Board of Family and Children Services
Georgia Law requires the State Department of Human Services to provide public assistance services to those in need in each of the counties, including the organization and supervision of a County Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) to administer public assistance functions and compile public assistance information. The County DFCS is the State Agency charged with the administration of all forms of public assistance at the County level. DFCS consists of a Board, a Director, and such additional employees as necessary. The Board is made up of five members appointed to five-year overlapping terms by the County Governing Authority. No elected official of the state or any political subdivision can be appointed, and vacancies are filled for the remainder of the term in the same manner as are original appointments. Members of the Board serve without compensation except that they shall be paid, subject to county budget limits, a per diem as provided in State Law and shall be reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. The County Director is the Executive and Administrative Officer and Secretary to the Board and is a State Employee appointed, from a list of qualified candidates provided by the Board, by the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services. The County DFCS staff members are state employees subject to the approval of the Department of Human Services Commissioner.