Foster Care in Georgia Fact Sheet
(Separate Website)
Foster care is a state program that provides temporary substitute homes for children whose families cannot provide a safe and nurturing environment for them. It is one of the many programs administered by the Georgia Department of Human Resources’ Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). This document contains statistics and additional information about Georgia's foster care program.
By: Georgia Department of Human Resources
Foster Parent Manual for Georgia
(Separate Website)
This manual, developed by the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services, is for individuals and families proving foster care to children in Georgia.
By: Division of Family and Children Services
Juvenile Court Glossary of Terms
(Separate Website)
This document contains a list of terms frequently used in juvenile court case and their definitions.
By: Cobb County Juvenile Court
Learn about Parents' Rights
(Separate Website)
This presentation was developed as part of the Law and Government Education Project in the Institute of Government at the University of Georgia. In partnership with the Law School and the Center for Teaching and Learning at UGA and the Law School at Mercer University, the Institute develops resources on basic areas of Georgia and federal law. These resources are then distributed across the state in a variety of ways including the State Bar of Georgia?s Pro Bono Project website. We hope you will find this presentation to be useful and informative. Please be advised, however, that this presentation is designed to provide general information only and does not substitute for legal advice. At the conclusion of the presentation you will find a list of organizations which may be able to provide assistance to those who have legal issues relevant to the topic of this presentation. We encourage viewers to contact these organizations for help. Also, please consult the Pro Bono Project website for a list of other presentations available for viewing.
By: Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Protecting Children: How to Report Abuse or Neglect
(Separate Website)
This document describes how to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
By: Georgia Department of Family and Children Services
Adoption: Where Do I Start?
(Separate Website)
This fact sheet is a "gateway" to the many possible paths to building a family through adoption. It attempts to provide an understanding of the basic steps in any adoption process and a guide to resources at each step.
By: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Adopting a Child (Answers to Common Questions)
This document contains answers to questions many people have about adopting a child who is 17 years old or younger.
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.
When Children Are Adopted
This document describes the basic rights related to adoption, excerpted from An Introduction to Law in Georgia, Fourth Edition, published by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, 1998 (updated 2004).
By: Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
About the Georgia Legal Services Kinship Care Adoption Project
The Georgia Legal Services Program Kinship Care Project provides critical legal help and outreach to low-income grandparents and other relative caregivers of children who need stable loving homes.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Other Formats:
RTF File
Relative Adoption: Issues about Access to Education
A school must allow the child to go to school for 30 days while waiting for proof of age, residence, or other requirements. The school may give more time for special reasons. The family?and not the school?should make the decision about the type of relationship that helps the family.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Other Formats:
RTF File
The Georgia Legal Servces Program Kinship Care Adoption Project Brochure The Georgia Legal Services Program
(GLSP) Kinship Care Project provides
civil legal services to low-income families
in forty-two (42) counties. The GLSP
Kinship Care Project focuses on
stabilizing the legal relationships between
the relative and the dependent child and
fostering the economic stability for this
newly formed family. GLSP utilizes a
holistic approach to address the legal and
the economic needs of relative caregivers.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
The GLSP Kinship Care Project: Helping Relatives Raise Children - Creating Stable Relationships
The proper legal relationship between the relative caregiver and the child is important. Before filing any court action, the relative should find out how a relationship will affect public benefits. The information in this brochure does not discuss how legal relationships affect public benefits.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Adoption of Special Needs Children
General information about adopting special needs children.
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.
Relative Adoption Benefits Can Affect Your Eligibility for Other Benefits Programs Adoption can change healthcare coverage or other benefits programs.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Kinship Care: Legal Relationships and Public Benefits Guide Information for relative caregivers adopting children including definitions of benefits and adoption
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.
$50 Supplement and Emergency Cash Grant for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
The DFCS will provide assistance for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. This document explains what this assistance is and how to get it.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Adoption Assistance Information for Special Needs Children AND Form for Requesting Benefits This flyer provides information for relatives adopting children with special needs. There is also a form used to apply for these benefits. Talk to a lawyer about any adoption.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Benefits for Kinship Care Families
Adoption Assistance is available to some kinship care families who are adopting their minor relatives. Click to see more information about program benefits.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
TANF stands for ?Temporary Assistance to Needy Families.? If you meet certain requirements, you may be able to get the fifty dollar ($50) Monthly Subsidy Payment (MSP) or the Crisis Intervention Services Payment (CRISP). You may also be able to get other types of TANF.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Are You Pregnant and Thinking About Adoption?
(Separate Website)
This fact sheet provides practical information about adoption options for pregnant women. It describes the benefits of counseling and reviews the different types of confidential and open adoption arrangements.
By: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Georgia Adoption Reunion Registry
(Separate Website)
Georgia's Adoption Reunion Registry was created as a result of a state law effective on July 1, 1990. The purpose of the Registry is to offer services to birth parents, adopted persons, adoptive parents and siblings who are affected by adoptions finalized in Georgia. The Reunion Registry can provide: (1) Services to adopted persons whose adoption was finalized in the state of Georgia.
(2) Services to birth parents whose children were placed for adoption in Georgia. (3) Services to siblings separated by adoption in Georgia. (4)
Services to adoptive parents of children under 21 whose adoption was finalized in the state of Georgia. The services include registration, searches for siblings, parents and children (for a fee), and support groups, among other things.
By: Families First and Department of Human Resources Office of Adoptions
Learn about Parents' Rights
(Separate Website)
This presentation was developed as part of the Law and Government Education Project in the Institute of Government at the University of Georgia. In partnership with the Law School and the Center for Teaching and Learning at UGA and the Law School at Mercer University, the Institute develops resources on basic areas of Georgia and federal law. These resources are then distributed across the state in a variety of ways including the State Bar of Georgia?s Pro Bono Project website. We hope you will find this presentation to be useful and informative. Please be advised, however, that this presentation is designed to provide general information only and does not substitute for legal advice. At the conclusion of the presentation you will find a list of organizations which may be able to provide assistance to those who have legal issues relevant to the topic of this presentation. We encourage viewers to contact these organizations for help. Also, please consult the Pro Bono Project website for a list of other presentations available for viewing.
By: Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Access to Vital Records (Birth Certificates, Marriage and Divorce Records, etc.)
(Separate Website)
This web site contains information about vital records kept by the State of Georgia, including birth certificates, death certificates, marriage and divorce records, and the putative father registry.
By: Georgia Division of Public Health
Changing Names
This document contains information about changing your name.
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.
Myths & Realities of Identity Change for DV Survivors Produced by Greater Boston Legal Services, this flyer explores the realities behind changing identities for survivors of domestic violence.
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.
Information about Child Care Resources from the Georgia Child Care Council
(Separate Website)
This website provides resources and referral information for parents and providers, a list of funding resources, contractor information, information for employers and businesses, information for child care policy makers, and information about serving children with special needs.
By: The Georgia Child Care Council
Healthy Child Care in Georgia
(Separate Website)
The Healthy Child Care Georgia Project is a collaborative effort of health professionals, child care providers, and families working in partnership to improve the health and well-being of children in child care settings. These web pages contain an array of information about child care resources in Georgia, including: (1) Infant Growth & Development Information, (2) Handbook for Child Care Center Directors, (3) SIDS / Other Infant Death Information and Counseling Program.
By: Georgia Department of Public Health
Subsidized Child Care - Children and Parent Services (CAPS) Program
(Separate Website)
The State of Georgia’s Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program helps Georgia families pay for early childhood and school age care programs. Subsidized care is available for children from age birth to age 13, or up to age 18 if the child has special needs. CAPS is available in all of Georgia’s 159 counties. These web pages provide information on (1) Income Requirements, (2) Work Requirements, (3) Child Care Resources, (4) Child Care Providers, and (5) Answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
By: Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
(Separate Website)
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides certain employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year. It also requires that their group health benefits be maintained during the leave.
FMLA is designed to help employees balance their work and family responsibilities by allowing them to take reasonable unpaid leave for certain family and medical reasons. It also seeks to accommodate the legitimate interests of employers and promote equal employment opportunity for men and women. This web page contains information and links to: (1) laws and regulations, (2) facts sheets, (3) compliance guides for employers, (4) answers to common questions about the FMLA, and much more.
By: U.S. Department of Labor
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Apply for CAPS (Child and Parent Services)
(Separate Website)
When parents are working, they need reliable, affordable childcare in their communities. For some families, the cost of childcare is a burden that makes it hard to pay all of the bills.
The Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program helps families in Georgia pay for early childhood and school age care and education programs. Parents or guardians who have a limited income and are working, attending school, or in training may qualify to receive subsidized child care. Subsidized care is available for children from age birth to age 13 or up to age 18 if the child has special needs.
By: Department of Family and Children Services
Benefits For Children (Social Security)
(Separate Website)
This page outlines what Social Security's benefits for children are and who qualifies to receive them
By: Social Security Administration
Read this in:
Chinese / 中文
,
Russian / Pусский
,
Spanish / Español
Child and Dependent Care Credit
(Separate Website)
If you paid someone to care for a child or a dependent so you could work, you may be able to reduce your tax by claiming the credit for child and dependent care expenses on your federal income tax return, according to the IRS.
By: Internal Revenue Service
EarnBenefits Online
(Separate Website)
Find out about childcare subsidies and other benefits that might help your family
By: Seedco
Frequently Asked Tax Questions About the Child Care Credit
(Separate Website)
This web page answers common questions about tax credits that you can claim on your tax filings relating to child care expenses.
By: Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Frequently Asked Tax Questions About the Earned Income Tax Credit
(Separate Website)
This web page answers common questions about the Earned Income Tax Credit for families with children.
By: Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
$50 Supplement and Emergency Cash Grant for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
The DFCS will provide assistance for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. This document explains what this assistance is and how to get it.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Linking Child Care Development and Housing Development: Tools for Child Care Providers and Advocates
(Separate Website)
Linking Child Care Development and Housing Development: Tools for Child Care Providers and Advocates, a discussion of policy collaborations and development partnerships between the fields of child care and housing development.
By: National Economic Development and Law Center
Can I get alimony?
(Separate Website)
Alimony is money for support paid to a spouse by the other spouse. Click to read more about laws with regard to alimony.
Other Formats:
Word File
Can I get alimony?
(Separate Website)
A breif audio explanation ...
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Can I continue to receive health insurance for myself and my children?
(Separate Website)
You can ask the court to order your spouse to provide health insurance for the children. If you want health insurance coverage for yourself, some laws let you continue receiving health insurance coverage (COBRA). Click for more information.
Other Formats:
Word File
FAQs on Georgia's New Child Support Law
Frequently Asked Questions on Georgia's new child support laws (effective 1/01/2007).
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.
Child Support Calculator
(Separate Website)
This is an online child support calculator developed by the Georgia Department of Human Services to help you complete the child support worksheets required in family law cases.
By: Division of Child Support Services
The Georgia Child Support Law Details the 2007 child support law for the state of Georgia
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Office of Child Support Enforcement Handbook
(Separate Website)
This guide has information about the Child Support (CSE) Program and services that are available to you.
By: U.S. Deparment of Health and Human Services
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Calculating Child Support Step by step instructions for calculating child support under Georgia's 2007 child support law.
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.
Child Support in Georgia Under new (2007) Georgia law,
courts will consider the income of both
parents. The court will also look at the best
interest of the children.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Can my spouse and I agree to have no child support?
(Separate Website)
A brief audio explanation ...
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Can my spouse and I agree to have no child support?
(Separate Website)
No. Child support belongs to the children; not the parents. For that reason, parents may not give up child support.
Other Formats:
Word File
Basic Rights of Parents
This document discusses the basic of rights of parents under the law, excerpted from An Introduction to Law in Georgia, Fourth Edition, published by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, 1998 (updated 2004).
By: Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Child Support Enforcement Fact Sheet
(Separate Website)
This web page contains additional information about the child support enforcement process.
By: Office of Child Support Enforcement
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
This material is copyrighted by the authoring organization or individual. Legal information can change rapidly. Provided links are kept updated, permission is given to link to this material from a nonprofit, court or government website. Website material may be printed, copied and distributed only in its original format for non-commercial, informational purposes. The material may not be altered from its original format. Reproducing the material to promote a commercial purpose is expressly prohibited. Commercial enterprises are expressly forbidden from linking to our material or using our material in other ways. Legal Aid and GLSP are not liable for the distribution of out-of-date material or links. To inquire about appropriate use of this material, please contact 404-524-5811.
Information Not Legal Advice
LegalAid-GA.org provides general information only. This is not legal advice and cannot replace legal advice. You can get legal advice only from a lawyer. Deadlines are extremely important in most legal matters. You may lose important legal rights if you do not hire an attorney immediately to advise you. Viewing this web site or sending an e-mail message through this web site does NOT create an attorney-client relationship.
LegalAid-GA is a project of the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, the Georgia Legal Services Program and the Pro Bono Project of the State Bar of Georgia. This website was produced with funding from the Legal Services Corporation.
Home Page
Intake Workers
(Separate Website)
Word File
Choose Another Location 
