The state's data did not conform to the national standard. In February 1999 Georgia instituted the First Placement/Best Placement (FP/BP) initiative to provide comprehensive assessment strategy for all children entering foster care as well as their families. The FP/BP assessment focuses on early and continuous assessment of the strengths and needs of children and families, case plan development with the family, and the least intrusive interventions to reduce lengths of stay and placement disruptions. This assessment also includes multidisciplinary team staffing and family conferencing. The FP/BP approach provides greater collaboration with child welfare stakeholders, families, and providers and it also makes available information from which sound case management decisions can be made. The planned implementation of a SACWIS system will greatly assist case management decisions regarding reunification within 12 months of the date of the earliest removal, and other judicial reviews, terminations and discharges.

The impact of substance abuse and the lack of readily accessible and available statewide treatment programs tremendously affect reunification efforts within the 12-month time frame. About 32% of children are in care due to substance abuse related issues. The reporting of caretaker substance abuse into the state's CPS data system is requested but not required. We believe this information is seriously under reported by case managers. Additionally, Georgia law requires that "If a child is found to be a deprived child and the deprivation is found to have been the result of alcohol or other drug abuse…and the court orders transfer of temporary legal custody of the child…the court is authorized to further order that legal custody of the child may not be transferred back to the person having custody of the child when the deprivation occurred unless such person undergoes substance abuse treatment and random substance abuse screenings and those screenings remain negative for a period of no less than six consecutive months". This law and state policy will continue to greatly impact Georgia's ability to conform to the national standard.