Fast, current, printable.
Built for the phone in the parking lot between home visits. Numbers, forms, referral resources, and policy links — no marketing, no scrolling past hero images. Bookmark this page.
The numbers you actually dial
Foster411.org/caseworkers · print me, tape me to a cubicle| Number | Who answers | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| 988 / 1-800-715-4225 | GCAL (24/7) | Mental health or substance-use crisis; dispatches mobile crisis to placements |
| 1-855-422-4453 | CPS Intake (24/7) | Abuse/neglect reports; after-hours intake center |
| 1-800-764-1017 | SHINES Help Desk | System lockouts, portal & case-record issues |
| 1-855-661-2021 | Georgia Families 360° | 24/7 member intake — new placement Medicaid questions (Amerigroup-era number; will change with the CMO transition) |
| 1-866-272-7368 | GACRS | Free training, support groups & respite referrals for your families |
| 1-877-804-6610 | AFPAG advocacy | Foster parents needing an advocate in investigations/grievances |
| 1-877-210-5437 | 1-877-210-KIDS | Recruitment referrals — someone asks "how do I foster?" |
Referrals by county, sharable by link.
Every directory filter is a URL. Pull up free clothing in Bibb County, text the link to your foster parent, done. Filters persist so you can bookmark your county's set.
The forms shortlist
The handful of forms that cover 90% of family questions, each with plain-language "when to use." Links go to the official ODIS/DFCS source — we never host stale copies.
| Form | When to use it | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Travel approval request | Foster child traveling out of state — needs DFCS pre-approval plus written authorization from the parent(s) and/or the juvenile court, depending on the case. Start weeks ahead. | Policy → |
| Respite care request | Up to 10 days per fiscal year at the child's per diem; requires prior case-manager approval. | Policy → |
| Initial clothing allowance | New placement arrived with nothing — file in the first week; separate from per diem. | Policy → |
| CCFA referral | Comprehensive Child & Family Assessment — starts the trauma/therapy pipeline. File early; waitlists are real. | Policy → |
| ICPC packet | Any placement across state lines. Set family expectations: months, not weeks. | Policy → |
Form names shown are illustrative for this mockup — the live shortlist will use exact ODIS form numbers, curated with worker input.
Policy, deep-linked
Straight into the PAMMS chapter you need — with the date we last confirmed the link and section number still hold.
§16.5 · Per diem
Board rates, specialized per diem requests.
Verified Jul 2026§22.4 + §22.6 · Kinship
Home evaluation (22.4); non-safety waivers (22.6). Safety standards are never waiver-able.
Verified Jul 2, 2026§14.8–14.9 · Training
NTDC pre-service; 15-hour annual CPD requirement.
Verified Jun 2026Ch. 6 · Special investigations
Maltreatment-in-care process, step by step (§6.3: foster & adoptive homes).
Verified Jul 2, 2026Ch. 13 · Independent living
ILP eligibility, EYSS/Connected by 21, ETV.
Verified Jul 2026Ch. 17 · Court process
Hearing timelines and DFCS responsibilities.
Re-verification dueCaregiver short on CPD hours (§14.9)? Point them to free courses at Foster411 Training.
New to the job?
Most Georgia case managers have been in the role under five years, and nobody hands you a map. Our field cheat-sheet covers PAMMS geography, SHINES survival tips, and the deadlines that bite.
This work is heavy.
Secondary trauma is an occupational reality, not a personal failing. While we build the Georgia-specific supports guide, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network's introduction is free and worth ten minutes before you think you need it.
You're our best editors.
Spot a dead number, a closed program, a form that changed? Workers keep this site honest — reports get a human review within the week.