The data shows a 23% increase from 1997 to 1999 in the number of admissions. It was in 1999 that the State Child Protective Services policy manual clearly addressed the mandated actions regarding positive drug test on mothers and/or newborns. The CPS mandated actions require local DFCS offices to file a court petition for custody and requires the mother to participate in a drug treatment program. Many of these newborns were admitted to foster care as evidenced by the increase in the number of children in foster care under 1 year of age. Georgia has 8% more children in foster care in this age group than what is reflected in the national data. Georgia's admissions rate continues to grow for this same population. Further analysis is needed to determine if early detection of substance abuse is the primary reason for the increase. Additionally, the 2000 census indicates that three of Georgia's counties, Paulding, Forsyth, and Henry, are among the fastest growing populated areas in the nation. These counties border the metro Atlanta area.

In 1999 the data indicates a significant increase (42%) from 1997 in the number of children discharged out of foster care. The state attributes this increase to ASFA implementation. In September of 1998, Georgia initiated a "desk review" of all children in foster care as of July 1998 and began the process of applying/expediting the termination of parental rights provision in ASFA. The data in 2000 shows a slight decrease in the number of discharges during the year.

Georgia has very specific policy regarding the removal of children from their homes. Section 2101.3 of the Social Services Manual, addresses "Good Practice Principles" regarding the safety and removal of children from their homes, as well as the rights of parents to responsibly rear their children. Social Services Manual Sections 2102.3 and 2102.4 delineate reasonable efforts (as defined in P.L. 96-272) to prevent a child's placement. A Reasonable Efforts CheckList (Safety Assessment) documents the efforts made to prevent removal of a child. A copy of this checklist is provided to the court to meet requirements of P.L. 96-272. Every deprivation case requires a judicial determination that reasonable efforts were made to prevent or eliminate the need to place the child in foster care and to make it possible for the child to return home.

Family preservation programs can help many families before they reach the point of needing CPS intervention. Such programs offer distinct family centered services based on the needs of the child and family. Most of these services have been available since 1990 (see *). Social Services Manual Section 2107 defines the Family Preservation Programs offered by the state of Georgia:

• *Prevention of Unnecessary Placement (PUP) services are provided to reduce risk factors contributing to child maltreatment to ensure the protection and safety of children. PUP services include emergency housing/financial assistance, temporary childcare, counseling, emergency transportation, emergency medical/dental needs and psychiatric/psychological testing, funding for drug screens, and substance abuse assessments. A family must have an open Social Services case to receive PUP services.

• Early Intervention/Preventive Services (initiated in 2000) provide voluntary family support services and information about community services to prevent problematic family issues from escalating to the point of required CPS intervention. Early Intervention services are available for CPS referrals that are substantiated and closed with dispositions of low risk, referrals that are unsubstantiated and closed, referrals that are screened-out, and open cases reassessed as low risk and subsequently closed. A family with an open CPS case is not eligible to receive Early Intervention/Prevention services.

• *Parent Aide Services stabilize and help families in need of intervention by providing in-home and group parenting education and referrals to community based resources. Parent Aide services are paraprofessional as opposed to therapeutic intervention. Parent Aides work as a team member with casework staff, with the goal of ensuring the safety and protection of children by improving parenting competency. Responsibilities may include respite care, food and nutrition education, information on homemaking and budgeting topics, and assistance in accessing community resources. Families with an open Social Services case are eligible for this service.

• *Homestead Services provide short-term, intensive, crisis-oriented, in-home counseling in order to stabilize the family and insure a safe and healthy environment for the child and family. Homestead services are the most intensive of the Family Preservation Services. A family must have an open Social Services case to receive Homestead services. Homestead services can be used for children at imminent risk of placement and reunification when a child is being returned to his/her family.

Social Services policy also outlines when the above Family Preservation Services may not be appropriate/effective and stresses that "A child's right to protection and safety outweighs a parent's right to the child and is always the primary consideration in CPS."

The First-Time Cohort data show a 34% increase from 1997 to 1999 in the number of children entering care for the first time (800 children), close to the 31% overall increase in admissions. From 1997 to 1999 the First-Time Cohort increased slightly as a percentage (89% to 91%) of all children entering care in the first six months. The Point-in-Time cross-section and the First-Time Cohort appear to have experienced similar increases in admission rates to foster care (approximately 800 additional children per six months in each group). These increases may be the result of slight changes in interpretation and clarifications due to ASFA or the competing interests of safety and reunification. Increases may also be evidence of a DFCS response to criticism following high-profile incidents in 1998 and 1999. The Point-in-Time data admissions outpaced discharges by 53% (5523-3611) in 1997. In 1999, admissions outpaced discharges by 15%, a very significant improvement.

Corrections to the Point-in-Time statements:

• First sentence: The number of admissions increased from 5523 to 7218 which equals a 31% increase and not a 23% increase as stated in the original document.

• Second paragraph, first sentence, same problem: The increase in discharges was 3,611 to 6,267, a 74% increase and not 42%.