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DFCS and the Courts

What can an individual do?

Report abuse. If you witness a child being harmed or see evidence of abuse, or if a child tells you about abuse, make a report to the child protective services department by calling your local DFCS office. When talking to a child about abuse, listen carefully, assure the child that he or she did the right thing by telling an adult, and affirm that he or she is not responsible for what happened.

Educate yourself about Georgia's Child Welfare System.

Become a foster parent by calling the DHR toll free number 1877-210-KIDS, the Adoptive and Foster Parent Association of GA, or an agency such as Families First.

Become a Respite Foster Parent. Respite care is short term care and supervision of children in the absence of their foster or adoptive parents. To become a respite foster parent call the DHR toll free number, 1877-210-KIDS, or contact associations such as Adoptive and Foster Parent Association of GA or Families First.

Become an adoptive parent by calling 1-888-460-2467 or visiting the Office of Adoptions web site.

Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer by calling 404-874-2888 or 1-800-251-4012, or help CASA in their fundraising efforts.

Volunteer to be on a Citizen Review Panel by contacting Robert Bassett at 404-657-5020. The Citizen Review Panel is specific to each juvenile court and reviews the court cases of children in state custody.

Participate in the Secret Santa Christmas Program through DFCS.

Give time and/or gifts to the local visitation center or related community programs such as Lutheran Ministries of Georgia or Catholic Social Services, Inc. Visitation centers facilitate visits between children in state custody and their parents and siblings. Contact your local juvenile court for information and the location of the area visitation center.

Donate to Finding Words Georgia, a multidisciplinary approach to the investigation of child abuse cases. To donate, visit the Office of the Child Advocate web page.

Participate in the Child Watch Program. Contact the Interfaith Children's Movement of Metro Atlanta.

What can a corporation and/or an organization do?

Adopt volunteer friendly policies. For example, allow those who volunteer as CASA to attend court hearings or at a minimum do not penalize those who volunteer for these programs.

Participate in the Secret Santa Christmas Program through DFCS.

Participate in the Child Watch Program. Contact the Interfaith Children's Movement of Metro Atlanta.

What can a foundation do?

Provide start-up money for local and statewide initiatives that relate to children in state custody.

Provide funding for local visitation centers.

Who to Contact to get involved?

Fulton County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Contact: Mr. Dee Horn
Email: dee@fultoncasa.org
Phone: 404-224-4723
Next training cycle begins Sept. 14, 2004 at 6 p.m. for eight weeks.
There are three training cycles per year.
Openings are available in this upcoming training cycle.
www.fultoncasa.org

Fulton County Citizens' Panel Review
Contact: Ms. Brenda Rolle
Email: Brenda.Rolle@co.fulton.ga.us
Phone: 404-224-4577
Next training: September 23 and 24, 2004
One training cycle per year, but can coordinate with other counties to have a Fulton resident trained if necessary.
There are 10 openings in this upcoming training cycle.

Center to End Adolescent Sexual Exploitation (CEASE)
Email: info@juvenilejusticefund.org
Contact: Ms. Alesia Adams
Phone: 404-224-4549
The next training cycle is coming up, but dates have not yet been announced.
There are 20 openings.
www.juvenilejusticefund.org

Relevant Web Sites

211, http://211online.unitedwayatlanta.org/

Adoptive and Foster Parent Association of GA, http://www.afpag.org/

Barton Child Law & Policy Clinic, http://www.childwelfare.net/

Catholic Social Services, Inc., http://www.cssatlanta.com

Children's Defense Fund, http://www.childrensdefense.org

Community Supervised Visitation Centers - A Guide to Opening Your Own Center, http://childwelfare.net/resources/VisitationCenterManual/VisitationCenterManual.pdf

Families First, http://www.familiesfirst.org

Foster Children's Foundation, Inc., http://fosterchildrensfoundation.org/

Fulton County Juvenile Justice Fund, http://www.JuvenileJusticeFund.org/

Fulton Volunteer, http://www2.state.ga.us/departments/dhr/dfcs/fultoncty/vol2.html

Georgia 's Child Advocacy Centers, http://www.cacga.org