There were more than 15,000 children in foster care in Georgia as of May, according to the state’s Division of Family and Children Services.

Georgia was on track to have 18,000 children in foster care this summer; however, the number has dropped since May to just above 14,500 in foster care by mid-August, according to state officials.

The numbers are sadly a new high in the number of foster children in the state.

Jeff Lukich, who is the chief of staff for the state Division of Family and Children Services, said several factors likely drove the increase, including a rise in substance abuse among parents, a pair of high-profile child deaths that likely left caseworkers more cautious and a newly created 24-hour call center that made it easier for the public to report suspected child abuse and neglect, according to an article in the Tuesday, Sept. 4, edition of The Valdosta Daily Times.

“We were essentially adding 200 additional children in our system every month for almost 24 consecutive months,” Lukich said. “In the spring of 2016, we knew we had to do something.”

The children come from many backgrounds and situations.

They are children of all ages and races.

A great many of them have special needs, including teenagers, siblings and children with physical, emotional and/or behavioral disabilities.

The Division of Family and Children Services is tasked with assuring children are safe from abuse and neglect.

Dedicated caregivers are a critical part of fulfilling that mission.

DFCS has said in previous statements that once a determination is made it is not safe for a child to remain in the home of a parent or guardian, the child may be placed in foster care.

The foster-care program is designed to be a temporary home away from home while qualified professionals work with the family to address child-safety concerns.

DFCS said its goal is to return children safely to their families but adds the child’s safety comes before any other consideration.

DFCS has said the agency is always looking for what it has called “loving, safe and stable homes for the children who are brought into care.” The approval process can take up to 10 months and may require certifications, evaluations and a good bit of documentation.

Foster children may also benefit from certain therapeutic services as well as health and safety items that may include things such as car seats, booster seats and safety helmets.

In a perfect world, foster care would not be needed. 

In a perfect world, children would never be abused or neglected.

It is not a perfect world.

In our world, children are orphaned, sadly others are abandoned, abused and neglected, making foster care so important and foster families so needed and appreciated.

An increase in children needing foster care means there is an increase in the need for foster parents.

Do you have what it takes to be a foster parent? 

If so, the state and many Georgia children need you.