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V. Child Welfare Services

A. Family Support/Family Preservation/Reunification Services

Child Protective Services are preventive services where the staff provide intake, investigations, family support, and ongoing services. These services are provided to abused or neglected children to protect the child and strengthen the family. Preventive Services is where the Child Protective Services (CPS) staff provide intake, investigations, family support and ongoing CPS services (Family Preservation).

B. Foster/Adoption Parent Services

Foster/Adoption Parent Services enable the county departments to reimburse services required in the screening, preparation, and approval of foster and adoptive families and homemakers.

TANF Purpose #1: Provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their homes or in the homes of caretaker relatives. TANF Purpose #2: End dependency of needy families by promoting job preparation and work. TANF Purpose #3: Prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies. Funding Source: Federal TANF and State MOE Funds

C. Child Protection – Special Victims Unit

The DHS Special Victims Unit (SVU) is a unit of caseworkers and recovery assistance officers focused on coordinating with law enforcement regarding missing and sexually exploited children and prevention of trafficking of minors in the state. SVU works with federal, state, and local law enforcement for the recovery of youth who are missing and at risk of, or known to be, trafficked. Recovery of missing and trafficked children helps prevent and reduce out-of-wedlock and teenage pregnancies.

TANF Purpose #1: Provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their homes or in the homes of caretaker relatives. TANF Purpose #3: Prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies. Funding Source: Federal TANF

D. Child Protection – Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) Call Center

The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Call Center operates a hotline that receives reports 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year. The Hotline (1-844-END-CSEC or 1-844-363-2732) can accept calls from professionals, friends, family members, and concerned citizens to report suspected sex trafficking, also referred to as Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) cases, by calling the hotline. Every report initiates an assessment to determine whether a child or young person has been exploited or trafficked. CSEC survivors will be connected to services to support their recovery. CSEC referrals can also be made online at https://dfcs.georgia.gov/services/child-abuse-neglect/csec-hotline.