The 2nd Annual Child Welfare Advocacy Forum
Our Annual Child Welfare Advocacy Forum was held this morning. Commissioner Jim Martin, Commissioner Orlando Martinez and Child Advocate Dee Simms presented the state of child welfare and took questions at the forum. Then all 220 attendees walked across the street to the capitol for a rally with the Governor.
Caseworker of the Year, Stephanie Wright, thanked the Governor for his support both last year and this year.
Assistant Director of the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, Shawn Huff, (also a former foster child) spoke about the importance of having a strong child welfare system: "It's a matter of priorities, and Georgia has yet to make children a big enough one."
Governor Barnes pledged to make children a top priority for his administration: "For some, it can mean the difference between life and death."
The $14.4 million in new money for child welfare included in the Governor's FY03 Budget, while substantial, falls far short of the $36 million that DHR requested. Again this year, the Governor trimmed the 196 new positions requested as part of the 3-year Special Child Protection Initiative back to only 100. At this rate, DHR will have the 588 new positions needed last year to meet CWLA recommended caseload standards some time in 2007.
The Forum drew coverage from 4 local television news shows, including GPTV's Lawmakers, and a wonderful article by Jane O. Hansen of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
The Text of Governor Barnes' Remarks:
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Governor Roy E. Barnes
Remarks Family and Children Services January 17, 2002 I am glad to be with you today for this important event for Georgia's children. I appreciate your recognition for the work we are doing at the state level to help children in need. But the real heros are all of you-and every person who is on the front lines working to protect Georgia's children. I want to thank you for protecting our children from abuse and neglect. Together we will make a difference in the lives of our future generations. I am pleased that lawmakers and child advocates have gathered to discuss how to work together to make further improvements-because it is clear that we must. In 2000, DHR investigated more than 54,000 reports of child abuse and neglect in Georgia. And sadly, more than 60% of those were confirmed as cases of child abuse. Child welfare is a priority for my administration. Last year, I recommended and the General Assembly approved, an additional $32 million for the child welfare system. I believe that is the only time I have ever increased a request over what was actually requested. That allowed us to raise the salaries of highly overburdened caseworkers and lessen the individual caseload. We also increased the per diem amount paid to families that care for foster children. In the FY2003 budget I presented yesterday, I recommended funding for another 100 new DHR caseworkers as well as funds to cover the growing number of foster families. And we have announced a new program that will allow foster children, over 21 years old, to complete their post secondary education. We will continue to do more to protect Georgia's children because it is more than just important-for some it could make the difference between life and death. Our children deserve to grow up in a safe and nuturing environment-we must do whatever we can to ensure that they do. After all, Georgia's children-our children-are our future. |
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