Georgia lawmakers examine rising foster care costs amid $85M budget shortfall

A joint study committee of the Georgia General Assembly met Thursday to discuss the state’s foster care system amid rising costs.

The Joint Study Committee on Evaluating Escalating Costs in Georgia’s Foster Care System was created to review the system, services and costs of those services.

State Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, co-chair of the committee, opened the meeting on Thursday saying the committee is the third of its kind in the past three years to examine these challenges. However, it is the first joint committee on the issue.

“Many states are struggling with the rising costs of caring for foster children, particularly older children and those with medical or mental health needs, leading to a gap between available funding and the needs of the children in the system,” Kirkpatrick said.

Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services reported an $85 million shortfall in its budget. The deficit is due to a combination of reduced or delayed federal funds, increasing demand for the foster care system and increased operation costs and resulted in the reduction or elimination of certain services, according to the agency head.

When Gov. Brian Kemp made an additional $300 million cut to the state budget to account for the cut in income taxes, $600,000 was taken from clothing and supplies for foster children.

Wayne Naugle is a foster father and founder of Families 4 Families. He said he thinks local communities will need to fill the gap that the state is leaving.

“I think it’s a really good time for our communities to step up, whether it’s communities or churches or social organizations,” Naugle said. “Not everyone can foster, but everybody can buy a backpack or help out with school clothes, and everyone can get a notebook, paper and pencils for kids.”

Naugle said that in 2019, Georgia had about 7,500 foster homes. Today, that number has dropped to 4,500.

The committee plans to have its next meeting on Sept. 17.