Georgia Association of Homes and Services for Children

Level of Care
Position Paper
September 5, 2002

Background:  Georgia has over 200 private child welfare agencies that provide a range of services, including family support and preservation, foster care, group home placement, residential therapeutic care, and child and adolescent hospitals.  The recession has severely impacted both the State's and our private providers' ability to provide quality services for children.  Georgia's foster children are competing for resources to get the protection, care, and treatment they deserve.  Our providers have been working with the state in order to move to a system that will allow the budget predictability and cost efficiency necessary to facilitate the flow of resources to these children.  We appreciate this relationship and will work to strengthen it.

Georgia needs placement resources for it's abused and neglected children.  There has never been a greater time for Georgia to support it's community resources.  The crisis of the Fulton and Dekalb County placement facilities is a result of a lack of placement options.  The crisis that is happening in Fulton and Dekalb Counties is happening all over Georgia.  Children are not getting the services they need, because funding does not follow the child.   Level of Care system for placement promises promises to address this deficiency by better managing resources for children.

Level of Care promises efficiency, effectiveness, flexibility of services and success for children. Children will be provided with placement services based on their needs. Under LOC each child will be "leveled" for need and services.  This leveling will provide resources to follow that child in care.  These services will be provided regardless of the location of placement.  LOC will assure that children get the services they need by the provider they need.  Providers will be measured against their peers on the outcomes they produce.  The full participation of federal funds will be available to the children because of the identification of the child's needs will match federal requirements for drawing down federal funds. 

Time, however, is a critical factor.  Private child welfare agencies support Levels of Care because it is good for children.  Any movement to a Levels of Care system must be adequately funded.  Private agencies cannot subsidize care any more than they already are, because of increased government mandates and the collapse of donor bases since 9/11.  Our group homes are laboring under an average reimbursement rate of 56% of cost.  As a result, services to children have been reduced and fundraising efforts have been increased.  Some agencies have already closed and other programs are experiencing cuts.  The result:  children are not being served. The community, through their non-profit boards, has stated that something must be done to combat this harm to children in foster care.

Actions Needed:  The Governor has an opportunity to take a very difficult situation and demonstrate his commitment to children, community participation, and partnership.  The Georgia Association of Homes and Services for Children is willing to assist the Governor in this effort.

The Governor has an opportunity to make three significant commitments:  

• Implement "level of Care" (LOC) by February 2004 with funding that is sufficient to cover the cost of services including educational costs. 

• Annually, review LOC processes and rates to ensure fairness and equity to guarantee efficiency and effectiveness for the state and quality care for its children. 

• Provide for equal licensing and sanctions apply to both public and private providers. 

For More Information:   

Normer Adams, Executive Director
normer@gahsc.org
404 572 6170