School Stability in Foster Care

Did you know that the law states DFCS must keep kids in the same schools they were in before they entered foster care? This law is known as the Fostering Connections Act of 2008.

Learn more about this federal law from a Foster Care & Education Brief at FosteringConnections.org

How many times did you change schools in foster care?

Juvenile Detention Centers are "No Place for Kids"

A report released from the Annie E. Casey Foundation on Tuesday says locking kids up in juvenile detention centers: 

Does NOT keep communities safer 

Does NOT keep kids from offending in the future

Wastes Money

Is NOT safe for kids

Please read more of the report No Place for Kids: The Case for Reducing Juvenile Incarceration and let us know your thoughts and opinions!

New Research Shows Importance of Youth Engagement

"Use strength-based planning processes that are directed by the young people themselves. Promote young people’s active engagement in all discussions and decisionmaking. Encourage young people to lead meetings whenever possible." Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative 

Do you agree with this recomendation based on a new report titled "The Adolescent Brain: New Research and Its Implications for Young People Transitioning From Foster Care"?

A Bill (but not on Capitol Hill!)

The Children's Code Rewrite is just a bill, BUT it's not sitting on capitol hill. That's because it is a Georgia bill, so it's sitting under the gold dome. Just like in this video, the Children's Code Rewrite wants to become a law! To learn more, read this press release by the JUSTGeorgia Coalition.

Team Meeting!!!

Did You Know: GA Youth in DJJ Care

Did you know there are 22,000 kids currently involved with Georgia's Department of Juvenile Justice?

There are 2,000 kids incarcerated in Georgia.


There are 20,000 kids on probation with the Department of Juvenile Justice in Georgia.


This is more than double the number of Georgia kids in foster care and about 3 times as many!!! Learn more from this article by the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange.

Juvenile Court Parties???

In the juvenile court, a Party means a person who is directly involved in a proceeding or court hearing. 

Did you know that HB 641, the Children's Code Rewrite, makes sure children and youth are included as parties in juvenile court hearings about them? 

Under the current Georgia juvenile code, children and youth are not included in the definition of who is a party to court proceedings and hearings. 

This is just one reason, EmpowerMEnt's JUSTGeorgia Team supports the Children's Code Rewrite!!!