Georgia continues to have a significant need for families willing to open their homes to children in foster care, and residents of Chattooga County who have considered becoming foster parents are encouraged to learn more about the process through the local Division of Family and Children Services office.

According to the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Family and Children Services, there are currently just under 10,000 children and young people in Georgia’s foster care system. DFCS says the state has a growing need for foster caregivers, with a particularly strong need for families able to care for teenagers, sibling groups and children with complex needs.

Children enter foster care when a juvenile court determines they cannot safely remain in their home. In many cases, the ultimate goal is to reunite children with their parents once the problems that led to their removal have been addressed.

When a child needs a temporary home, DFCS first looks for relatives or others who already have a strong relationship with the child or family. When an appropriate kinship placement isn’t available, foster families become an important part of providing children with a safe and stable place to live.

Foster Parents Provide More Than A Place To Stay

Foster care is intended to provide stability during what can be one of the most difficult periods of a child’s life.

Foster parents provide everyday necessities such as a safe home, meals and transportation, but their role goes much further. Children in foster care may be dealing with separation, trauma, uncertainty and major changes in their lives.

Georgia uses a trauma-informed approach to prepare foster caregivers for those challenges. Prospective caregivers receive training designed to help them understand children who have experienced trauma, separation or loss.

Foster parents are also expected to work with DFCS and, when appropriate, support a child’s relationship with his or her biological family while parents work toward reunification.

Different Types Of Families Can Foster

There is no single description of what a foster family must look like.

Prospective foster parents go through an approval process that includes background checks, screenings, training and an evaluation of their ability to provide a safe and stable home. DFCS says applicants must demonstrate the maturity, stability and ability necessary to protect, nurture and meet the developmental needs of children placed in their care.

One of the greatest needs is for families willing and able to keep brothers and sisters together. Homes are also particularly needed for older children and teenagers, who can sometimes be more difficult to place than younger children.

Becoming a foster parent does not necessarily mean making a permanent commitment to adopt. Foster care is generally temporary, and reunification with the child’s family remains an important goal whenever it can safely be accomplished.

Chattooga County Residents Can Learn More Locally

People in Chattooga County who believe they may be able to provide a safe and caring home are encouraged to contact Chattooga County DFCS to ask questions and learn more about becoming a foster family.

The Chattooga County DFCS office is located at 102 Highway 48 in Summerville. The office’s primary telephone number is 706-857-0817.

Georgia also operates a statewide foster and adoptive parent inquiry line at 1-877-210-KIDS — 1-877-210-5437. Prospective caregivers can receive information about the process and available training, and DFCS says county offices regularly host information sessions for people considering fostering or adoption.

Becoming a foster family is a major decision and isn’t right for every household. But with nearly 10,000 Georgia children and young people currently in foster care, the state says additional families are needed to provide safe and stable homes — particularly for teenagers, sibling groups and children whose needs can make finding the right placement more difficult.

For Chattooga County residents interested in finding out whether fostering might be right for their family, the first step can simply be asking questions and learning about the process through Chattooga County DFCS at 706-857-0817.