What Happened
Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff, a U.S. Senate Human Rights Subcommittee Chairman, launched a bipartisan inquiry following accusations that children in the care of the state government have been neglected and abused.
According to a press release from Ossoff and Tennesee Sen. Marsha Blackburn, they’re asking for answers on DFCS’s ability to keep children safe. Both wrote, “we have no higher obligation [as leaders] than to protect those who cannot protect themselves—especially children at risk of abuse or neglect.”
The inquiry highlights the failures of DFCS and their inability to keep children under their care in safe conditions.
The Context
In a WSB-TV article, the DFCS has been placing children in hotels due to a lack of foster housing. Sen. Nikki Merritt believes it’s a detriment to the children’s development.
In an interview with WSB’s Ashli Lincoln, foster parents Julie and Jeff Selander revealed they attempted to foster a 12-year-old boy that has been “hoteling” for months.
“He’s not received any education,” Julie Selander said. “Two days later, I get a text message saying that they’re just going to keep him at the hotel.”
The state hotels children at $1,500 a night. This means the state has spent about $250,000 in taxpayer money to house the 12-year-old alone.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that in late January, a 4-year-old child in DFCS care was found dead behind a restaurant close to where he lived. DFCS was responsible for handling the case, but deputy director Jenifer Carreras said, “The lack of appropriate response and absence of documentation in these very serious cases is alarming.”
Office of the Child Advocate also reported seeing an increase in children being taken in by medical professionals and law enforcement when DCFS fails. DFCS is also allegedly taking the stance that 13-year-old children can protect themselves. This can expose the children to drugs, sexually abusive members of the foster family, and lack of basic needs.
The Latest
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, since the inquiry was released, the Georgia Department of Human Services released a statement saying, “We have received the letter, and we look forward to sharing our efforts to protect Georgia’s children.”
Congressional leaders are waiting for records and documents from the state, and they believe the inquiry is the first step in this process to help Georgia’s children.
To Help
DFCS partners with FOX 5 Atlanta every week highlighting a child in the government foster care system. These kids are eligible for adoption and can be found at https://dfcs.georgia.gov/services/adoption.
