Georgia’s child welfare agency spiraled into crisis amid an $85.7 million shortfall and although lawmakers voted to fill it, the impacts will last.

Department heads across state agencies began outlining their spending priorities this week in budgetary hearings hosted by the Georgia Senate and General Assembly.

The leader of the state agency that oversees Georgia’s foster care system says it will struggle to cope with a projected $85 million deficit in fiscal year 2026, which just under 10% of the Department of Human Services budget.  

Georgia Department of Human Services projects $85M shortfall for fiscal year 2026

A Georgia foster care advocacy group held a Thanksgiving dinner last week for young adults who recently aged out of the foster care system. 

A nonprofit formed to help administer a new state tax credit to support foster children aging out of the system is working against a tight deadline.

A legislative hearing about the “hoteling” of foster children in Georgia zeroed in the problems children in state custody face in getting health care.  

Some states allow children to be removed from their parents if they fail to pay the cost of foster care. But that can be hundreds of dollars a month, and it's often the poorest families who must pay.

A Hollywood production team is setting up temporary offices in downtown Macon to film a major motion picture backed by big names and benefactors that bankrolled the $8.5 million project.

Los Angeles County plans to ensure foster youth who get Social Security can use the money later, going against the common practice of child welfare agencies nationwide to use benefits to pay for care.