The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Foster care
cannot protect themselves — especially children at risk of abuse or neglect,” said Ossoff, who is the newly minted chairman of the human rights subcommittee, and Blackburn, a subcommittee member. “Yet recent official and press reports raise serious concerns about the ability of Georgia Division of Family and Children Services to ensure the safety and well-being of the children in its care.”
DHS officials said in a statement: “We have received the letter, and we look forward to sharing our efforts to protect Georgia’s children.”
The memo written in the summer from the ombudsman identified 15 systemic breakdowns within the children’s services agency. Notably, the ombudsman found that the murder of a 4-year old was a consequence of systemic failures that are plaguing DFCS.
According to an internal review conducted by the state, there was “disturbing” mismanagement in the young boy’s case, but agency officials found his death was an isolated tragedy.
Ossoff and Blackburn also want answers on why the state is spending tens of millions of dollars on hoteling — temporarily housing foster children in hotels. This practice has persisted for years in Georgia and across the nation. But the trend was made worse by the pandemic and consequent staff shortages in child welfare services.
DHS Commissioner Candice Broce, who oversees DFCS, has pledged to end the practice. Broce is pushing bills in this legislative session she says will fix statutory loopholes to keep more families intact and will bolster Georgia’s efforts to eliminate hoteling.
The Atlanta Journal-constitution conducted a monthslong review of DFCS, obtaining hundreds of pages of public documents and speaking with experts in the field who described a child welfare system in turmoil. Caseworkers at Georgia DFCS are leaving their jobs in large numbers, fueled by low pay, frustration with leadership and exhaustion from increased workloads, according to state human resources reports. Gov. Brian Kemp and state officials acknowledge the turnover issue and are working to implement policies, like higher wages for workers. So far, the exit rates within DFCS have started to improve.
Sources told the AJC that Broce has fired or pushed out some of the longest-serving, highest-ranking employees. One child welfare expert said this exodus of knowledge has shattered an operation that was already fragile.
Broce, a former spokesperson for Kemp, wouldn’t comment on the firing allegations. But she disagrees that there has been a large exodus of knowledge, and has highlighted multiple high-ranking officials who are veterans of the agency.
In their letter, Ossoff and Blackburn are requesting questions to be answered and copies of documents by March 10.
“While these issues may have started before your tenure, they can and must end under your watch,” Ossoff and Blackburn wrote. “We look forward to your prompt responses to help ensure the safety and well-being of Georgia’s children, no matter their story.”