FIRST PLACEMENT/BEST PLACEMENT

Georgia's Foster Care Reform Initiative
Tragically, far too many children find the Foster Care System a revolving door from one failed foster placement to another without benefit of an assessment of need or intentional efforts of family support. First Placement/Best Placement assures every new child/family coming into care is fully assessed and that the first placement recommended is the best placement to provide the services that meet the needs of the child and family.

Purpose: To improve services for children and families; to ensure appropriate placement,

provide stability and expedite permanency for children in care; to promote

parental involvement and responsibility; and to increase foster home capacity.

Goals: (1) Protect Children and Prevent Further Abuse

(2) Increase Permanency for Children

(3) Remove Placement Barriers

(4) Establish Standards for Serving Children

(5) Increase Foster Home Capacity Based on Children's Needs

(6) Achieve Compliance with Federal Law - Adoptions and Safe Families

Act (ASFA) of 1997

Expected (1) Reduce the Number of Moves of Children in Out-of-Home Care

Results: (2) Reduce the Numbers of Placements

(3) Increase Family Foster Care Resources

(4) Decrease the Length of Stay in Placement

(5) Increase Cost Effectiveness

Guiding Principles:

Assessment Driven: Comprehensive assessments of every family and child in need of foster care.

Safety: Strengthening risk/safety assessment process with children's safety the primary concern.

Integrated Services: Demonstrated collaboration at all levels using Multi-Disciplinary Teams.

Partnership with Foster Families: Foster Families are a crucial part of the interdisciplinary team.

Public/Private Partnership: Demonstrated public/private partnerships.

Results Driven: Efforts are driven by results and demonstrate creativity, innovation and flexibility.

Respectful of Culture: Build on the culture of the children, families and communities served.

Systems Approach: Utilization of a systems approach to working with the family in the community.

Participation: Consumer input and parent's participation and involvement in FP/BP services.

Implementation:

1998 - Five Demonstration Counties: Bibb, Colquitt, DeKalb, Screven, and Whitfield

1999 - Two Additional Counties: Clayton (five county collaborative) and Cobb

1999 - Statewide - Comprehensive assessments for all new children coming into care and their families

1999 - Statewide - Family Conferencing introduced as a tool to enhance family/parental responsibility