Community Pages - Georgia
Initiative Partner: The Multi Agency Alliance for Children (MAAC)
The Multi-Agency Alliance for Children is a collaborative committed to creating innovative approaches that advance life-changing results for Georgia's at-risk youth and families
Contact: Sarah Bess Hudson, 404.880.9323
Contact: Tyronda Minter, 404-588-3209
The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 449
Atlanta, GA 30303
Policy:
Statewide Expansion
• Georgia is expanding the Opportunity PassportTM statewide and the Department of Human Resources (DHR) has written Initiative strategies into policy including eligibility for an IDA with the state providing savings at a 1:1 match up to $1000 maximum. Independent Living Coordinators in all 17 regions have now received training on the Opportunity PassportTM and can assist young people in enrollment.
• Suntrust Bank partners in the statewide initiative, 22 young people have now opened bank accounts and 19have taken baseline surveys. More than 300 young people have completed financial literacy training requirements and are eligible to open accounts.
• Georgia passed budget legislation in July 2008 extending Medicaid to young people ages 18-21 who age out of foster care; EmpowerMEnt with DHR has developed a communication plan to ensure that eligible young people know how to access this program. Kaiser Permanente continues to offer health insurance for young people formerly in foster care up to age 25 for a much reduced rate.
• Court participation, identified as a significant issue by EmpoweMEnt youth, is being addressed with grant dollars provided by the Supreme Court Committee on Justice for Children in 2008 and 2009 to better educate youth and courts about the need for young people to participate in their hearings. MAAC and EmpowerMEnt have developed and implemented a well received curriculum that informs young people of their rights and how the court process works. Training has now been provided in many of the DHR regions with the potential to impact practice and policy.
• Georgia DHR has incorporated several provisions of the Fostering Connections Act into existing policy including educational stability and the 90 day provision for a discharge transition plan. •Georgia DHR currently has about 9, 500 children in its custody; in 2004 there were about 14, 500 in care; this decrease is due in part to the implementation of Family Centered Practice incorporated into policy and practice that includes individualized service planning, family team meetings and a written transition living plan calling for connections to a caring adult for youth 14 and older.
News and Events:
The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has written its lessons learned for the early demonstration work with the Metropolitan Youth Opportunities Initiative. This document, which is also available in hard copy, can be downloaded here.
Georgia Opportunity Passport(tm) Participant Dominique Carter featured in the May 21, 2010 edition of the Gwinett Daily Post newspaper for his work in advocating for youth in foster care.
The Community Foundation Wins National Public Policy Award for Work with Youth in Foster Care
Click here to read the story.
