Senate passes effort to bypass Georgia foster system

A much smaller version of last year’s failed effort to privatize Georgia’s child welfare system passed the state Senate, when members voted Tuesday to allow military service members or struggling parents to bypass the state’s foster care system and give temporary custody of their children to families or friends.

Senate Bill 3 would allow that temporary arrangement for up to a year as the parent completes deployment or gets back on his or her feet. The pairing between parent and friend would not be handled by the Division of Family and Children Services, which controls Georgia's foster care system.

Instead, it would be made through faith-based groups or nonprofit organizations trained in crisis intervention. The arrangement could be cut short at the request of a participating parent.