Department of Human Services receives $200K Child Welfare Research Training or Demonstration grant from the Administration for Children and Families

Georgia Department Of Human Services fingerprinting infrastructure modernization for child welfare - the Georgia Department Of Human Services (DHS) proposes to implement a modern fingerprinting and background check workflow, supported by enhanced technical tools and improved external responses available in all of Georgia’s 159 counties as a statewide solution. Georgia serves over 9,900 foster children daily and supported more than 28,000 background checks annually as DHS administers over $1.09 billion in state and federal funds to support child welfare and out of home care services. Serving over 14,000 children annually, Georgia has identified over the last four years a significant lag in the processing of fingerprint background check processing timeframes creating delays in getting qualified caregivers approved as part of a placement, provider hiring, or contracting process. A major issue that has affected the agency’s background process is a change in the Georgia state biometric vendor that removed capabilities such as batch printing, and report generation options that were used to ensure records are received, processed, and accounted for in a timely manner. DHS expects the requirement for additional background checks to grow as the provider landscape continues to change. It has become necessary for the agency to seek ways to improve the timeliness, efficiency, and accuracy of background check determinations to meet placement needs of children in care. Georgia’s proposal will support meeting goals by allowing the agency to interface with the state vendor directly, which will process the “no criminal” record responses received, determined, and delivered in a lights-out manner. Georgia’s proposal will eliminate the need for background personnel interaction on “no criminal” cases and leave additional time and resources to fully review those candidates that have a criminal record and need clear and accurate examination to provide careful review over those delivering services to children the agency is obligated to protect. Specifically, Georgia’s proposal will build a thin layer interface from the existing fingerprint background check processing providers that integrates more seamlessly into clearance reporting.