Georgia To Implement Child Welfare Reforms To Improve Systemwide Data Sharing

On May 5, 2015, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed legislation aimed at reforming Georgia’s child welfare system by encouraging communication and data sharing among state agencies and with foster families. The legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 138, implements recommendations made by the Georgia Child Welfare Reform Council, including creation of a file-sharing and data collection system and revision to privacy laws so that DFCS can allow other state agencies and entities that also serve children (such as schools) to share data with the children’s caseworkers. The provisions go into effect as of July 1, 2015.

The new legislation . . .