Workplace Supports to Improve Georgia's Child Protective Services

IV. Appendices (continued)

2. The Importance of Community Partnerships

   As DFCS examines concerns about workforce morale, it may decide that one way to support caseworkers is by providing avenues by which community organizations can support the work of caseworkers.  Listed below are examples of programs that involve the community in the work of protecting children from abuse and neglect.

   Adopting a caseworker: The faith-based community is a valuable resource to many social programs.  One creative solution to assisting caseworkers and children protected by CPS is the adoption of caseworkers by faith-based organizations.  As an example, a synagogue may connect with a caseworker or two in their county to provide resources to the caseworker and the children on his or her caseload.  Sometimes a church adopts a caseworker who is a part of the congregation and has expressed a need for help from the congregation.  When the caseworkers need supplies for the children in their care (clothing, eyeglasses, school supplies, a suitcase, etc.) a request would be made to the members of the congregation.

   CASA: Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates (GA CASA) is a nonprofit organization, which establishes and supports programs across the state that screen, train, and supervise community volunteers.  These volunteers are then appointed by a judge to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children involved in juvenile court deprivation proceedings.  For more information contact GA CASA at 404-874-2888 or 1-800-CASA-393, www.gacasa.org or info@gacasa.org.

   Child Watch: A program of the Children's Defense Fund, The Child Watch Visitation Program was designed to allow leaders to witness firsthand what is happening to children in their community. It highlights the faces and stories of real children that too often go unnoticed among statistics and reports. Organized by volunteers and advocates in local coalitions across the country, the Child Watch Visitation Program moves executives, clergy, legislators, and other community leaders out of their offices, corporate boardrooms, and legislative chambers and into the world of the children and families who are affected each day by their decisions. A Child Watch Atlanta program took place on January 18, 2001, hosted by Trinity Presbyterian Church.  For more information, contact Trinity Presbyterian (Denise de la Rue 404-875-1313) or visit the Children's Defense Fund website: www.childrensdefense.org/childwatch_about.htm.

   Citizen Review Panel: Citizen Review Panels are made up of volunteers from the community, appointed by the Juvenile Court Judges to ensure the children throughout the state of Georgia have permanency and stability in their lives.  Trained volunteers meet once a month to review cases of children in foster care and make recommendations to the judge about the status of the cases.  For additional information, contact Robert Bassett, Council of Juvenile Court Judges Training Director 404-657-5020.

   Family Connection: The Family Connection is a statewide network of 148 communities who have made a commitment to improve results for children and families.  Family Connection collaboratives draw upon public-private partnerships to weave the threads of many resources into a supporting web for Georgia's families.  For more information on the Family Connection, visit their website at www.georgiafamilyconnection.org.

   Georgia Network of Child Advocacy Centers: Child Advocacy Centers (CAC) facilitate a multidisciplinary approach to the investigation, prosecution and treatment of child abuse cases. The involvement of CACs reduces the stress of the investigative atmosphere for the children and families involved in abuse cases.  Several communities have established Child Advocacy Centers to facilitate improved coordination of the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases.  For more information, visit their web site at www.cacga.org.

   North Georgia Foster Parent Association:  The North Georgia Foster Parent Association provides resources for financially pressed foster families by collecting and distributing items that are needed for children in foster care, including clothing, shoes, furniture, toys, etc.  The effort is an attempt to help lessen the stigma many children in foster care have, to help families in the midst of fostering, and also to encourage families to foster children despite the costs they would incur.  As a support group for foster parents, they have learned that the lack of financial and other support is what prevents some people from taking foster children.  Each child in foster care who comes to the North Georgia Foster Parent Association warehouse is given six outfits (three for play, two for school and one for dress occasions) plus a heavy coat, a lightweight sweater or jacket, a pair of pajamas, six pairs each of socks and underwear plus other items as needed.  Call 770-641-9591 for more information.

   One Church One Child:  One Church One Child is a federally sponsored national program that was founded in 1980 by a Chicago priest who is best known as the first priest to adopt a child.  There are now 31 chapters in 31 states, including Georgia.  Each chapter consists of a network of local churches that seek and refer prospective adoptive parents from their congregations and the community to the local government social services agency that has children available for adoption.  There is a specific recruitment effort of African American families, appealing to the tradition of extended families.  One Church One Child transcends all religious preferences.  Instead it appeals to a common thread that links us all: the belief that every child needs a family to love him or her. Forever.

   For more information, contact One Church One Child Program, Inc.  P.O. Box 115238, Atlanta GA 30310, 404-766-0383 or 1-800-662-3651 or OCOCG@bellsouth.com.

   Prevent Child Abuse Georgia:  Formerly the Georgia Council on Child Abuse, Prevent Child Abuse Georgia (PCA Georgia) leads, supports and coordinates citizens and professionals in an effort to end child abuse through volunteer, community-based prevention programs, in addition to advocacy, training and increased public awareness.

   PCA Georgia prevention programs include the Healthy Families, a voluntary, neonatal home visitation program focusing on promoting positive parent-child interaction, healthy child development, and strengthening family functioning.

   First Steps is another family support and primary prevention program developed by PCA Georgia. Trained volunteers offer educational information and emotional support to expectant and new parents through a hospital or health clinic setting. This support continues through telephone calls and/or home visits during the early stages of the infant's development.

   PCA Georgia also offers consultation, training, and technical assistance for development of education programs for successful parenting.

   For more information see www.preventchildabusega.org.

   Volunteers with DFCS:  Many county DFCS offices have a volunteer or resource coordinator to build bridges between resources in the community and the local DFCS office.  They coordinate the use of volunteers in the DFCS office.  Projects for which volunteers are needed include:

   • Operate or donate to a local clothing closet or food pantry
   • Sharing information about foster care and adoption with others in your community, at your place of worship, at your place of work, or throughout your community
   • Participate in the Secret Santa program at Christmas
   • Participate in Thanksgiving giving during the Holiday
   • Become a foster care respite provider
   • Provide in-kind donations to helping children in foster care with graduation and other school and extra-curricular activities
   • Volunteer with the Celebration of Educational Excellence - a program for children in care who are graduating.
   For more information call 1-888-310-8260 (foster care hotline) or 1-888-460-2467 (adoption hotline) or your local DFCS office.