Safe Futures A Plan for Program Improvement - Department of ...

Services are currently available to families in 143 counties statewide. Service accessibility has been enhanced through delivery in a
variety of community-based settings including, Family Resource Centers, Schools, Domestic Violence Shelters, Residential and Day
Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities, Hospitals, Therapeutic Treatment Facilities, CASAs, Colleges of Social Work, Church based
organizations and community-based Family Visitation centers throughout the state.
In January 2002, Governor Roy Barnes convened 32 individuals representing public and private sectors to the Governor's Action
Group for Safe Children to assess and develop a plan for safe placements for children in state custody. The assessment included the
immediate availability of foster homes, medially fragile foster homes and therapeutic foster homes. The Action Group met from
January through August 2002 to develop findings and recommendations.
2 nd Quarter Report: Achievement. The number of agencies required to conduct a thorough assessment of all existing support
resources requires the full input of several DHR Divisions and child and family advocacy agencies.
2 nd Quarter Federal Response: (THIS STATEMENT APPEARS TO BE A BARRIER TO ACHIEVEMENT) Coordination
with the office of Evaluation and Reporting and the Barton Law Clinic has been requested to facilitate the analysis and documentation
of statewide service array, accessibility and geographic distribution.
2 nd Quarter Federal Response: HAVE YOU ACHIEVED THIS TASK?
3 rd Quarter Report/Georgia's Reply: No, the task has not been achieved. Work is in progress.
3 rd Quarter Federal Response: 3 rd . Qtr progress?
4 th Quarter Report: The state expects to renegotiate this action step.
5 th Quarter Report: Achieved. The comprehensive assessment conducted January through August 2002 by the Governor's Action
Group for Safe Children satisfies the requirements of this action step. The Action Group, which was comprised of leaders from state
agencies, the judiciary, service providers and advocacy organizations was charged with developing an action plan to assess the current
continuum of placements, services and supports for children in care. The assessment included the immediate availability of foster
homes, prevention, early intervention, crisis intervention support services including mental health and treatment services for children
in care. Many of the findings and recommendations put forth by this task force have been incorporated into the states Child and
Family Service Plan and are reflected in the states plan for program improvement. A PDF file copy of the Action Group's Final Report
can be accessed on-line at www.opb.state.ga.us/safekids
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Safe Futures – A Plan for Program Improvement
Georgia Department of Human Resources
March, 2004 Quarter 5 – Work Plan Q Page 2