Greetings RBWO Providers,

The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) provides services to strengthen families to ensure the safety, permanency and well-being of children. Stability in safe, nurturing environments affords children opportunities to develop positive and supportive relationships, especially with caregivers and other significant adults, which facilitates normal development for children in foster care.  Stability in placement settings also provides continuity in school environments, peer networks, health care and the community. Conversely, placement changes can undermine efforts to promote safety, permanency and well-being, unless they occur to achieve permanency, placement with siblings/relatives, ensure the safety and wellbeing of children, etc.

The DFCS Child Welfare Policy Manual Policy 10.3 Foster Care: Changes in Placement addresses requirements and practices related to changes in placement. This policy is being updated to address efforts to improve placement stability for children in foster care. Please be advised that, in conjunction with this effort, the timeframes for which DFCS must provide advanced written notification of placement changes will be aligned with those outlined in the Official Code of Georgia §15-11-215-Notice of change in placement hearings.  Therefore, the policy will state that:

DFCS shall provide written notification no less than five business days in advance of any placement change to allow an opportunity to be heard to the following:

1. Children age 14 and older;
2. Parents, unless parental rights have been terminated; 
3. Guardians or other legal custodians; 
4. Persons/agency with physical custody of the child [i.e. foster parent, relative/non-relative, child placing agency (CPA) and/or child caring institution (CCI)]; 
5. Guardian Ad Litem (GAL); 
6. All attorneys of record, including the Special Assistant Attorney General (SAAG).

NOTE that once this policy has been released, it will change the current requirement for DFCS to provide notification to placement resources from "10 business days" to "no less than five business days." 

If you have any questions or concerns related to this matter, please feel free to contact your Monitoring Manager.

Thank you.

The Office of Provider Management