The head of Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services faced questions from lawmakers Wednesday over the agency’s multi-million dollar deficit.
As of last month, the department faced a projected shortfall of about $85 million by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, leading to restricted services for families and terminated contracts with nonprofits since November.
The department serves vulnerable children and families including by investigating abuse and neglect, administering aid like food assistance and managing foster care and adoption.
John DeGarmo is the founder of an advocacy group called the Foster Care Institute and a foster parent to more than 60 children in Georgia. He also runs a Facebook page for Georgia foster and adoptive parents with nearly 8,000 members.
DeGarmo said many of those members are foster parents looking for help right now.