Gov. Nathan Deal Thursday announced he’s forming a council to review the state’s child welfare system, which includes foster care and adoption.
The announcement comes as lawmakers in the House and Senate are clashing over whether to privatize child welfare services. Senate leaders want the state to start bidding out all child welfare services by 2017, House leaders want a two-year pilot in select areas to test privatization.
It’s unclear what this means for the proposed legislation, but it could lessen the chances any drastic changes will be approved this year. It could also endanger a separate push by advocates to provide more transparency to the child fatality review process.
“After meeting with numerous stakeholders including former foster youth, juvenile court judges, providers and child advocates, it was clear there was a need for a more deliberate reform process of the child welfare system,” Deal said in a release. “We have no greater responsibility than caring for our most vulnerable populations. If we do nothing else, we must always do everything in our power to assure that our children are safe and that they get their best shot at a good life. I am confident this council will produce meaningful and thoughtful reform recommendations.”
The Child Welfare Reform Council is modeled after the governor’s criminal justice reform council, which won praise from the child advocacy community for its careful approach. The child welfare council will review the Division of Family and Children Services and advise the governor on what changes are needed.
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