I was thoroughly surprised that Georgia did not have a data record system of kids in their foster program fifteen years ago.  I was shocked to learn that African American males were the most at risk for dying from abuse than females of various races.  I was also surprised to learn that the number of foster care cases in Georgia has decreased through the years.  I was delighted that Georgia had one of the best child welfare rates throughout the nation. I think that additional state funding should be allocated to departments that improve the services available for children, families and reunification.

I learned that majority of cases received are child protective cases and not foster care cases. I learned that placing children in foster care was often a last resort that the state chooses to take.  The presentation stated that quarterly reports are created to monitor serious injury or child abuse reports. That updated information is an attribution to the success of Georgia’s Child Welfare system  in saving and improving lives. Consistent data along with the new child welfare reform council will continue to help the services, practices, and decrease the challenges the youth face in our state.  Lastly, I found it interesting that feedback from the media with child abuse deaths or abuse was the mechanism that prompted child investigations to be reported and monitored.

I think all the streams of policy were evident with the process of social policy creation. There were a few bills that were passed that improved the safety and funding for children or children’s services. For example, Senate Bill 282 was a child support bill that would improve the calculation of payments to children was developed. Another monetary bill, House Bill 797 would continue to provide victim compensation to sexual assault victims up until the age of 21 was helpful.  The passing of the bills above support that public interest is influential and window opportunities can create policy. Political power and principles were also demonstrated with the child welfare and child medical marijuana bills failing to pass. Both bills were created to improve the health and safety of children in the state. It has been stated that the bills failed to pass due to the upcoming elections influencing legislators with seniority and their voting decision/power. Campaign funding promoting an opposite cause was a reason why House Bill 914, a child welfare bill failed.  The failure of policy creation that would improve children and families lives was evident that children’s best interests are not always put first, especially if it is not the shared political ideology among legislators. Governor Deal creating the Child Welfare Reform Council through an executive order, demonstrated the power he has when it came to the reporting of child abuse and DFACs system. The council was created because the House and Senate bodies were politically fighting against each other to express a point, resulting in children continuing to suffer.

To improve the creation of social policy in the area of child welfare I think that child welfare advocacy would be most significant.  Advocacy to stakeholders, different forms of the media (newspapers, magazines, news broadcasts, etc.) and policy makers of critical data would need to be introduced. Providing alarming data may positively change lives and communities for the present and the future.