Lawmakers in Atlanta heard from the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services as the General Assembly got underway in Atlanta.  DFCS workers say that one problem that needs to be addressed is the number of children forced to stay in hotels – a practice called “hotelling” – because no foster homes can be found for them.

The problem is getting bipartisan attention – and support for ending the practice in the Peach State – with Republicans and Democrats agreeing that the practice is not ideal for children who are already forced with hard situations.  On any given day in Georgia, at least 50 children in foster care are sleeping in a hotel or office of the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, according to the department tasked with investigating reports of child abuse and neglect.

In Fiscal Year 2022, DFCS spent $28 million in hoteling costs.

This legislative session, DFCS representatives plan to propose legislation to “fix statutory loopholes and ambiguous definitions and contradictory terms,” and bolster efforts to eliminate hoteling. The agency also plans to improve the efficiency of record access and record keeping of children in DFCS custody.

Republican and Democratic leaders in the General Assembly are expressing support for that legislation.