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Policy Updates

Child Welfare Services Manual Transmittal No. 2017-10: Child Welfare Policy Manual: These policies are effective September 2017 and are currently available on the Online Directives Information System (ODIS) at http://odis.dhs.ga.gov/Main/Default.aspx under manuals, Department of Family and Children Services and Child Welfare Manual. Please direct any questions related to policy or practice through your regional Field Program Specialist to the Policy and Regulations Unit at PPPDUNIT@dhs.ga.gov.

Child Welfare Services Manual Transmittal No. 2017-06: Child Welfare Policy Manual - Effective July 2017 This updated policy is currently available on the Online Directives Information System (ODIS) under manuals, Department of Family and Children Services and Child Welfare Manual. Please direct any questions related to policy or practice through your regional Field Program Specialist to the Policy and Regulations Unit at PPPDUNIT@dhs.ga.gov.

 

Agreement Supplement Form Revision - Effective May 2017 The Agreement Supplement Form, formerly known as Form 40, has been revised. Effective immediately, the form must be utilized when placing children into and removing them from DFCS or CPA family foster homes. The staff person conducting the placement or removal is responsible for ensuring the form is provided to and signed by the caregiver for each child. A copy of the form should be provided to the caregiver.

Child Welfare Services Manual Transmittal No. 2017-02: Chapter 10 Revisions - Effective February 2017
Effective February 2017, DFCS has made revisions to sections of Chapter 10 of the Child Welfare Policy Manual: 10.13 Educational Needs, 10.16 Childcare and Early Education, 10.23 Case Planning (SBC), and 10.23 Case Planning. Download a summary of the changes and review the policy in the Online Directives Information System (ODIS) at http://odis.dhs.ga.gov/Main/Default.aspx under manuals, Department of Family and Children Services and Child Welfare Manual.

Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) - Effective 10/1/2016
Effective 10/1/2016, the CAPS program is implementing changes to some of the eligibility requirements for families caring for children in DFCS custody and children in an active CPS case.

Below is a summary of the policy changes:

  1. The activity requirement has been changed to the "need to protect”. This means as long as the child is in DFCS custody or an active CPS case, the adult’s activity is protecting the child. This allows families more flexibility and eliminates the need to verify employment.
  2. Child care will be authorized for the full certification period. For example, cases will not be suspended during school closures for adults who work in the school system.
  3. The following eligibility criteria must still be verified:
    1. Georgia residency
    2. Child’s citizenship
    3. Child’s immunization if not in school or attending an informal child care setting
    4. Income (active CPS cases)
  4. The authorization date for child care assistance remains the same with the start date for payments to child care providers being based on the:
    1. Date application received by CAPS (children in DFCS custody)
    2. Date case is approved (children in active CPS case)

Social Service case managers MUST still complete and submit Form 57 to initiate all requests for children in DFCS custody. Please replace previous forms with these:

If you have questions regarding this new policy, please do not hesitate to reach out to your District Child Care contact.

 

Child Welfare Services Manual Transmittal No. 2015-05: Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act - Effective September 2015

Child Welfare Services Manual Transmittal No. 2015-08 Chapter 12: Adoption Assistance - Effective September 2015

Child Welfare Services Manual Transmittal No. 2015-09 Chapter 16: Room Board & Watchful Oversight - Effective September 2015

 

Child Welfare Policy Manual: Chapter 11: Adoption - Effective 6/26/2015

Child Welfare Policy Manual: Chapter 14: Resource Development - Released & Effective 3/18/2015

Child Welfare Policy Manual: Chapter 1 Administration - Released & Effective 1/15

 

Child Welfare Policy Manual: Chapter 13 Independent Living Services - 12/29/2014

Child Welfare Policy Manual: Chapter 10: Foster Care - Released & Effective 8/2014

The Division of Family and Children Services has released the Foster Care chapter of the new Child Welfare Policy Manual. The complete manual will consist of 16 chapters.

 

If you have questions, please contact your OPM Monitoring Manager or Specialist.

Clothing Allowance Increase Memo - Effective 7/1/14

Policy Changes Related to Georgia House Bill No. 242 - Effective 1/1/14

 

Rate Increase Memo - Effective 7/1/13
Revised DFCS Educational Needs Policy (Social Services Policy 10.13) - Effective 8/1/13
 
Independent Living Program (ILP) Funding Changes - Effective 4/16/13
Guidelines for Psychotropic Medication Use in Children and Adolescents AND Informed Consent - Effective 5/1/2013 (due to technical difficulties, this webinar was unable to be recorded)
 
CPS Screening for Foster Home Re-evaluations in CY 2013 - Effective 3/14/2013
 
Initial and Ongoing Safety Screens of Caregivers and Adult Household Members - Effective 10/19/2012
 
The Quality of Every Child Every Month (ECEM) Visits and Contacts - Effective 10/19/2012
 
Extended Youth Support Services - Effective 10/19/2012
Comprehensive Child and Family Assessment (CCFA) Component Updates - Effective 7/1/2012
Effective July 1, 2012, psychological evaluations have been removed as an automatic component of the CCFA, although they may still be conducted on a case-by-case basis, as warranted. In response to a request by the Administration for Children and Families, trauma assessments have been added to CCFA. For more information, please read the following memorandum from Ron Scroggy, DFCS Division Director.
Social Services Manual Transmittal Updates - Effective 4/1/2012
 
Effective April 1, 2012, the Foster Care Services Manual has been revised to incorporate necessary changes regarding youth in foster care who run away from their placement resource, youth in foster care who are absent without permission from their placement resource, and a Graduated Independence Plan (GIP). Please see the documents below for information regarding these revisions as they affect social services providers:
 
Foster/Adoptive Home Approval Process Updates - Effective 3/15/2012
 
Effective March 15, 2012, DFCS will implement changes to the Foster/Adoptive Home Approval Process. Please see the document below for information regarding these changes.
 

Differential Response
 
Effective April 12, 2012, DHS will implement a statewide differential response protocol, which will replace all existing county and regional diversion protocols. Please see the document below for information regarding this protocol.
 
Social Services Manual Transmittal Updates - Effective 7/1/2011
Effective July 1, 2011, Section 40-8-76 of the Georgia Code has been amended relating to safety belts and child restraint systems. Please see the documents below for information regarding these amendments as they affect social services providers:
 
Foster/Adoptive Home Approval Process Updates - Effective 7/1/2011
For FY 2012, the foster/adoptive home approval process has changed. For a review of the changes discussed in the June RBWO training webinars, please see the following document: