A new leader for Georgia’s troubled child safety division

Georgia’s troubled child protection agency is getting a new leader.

Gov. Nathan Deal said Thursday that Bobby Cagle, who now heads the state’s early care department, will take control of the Division of Family and Children Services. The former head, Sharon Hill, is taking a job in the governor’s budget planning agency.

The shakeup, first reported yesterday, also requires Cagle to report directly to the governor’s office. It’s the latest move to steady the department after the highly publicized deaths of two metro Atlanta children and reports in the AJC that mistakes by DFCS workers contributed to at least 25 deaths in 2012.

Deal has previously backed a plan to spend $27 million over the next three years to hire more than 500 caseworkers and supervisors for the agency. He also formed a council comprised of lawmakers, health care workers and experts to study changes, including the privatization of some foster care services.

Arizona’s child safety agency underwent a similar overhaul in January, and the move here could be a precursor for a push to create a standalone child safety division. Doing so would require legislative action and it seems unlikely the governor would call a special session this year.

About the Author

Georgia honors women in uniform amid debate over their roles in combat

Females in uniform like Amy Stevens are being recognized in Atlanta parade, history exhibit and Georgia hall of fame before Veterans Day as combat roles for women are debated.

UPS warns of delivery delays after its plane crash at Louisville hub

The disruption of operations at UPS’ largest hub continues to have some effects, while an investigation and recovery operation continue at the Louisville crash site.

Louisville plane crash response in ‘recovery mode,’ UPS operations disrupted

12 are confirmed dead, believed to include a child, according to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. They do not expect to find survivors at this point, he said.

The Latest