Georgia Division of Family and Children Services: $85 Million Budget Shortfall Hits Foster Care System

• Georgia's foster care system faces an $85 million budget shortfall, leading to cuts in services and programs.
• The number of licensed foster homes has declined by 40% since 2019, exacerbating travel distances and transportation costs.
• Rising costs of living, foster home shortages, and increasing complexity of foster children's mental health needs are driving up expenses.
• Lawmakers are studying the issue to identify solutions and prioritize prevention services.

The state's troubled child welfare system has been plagued by issues such as overloaded caseworkers, children residing in hotels, and a major budget deficit. The most recent challenge facing the system is an $85 million budget shortfall, which resulted in cuts to services and programs for families, as well as less specialized care for foster children. This crisis has been ongoing for years, with Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services reporting a significant decline in licensed foster homes, down 40% from 2019 to 2025. The shortage of foster homes escalates travel distances and transportation costs, further straining the system. Meanwhile, the number of children in need of care continues to rise, with about 11,000 children served by the state's foster care system.

One major factor driving up costs is the increasing complexity of foster children's mental health needs. According to Audrey Brannen, a permanency coordinator at the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, the most expensive financial burden comes from trying to support children whose severe aggression and behavior poses a risk to their family, rather than the family posing a risk to the child. This is particularly true for 16-to-18-year-olds, who are often diagnosed with mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders. The lack of resources available to care for these complex needs forces leaders in various organizations to recommend placement in foster care, even when it's not necessary. As Brannen noted, 'Foster care is not a place, it is a legal status.'

Lawmakers are taking steps to address the crisis by studying what drives the rapid increase in out-of-home care expenses. The joint House and Senate committee will examine factors such as rising costs of living, foster home shortages, and the increasing complexity of foster children's mental health needs. President of the Georgia Council of Juvenile Court Judges, Alison Toller, advocated for prioritizing prevention services, including investing in economic supports, family preservation services, substance use treatment, domestic violence services, housing stabilization, and mental health interventions. If successful, these efforts could help target why kids are staying in foster care longer and provide a more sustainable solution to the state's troubled child welfare system.

Lawyers advising clients on family law or child welfare matters should be aware of the potential for increased costs and reduced services in Georgia's foster care system, which may impact their ability to provide adequate support and resources for children in need.

Source: Original reporting via Courthouse News Service