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Following a 13-month investigation led by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, the Foster Care Placement Transparency Act was introduced to tackle systemic deficiencies in Georgia’s foster care system, WALB News 10 reported. The bipartisan investigation, which included four public hearings and interviews with over 100 witnesses, uncovered alarming practices within the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Testimonies revealed instances of sexual abuse, neglect, and trafficking, with nearly 2,500 children reported missing at some point while under DFCS care between 2018 and 2022. Some children were placed informally with relatives—an arrangement termed “hidden foster care”—without adequate oversight, background checks, or official documentation.
The investigation found that DFCS had failed to monitor placements effectively. One tragic case involved the death of a two-year-old child placed with a caregiver who had a criminal record—exposing DFCS’s lapse in conducting background checks. Ossoff’s findings underscored the urgent need for transparency and accountability in the foster care system to prevent future tragedies.
The Foster Care Placement Transparency Act, co-sponsored by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), aims to close the accountability gaps in “hidden foster care.” The bill mandates that state agencies report these informal custody arrangements to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and submit annual reports to Congress. This oversight ensures that even children placed outside formal foster care receive the necessary protection and services.
On a national level, this legislation highlights the broader issue of inconsistent foster care practices across states. Hidden foster care arrangements, while intended to keep children with familiar caregivers, often lack the transparency needed to guarantee child safety. This bill echoes recent reforms in Texas, urging states to adopt similar policies to ensure accountability and promote children’s welfare under both formal and informal arrangements.
The bill represents a critical step toward addressing deep-rooted problems in foster care systems across the country, focusing not only on Georgia but on the national need for consistent oversight in child welfare practices.
