family and Children Services:
Child Protection Services
Foster Care
Adoption
TANF For Foster or Adopt Inquiries
Medicaid Call 1-877-210-KIDS
Employment Services
Food Stamps
Childcare
Child Support Services
Peach Care for Kids
Scheduled IMPACT Classes and on-going Training opportunities.
Dade and Chattooga County will have a joint IMPACT Training beginning Saturday Dec. 1, 2007 at 8:30 AM. Classes will go all day with snacks and lunch provided. Classes will be held at the Dade County DFCS office located in the Administration Building in Trenton. For information and registration please call:
Marie Rowland, Chattooga County Resource Development
