Social Worker Services Available to Parent Attorneys

Available starting September 1, 2009, parent attorneys in the state of Georgia may access a social worker for phone- and email-based advising and recommendation services. The social worker is available in a limited capacity for 10 hours per week, and all requests for services must be made through an email submission form. The social worker will then review your request for services and respond in a timely manner.

Services offered include:

•    Information/orientation on the deprivation process;
•    Advisement on the obtainment of court ordered services
•    Assistance in locating relevant child welfare research
•    Assistance in researching DFCS Policies and Procedures
•    Assistance in locating expert services
•    Assistance in the interpretation of psychosocial assessments
•    Other research, advisory or recommendation based services as needed.

Please Note:
Social worker services are available in a limited capacity, and are currently in a pilot phase. While every effort will be made to assist parent attorneys with their requests, there may be circumstances where the social worker is unable to do so.

Additionally, the social worker is not available for home visits or investigations, and the social worker is unavailable for court appearances. Please keep that in mind when requesting services. These services are for the development of an attorney’s strategy or practice, and therefore the social worker is unavailable to provide testimony in court.

To make a request, please fill out the Request for Social Work Services form and include it with your email submission.

You may contact the social worker at childfamilypolicy@cviog.uga.edu.

This is a pilot program that will run from September 2009 through January 2010.