My internship at the Office of the Child Advocate, in Macon, GA was an eye-opening experience. I learned a great deal about the child welfare system and how fragmented and complicated it can be. However, I also learned that there are so many good people in this field of work who are really trying hard to make a difference.

The Office of the Child Advocate was started just a few years ago by former Governor Roy Barnes to address the outrageous cases of child abuse and neglect that were occurring in the Georgia foster care system. Currently, OCA receives complaints from all over the state of Georgia about the Division of Child and Family Services (DFCS). In addition, they can receive complaints about many other child-related issues. OCA's main function is to act as an oversight agency to all 159 counties in the state of Georgia. They make sure that each DFCS agency is properly following policy and procedure and, in general, is meeting the needs of Georgia's children.

I had two main responsibilities within this internship. First, I actually received complaints and performed investigations on cases that were assigned to me. This was a good process for me to see. It allowed me to get a first-hand glimpse at some of the practices DFCS agencies are following or not following, as well as to make suggestions on how they might improve upon their current practices. It also made me feel as though I had a very real ability to make a positive impact on how some of these children were being treated within the system. It felt good!

My second main responsibility this summer was to research and draft a policy paper that focused on adoption subsidy issues. The paper especially emphasized the sibling group bond that the state of Georgia has traditionally failed to validate. I called states across the country and spoke with them about how their adoption subsidy program works. Through this research, I was able to craft a policy position that I believe will be more beneficial for the children of Georgia. While this was certainly a more removed aspect of the child welfare system -- since I was not interacting with actual cases-- it also felt rewarding to be working to change policy. I think one of the biggest problems I have seen this summer is that the policies the state of Georgia creates for the child welfare system to apply are not always feasible in terms of actually being put into practice. Therefore, there is frequently a gap between policy and practice. I feel fortunate that my experience this summer has provided me with the opportunity to see both sides and I plan to remember both perspectives when I enter this field in the future.

In addition to my internship responsibilities, I also had the opportunity to attend a few meetings with Dee Simms, my immediate supervisor. These meetings allowed me to see how strategy is implemented and how policy is created at a very grassroots level. One of the toughest meetings I participated in was a Child Fatality Review meeting. This group of professionals decides what type of questions and information should be gathered in the investigation of child deaths and how serious the state of Georgia should be in pursuing ramifications. It was frustrating and emotionally-challenging to learn how many foster children have died or been seriously injured this year.

One constant issue I observed over and over was that there are just not enough resources, or the resources are not being used as efficiently as they should be, to effectively meet the needs of Georgia's children. I find this to be quite troubling and believe it has a lot to do with the injuries and deaths our state is facing within the child welfare system.

All in all, through my experiences this summer I was able to see how tough working within the child welfare system is, as well as how rewarding it can be. There were days when I was angry at everyone involved in a case-- the caseworkers, judges, attorneys, etc. However, there were also days where I was able to see children get helped and supported -- especially when everyone was working together. Frequently, I felt as though I was on a never-ending roller coaster ride. I had good days and bad days, and through all these experiences I have come to realize that I can truly make an impact within this system. Both the Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic's training and my experiences with Office of the Child Advocate have given me in-depth knowledge of Georgia's child welfare system and incredible insight into a career in child advocacy. I am looking forward to continuing on this journey.