News
News

Foster kids housed in hotels? DFCS says no more

Dec. 17, 2015 - Atlanta - DFCS Director Bobby Cagle received high praise in an independent report released this week on DFCS’s handling of foster care in Fulton and DeKalb counties. On Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, DFCS announced it will stop the practice of temporarily housing foster children in hotels BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres

Credit: Bob Andres

Dec. 17, 2015 - Atlanta - DFCS Director Bobby Cagle received high praise in an independent report released this week on DFCS’s handling of foster care in Fulton and DeKalb counties. On Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, DFCS announced it will stop the practice of temporarily housing foster children in hotels BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM
By Craig Schneider
Sept 14, 2016

Need a meal? Call room service. The pool is down the hall, and you're never far from a Coke or a candy bar.

Living in a hotel may sound nice, but it's no place for a foster child. Still, the state has temporarily housed a total of a few hundred foster kids in hotels in recent years.

Now officials said they will stop the practice.

Faced with a shortage of foster homes across the state, the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) has periodically placed children brought into care in hotels accompanied by a trained worker to watch over them. The placements typically last only a few days until a suitable foster home is found for the child, officials said.

Read the full story at MyAJC at http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local/foster-kids-housed-in-hotels-no-more-dfcs-decides/nsXmZ/

About the Author

Craig Schneider
More Stories

Keep Reading

On April 8, 1974, in Atlanta, Hank Aaron smashed baseball’s home run record. Our special coverage celebrating the 50th anniversary of this magical moment has begun online and in our print editions. There’s still more to come as Monday’s historic anniversary arrives.

Credit: Richard Watkins

Illustration for AJC honors Hank Aaron back in the glittering lights

Illustration for AJC honors Hank Aaron back in the glittering lights

‘Digital is real time, print is lifetime’: Farewells to the paper AJC

From the sound of the presses to framing special front pages, those who helped build the AJC share their memories.

PSC won’t delay key Georgia Power vote after Democrats’ election wins

The Georgia Public Service Commission has rejected a bid to delay a key vote on whether to allow Georgia Power to execute a historic expansion of its generation fleet.

The Latest

As the new prosecutor, Pete Skandalakis has the power to continue the Georgia Trump election interference case or slim it down.

Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC

A.M. ATL: School work

‘Digital is real time, print is lifetime’: Farewells to the paper AJC

LISTEN

‘It’s UATL’: Fire and Ice: The Joy Goddess of Harlem

Featured

Travelers wait in Concourse F, the international terminal, at Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Why cell service, Wi-Fi have been spotty at ATL’s international terminal

There are several reasons why it has been tough to get reliable cell service and Wi-Fi access at Concourse F and the international terminal. A completed fix is coming soon.

POLITICALLY GEORGIA

Georgia’s top Republican US Senate candidates now back release of Epstein files

U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter, Mike Collins and Derek Dooley say they back a bill in the U.S. House that to force the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019.

Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr.’s season could be in jeopardy after knee injury, per ESPN report

1h ago