1.0 Administration of Child Welfare Services

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Child Welfare Policy Manual

Chapter:

(1) Administration

Policy Title:

Administration of Child Welfare Services

Policy Number:

1.0

Previous Policy Number(s):

2101.1

Effective Date:

July 2020

Manual Transmittal:

2020-05

Codes/References

O.C.G.A. § 49-2-6 Duties and Powers of Department
O.C.G.A. § 49-2-18 Director of Division of Family and Children Services
O.C.G.A. § 49-5-8 Powers and Duties of Department
Title IV-E of the Social Security Act §§ 471(a)(2), 471(a)(3), 471(a)(4), and 471(a)(32)
45 CFR 1355.30

Requirements

The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) will:

  1. As authorized by state law, provide child welfare services to children and families through its child welfare programs to prevent and respond to child abuse, and ensure child safety, permanency and well-being. The child welfare programs are:

    1. Prevention Services

    2. Child Protective Services (Intake, Investigation, Family Support Services, Family Preservation Services)

    3. Permanency Services (Foster Care and Adoption)

  2. Adhere to the Vision, Mission, and Guiding Principles of DFCS in the provision of child welfare services.

  3. Administer or supervise the administration of the programs under the Title IV-E plan and the Child and Family Services Plan under subpart 1 of title IV-B of the Social Security Act.

  4. Assure that the title IV-E plan for foster care and adoption assistance is in effect statewide, in all political subdivisions and tribal service areas. (Georgia DFCS has opted out of the Title IV-E guardianship assistance program).

  5. Coordinate the title IV-E program at the local level with the programs at the state or local level assisted under titles IV-A, IV-B and XX of the Social Security Act under all appropriate provisions of federal law (see Practice Guidance: Description of Programs).

    1. DFCS administers Child Welfare and Office of Family Independence (OFI) services centrally under the direction of the Division Director. Services are provided locally in county offices with oversight from the regional, district and state office.

    2. DFCS coordinates its programs with other Divisions within the Department of Human Services (DHS) including but not limited to the Division of Child Support Services and Residential Child Care Licensing.

    3. Services are provided through contracts, referrals, and Memoranda of Understanding with various community-based organizations and public agencies, including but not limited to:

      1. Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD)

      2. Department of Community Health (DCH)

      3. Department of Community Supervision (DCS)

      4. Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ)

      5. Department of Public Health (DPH)

  6. Negotiate in good faith with any Indian Tribe, tribal organization or tribal consortium in Georgia that requests to develop an agreement with DFCS to administer all or part of the program on behalf of Indian children who are under the authority of the Tribe, organization, or consortium. This includes:

    1. Foster care maintenance payments on behalf of children who are placed in a DFCS, private provider approved by DFCS or tribally licensed foster family homes, and adoption assistance payments. (Georgia DFCS has opted out of the Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program).

    2. Tribal access to resources for administration, training, and data collection as defined under Title IV-E.

  7. Comply with all of the requirements of applicable federal and state regulations.

Procedures

N/A

Practice Guidance

The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services is committed, through its child welfare programs, to ensuring the safety, permanency and well-being of Georgia’s most vulnerable citizens. DFCS has adopted a three-pillar approach to achieve the goals set forth in the strategic plan and to realize its vision and mission. This serves as a framework for the organization’s overall approach to child welfare services.

  1. The first pillar includes the establishment and adoption of a research-based practice model that will serve as the foundation to keep kids safe and strengthen families.

  2. The second pillar focuses on developing a robust workforce with expertise and training.

  3. The third pillar addresses constituent engagement to build consensus and collaboration among partners, staff, and stakeholders.

Description of Programs

  1. Title IV-A: Federal funds to states for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The TANF program is designed to help needy families achieve self-sufficiency. States receive block grants to design and operate programs that provide assistance to needy families so that children can be cared for in their own homes, and to reduce the dependency of needy parents by promoting job preparation, work and marriage. TANF services are provided through the DFCS’ Office of Family Independence.

  2. Title IV-B: Title IV‐B of the Social Security Act includes two components, referred to as subparts 1 and 2.

    1. Subpart 1 is a discretionary grant program composed primarily of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services (CWS) program. CWS funds can be used for a broad variety of child welfare services including, but not limited to, the prevention of maltreatment, family preservation, family reunification, services for foster and adopted children, and training for child welfare professionals. Examples of services or activities that may be supported include investigations of child abuse or neglect, homemaker services, respite care, family or individual counseling, caseworker visits to children whether in their own homes or in foster care, case planning and case review services for children in foster care, pre/post-adoption support services, and emergency assistance.

    2. Subpart 2, the Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) program, has both capped entitlement and discretionary funding components. This program primarily funds family support, family preservation, time-limited reunification, and adoption-promotion and support activities (see policy 18.2 Support Services to Preserve or Reunify Families: Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF)).

  3. Title IV-D: Title IV-D of the Social Security Act authorizes federal assistance for state-run child support enforcement programs. These funds help cover the operational costs involved in child support enforcement, which help parents establish paternity, initiate new child support orders, and collect unpaid child support, among other services. Child Support Services are provided through the Department Human Services, Division of Child Support Services.

  4. Title IV-E: Title IV-E of the Social Security Act addresses major components of child welfare. Its focus is on providing safe and stable out-of-home care for children who are in out-of-home care due to child maltreatment or other circumstances until they are able to achieve permanency in their placement by being safely returned home, placed permanently with adoptive families, or placed in other planned arrangements. Title IV-E funds are available for monthly maintenance payments for the daily care and supervision of eligible children, administrative costs to manage the program, training of staff and foster care providers, recruitment of foster and adoptive parents, adoption assistance, and implementation and operation of a Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS).

  5. Title XVI: Title XVI benefits, also known as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), are needs-based disability benefits that are administered by the Social Security Administration. Applicants do not need to have any work credits in order to qualify for Title XVI benefits. SSI is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people (including children under age 18), who have little or no income, and it provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter (see policy 12.4 Adoption Assistance: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Adoption Assistance Benefits).

  6. Title XIX: Title XIX of the Social Security Act authorized the Medicaid program. Medicaid is a joint state-federal program. Its purpose is to provide health care to individuals who have low incomes, including persons who are blind or disabled. States, territories, and the District of Columbia must meet certain requirements to receive matching funds from the federal government to participate. The match rate is based on the poverty level within the state.

  7. Title XX: Title XX of the Social Security Act, also referred to as the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), is a capped entitlement program. Thus, States are entitled to their share, according to a formula, of a nationwide funding ceiling or "cap," which is specified in statute. Block grant funds are given to States to help them achieve a wide range of social policy goals, which include preventing child abuse, increasing the availability of childcare, and providing community-based care for the elderly and disabled.

  8. CAPTA: The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) provides Federal funding to States in support of child abuse and neglect prevention, assessment, investigation, prosecution, and treatment activities and also provides grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations, including Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, for demonstration programs and projects.

Forms and Tools

DFCS Regional Map
Vision, Mission, and Guiding Principles