June 2006
Wednesday's Child Annual Celebration
June 19, 2006 - On Wednesday, June 21, 2006, the Department of Human Resources (DHR) and the Freddie Mac Foundation will celebrate six years of success for the Wednesday’s Child Program in Georgia. Each week, children waiting for adoption are profiled on WAGA-TV, a segment known as Wednesday’s Child. The segment is hosted by news anchor Amanda Davis. During these broadcasts viewers are encouraged to help these children find homes.
Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgement encouraged
June 22, 2006 - Last year, the fathers of 61 percent of 57,442 children born in Georgia to unmarried parents put their names on their children’s birth certificates by filling out forms provided at the birthing hospital through the Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgement Program administered by the Department of Human Resources Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) through a contract with Policy Studies, Inc., in partnership with the hospitals and the Division of Public Health’s Vital Records Office.
Scholarships to be awarded for Children in Foster Care
June 9, 2006 - On June 14th the “Celebration of Excellence” will award scholarships to twenty five current and former Georgia foster kids as they enter college or graduate school. The Celebration of Excellence will also honor those children in foster care who are graduating from high school, GED program, vocational school or college.
Lack of physical activity top public health problem in Georgia
June 28, 2006 - According to the 2006 Georgia Physical Activity Surveillance Report, an estimated 3,500 Georgians die every year because they do not get enough physical activity.
Georgiacares program helps individuals understand their Medicare Part D plan choices
June 23, 2006 - Individuals who were challenged with evaluating Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit plan options and identifying the best plan to enroll in are now faced with deciding what to do next. Anyone with questions about their prescription drug benefit choice can call a GeorgiaCares counselor for help in understanding the plan they chose.
GeorgiaCares encourages seniors to "Go Direct" with direct deposit
June 8, 2006 - More seniors could be benefiting from direct deposit by allowing their Social Security checks to go directly to the bank, according to GeorgiaCares, a program of the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Aging Services (DAS).
GeorgiaCares Senior Medicare Patrol Project reaches over 32,000
June 1, 2006 - A state program that educates seniors on detecting, preventing and reporting of health care errors, fraud and abuse, reached more than 32,000 people in state fiscal year 2005. The Department of Human Resources Division of Aging Services’ (DAS) GeorgiaCares Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) reached 32,113 people through health fairs, presentations and other educational outreach events.
Fatherhood Program to find and reward "Golden Dads" at Agrirama, Georgia's Museum of Agriculture
June 2, 2006 – On Saturday, June 10, the weekend before Father’s Day, the Georgia Fatherhood Program will visit the Agrirama, Georgia' Museum of Agriculture, in Tifton, in search of fathers who are spending quality time with their children and honor them as "Golden Dads™." Volunteers will roam the facility from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. with the goal of finding 25 "dads to catch."
Fatherhood Program to find and reward "Golden Dads"
June 1, 2006 - On Saturday, June 10, the weekend before Father’s Day, the Georgia Fatherhood Program will scour Georgia Veterans’ Memorial State Park in search of fathers who are spending quality time with their children and honor them as "Golden Dads™." Volunteers will roam the park from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. with the goal of finding 25 "dads to catch."
DeKalb County parents behind on child support offered a chance to get back on track June 5-9
June 2, 2006 – Close to 5,000 DeKalb County parents who are at least nine months behind in their court-ordered child support payments have been invited to report to the Decatur office of the Georgia Department of Human Resources Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) June 5 - 9 and make a payment in order to avoid having legal actions taken against them. The parents must meet with OCSS staff, pay a minimum amount and work out payment schedules to eliminate their arrears.
DHR’s H.A.L.T. Tuberculosis Now! campaign wins national award
June 20, 2006 - The Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health (DHR) won a second place 2006 Bronze Telly Award for its H.A.L.T. Tuberculosis Now! campaign's community outreach video. The 27th annual Telly Awards selection committee chose DHR’s educational video from among 12,000 entries nationwide.
DHR recommends learning fireworks safety
June 30, 2006 - To ensure a safer holiday experience, Dr. Stuart Brown, director, of the Georgia Department of Human Resources’ Division of Public Health strongly recommends that parents and guardians learn how to properly and safely handle fire works during the Independence Day Celebrations.
DHR observes First Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
June 9, 2006 - The first annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day will be celebrated around the globe June 15, 2006 to recognize elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. The Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Aging Services (DAS) will join other states, countries and the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) in recognizing, honoring and raising awareness of persons 65 and older who suffer in silence because of abuse, neglect or exploitation.
DHR launches first state-wide access line for Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Care Services
June 29, 2006 - Effective July 1, the State of Georgia will have a single toll-free phone number that people can call 24 hours, seven days a week , and be connected to local services for mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse. The Georgia Crisis & Access Line (GCAL), 1-800-715-4225, is the first state-wide access number and is funded by the Department of Human Resources (DHR) Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases (MHDDAD).
DHR increases HIV testing by thirty percent - HIV Testing Day is June 27
June 23, 2006 – June 27th is National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) and the Georgia Department of Human Resources is using this observance to enhance state efforts to prevent and reduce the transmission of HIV.
DHR encourages vigilance for child safety during summer
June 30, 2006 - With summer upon us, and children out of school, the Department of Human Resources urges parents to remain vigilant in order to keep kids safe. The summer can be a time for fun and recreation, but can also pose serious health and safety risks for children of all ages.
DHR encourages consumers to plan for long-term care
June 16, 2006 - (Guest editorial) In his article "Families look to lessen financial burden of long-term care" (6/12/06), Dave Williams brought much needed attention to the issue of long-term care insurance. The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) encourages consumers to start planning for long-term care early. DHR’s Division of Aging Services operates the Georgia-Cares Lifelong Planning Program, a public-private partnership that helps consumers plan for their long-term care future.
DHR announces summer cooling assistance
June 5, 2006 - For the first time since 2000, the Department of Human Resources (DHR) is providing cooling assistance for low income Georgians through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). With the allocation of $4.1 million by Governor Perdue, along with additional Federal funding, the state of Georgia has received $54 million for Energy Assistance.
DHR announces Georgia Public Guardians training
June 13, 2006 - Each year, many at-risk Georgians find themselves in situations where they are in need of a guardian but don’t have a family member, friend or another person who is willing or able to act as their guardian. The Georgia General Assembly amended Georgia law last year to create public guardians to fill this need.
DHR Sponsors initiatives to support vulnerable families in Augusta
June 20, 2006-ATLANTA (GA) – This summer the Department of Human Resources (DHR) is announcing over $3.1 million in funding for a series of initiatives to support vulnerable families and children in the Augusta area. DHR will provide funding to help meet the cooling needs of low income families; sponsor a summer youth program to provide young people with productive activities that stress recreation and learning; and implementation of a statewide crisis and access line for Georgians seeking mental health, developmental disability and behavioral health services.
DHR Board to meet June 21
June 16, 2006 - The Board of Human Resources will hold its official monthly meeting from 1:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 21, in room 612, Augusta Technical College, 3200 Tech Drive, Augusta, Georgia 30906.
Camp Earthling provides a week of summer fun for foster kids
June 9, 2006 - There are many children in Georgia who are in the custody of the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Because these children these children need a summer break as much as their foster parents need a period of rest, Camp Earthling was founded.
Board of Human Resources to hold a Budget Hearing in Augusta
June 7, 2006 – The Board of Human Resources, which oversees and sets policy for the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR), is seeking public input as the agency and its board plan for the SFY 2008 budget. The Board has been holding a series of budget hearings across the state during May and June for members of the public to provide the Board of Human Resources with comments on the services they feel are important for DHR to provide in SFY 2008.
'One Church One Child' to sponsor foster adoption fair
June 2, 2006 - On June 24th, One Church One Child of Georgia will sponsor a Foster Care and Adoption Resource Fair. This resource fair will provide information to prospective foster and adoptive parents on the needs of children in state custody.
'Celebration of Excellence' to honor youth in foster care
June 2, 2006 – The 14th Annual "Celebration of Excellence" will be held on June 14, 2006, at the Fox Theater in Atlanta. This event is designed to recognize the academic achievements of youths in foster care who are graduating from high school, GED program, vocational school, or college. The Celebration of Excellence will also provide over $92,000 in scholarships to selected youth who are continuing their education.
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