Dear Providers: 

The Caregiver Recruitment and Retention Unit (CRRU) will host its 7th Annual Foster Caregiver of the Year Awards Celebration (virtual) during National Foster Care Month in May! This year's theme, "Relative and Kin Connections: Keeping Families Strong," focuses attention to the important role that relative and kinship caregivers play in the child welfare system and the positive impact these relationships can have on maintaining family and cultural ties for children and youth in foster care.

We are inviting our Child Placing Agency Partners to get involved again this year and nominate 4 families to be honored.  We are asking for nominees who exemplify what it means to go above and beyond, in not only providing a safe home for the children in their care, but also working toward family reunification. Please also consider the following when choosing your candidate:

• Describe the important role that the nominee plays in the Child Welfare system as a relative or kinship caregiver.
• Describe how the nominee seeks to empower families to become a strong family unit.
• Describe the positive impact the nominee has had on the cultural ties for children and youth in care.
• Describe ways in which the nominee shows exemplary commitment to their agency through their service as Caregivers.

The Caregiver Recruitment and Retention Unit (CRRU) is asking for the nomination to be submitted, along with a high-resolution picture of the family, bio, and family contact information no later than 5:00pm, March 18, 2022.  Please email your nominations to Steven.Turner@dhs.ga.gov.