State House, Senate Near Agreement on Reform of Child Welfare System

Georgia’s child welfare system, which includes foster care, has been struggling for years.  This past year, after several deaths of children in the system–and amid a backlog of investigations of abuse–House and Senate lawmakers rolled out competing reform proposals.  Some called for an immediate privatization of much of the child welfare system; others advocated a slower approach, involving pilot privatization programs in parts of the state.  In March, Governor Nathan Deal announced the formation of a commission to recommend long-term reform measures; he called on the Legislature to slow down and wait for the commission’s recommendations.

On March 20, 2014, the final day of the 2014 legislative session, lawmakers appeared to be near a compromise on a plan to send to the Governor.  WABE’s Michell Eloy, who has been covering the child welfare debate, gave an update to WABE’s Denis O’Hayer.