Vital child welfare services in Georgia impacted by federal shutdown

Federal shutdown prompts Georgia to gatekeep vital child welfare services

In emails sent late Friday to child welfare agencies in Georgia, state officials announced that the federal government shutdown has required them to suspend new services that protect children from entering foster care and ensure family reunification — unless approved in writing by the state.

Under the directive, without that level of approval, caseworkers cannot initiate contracted services for child and family assessments, aides for parents, wraparound care, measures to prevent foster care, including “unnecessary out of home placement,” and “early intervention” services.

The abrupt change in procedure is “Effective immediately, due to the current federal government shutdown and the resulting interruption of fundi