Senate committee approves joint study on rising foster-care costs after advocates call for lived-experience members

The Georgia Senate Children and Families Committee approved a resolution to form a joint study committee to investigate rising foster-care costs and related problems at the Department of Human Services. The committee chair said SR 622 responds to a recent DHS budget deficit that has affected programs and services and asked the legislature to authorize a deeper review with House language matching the Senate.

Advocates urged that people with lived experience be part of the study committee. Devin Rudy Johnson of Georgia Empowerment told the panel that lived-experience voices "should be there to help drive the change," and Reginald Holloway, who said he has nearly 17 years of lived experience with Georgia's foster system, told members that "Nothing about us without us" should guide the committee's membership and work. Holloway argued that including lived-experience experts can reveal where spending produces little effect and where early investments might prevent higher costs later.

During opening remarks the chair listed likely contributors to rising costs, including higher costs for children with complex needs, delays in CMO approval for Medicare that left the department paying bills, and increasing court-ordered care directives. Darlene Lynch of Georgia Appleseed also testified on enrollment-related problems in counties; the committee then voted to approve SR 622 by unanimous voice/hand vote. The chair said she would work with the House to ensure the language exactly matches between chambers.