November 30, 2007 – After months of preparation and training, new food service regulations approved earlier this year by the Georgia Department of Human Resources are set to take effect December 1. With the new regulations, restaurants will receive a form that includes both a letter grade and numeric score. These forms, along with the two most recent restaurant inspections, must be visibly posted within 15 feet of the establishment’s main entrance and on drive-thru windows.
November 30, 2007 – In an effort to better support people with severe mental illness, the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) is partnering with leading mental health advocates in a first-ever mental health taskforce. The partnership will serve to improve quality of care and how services are delivered within statewide psychiatric hospitals and across local communities.
November 27, 2007 – Keith Horton has been named the new Director of the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS). Horton, who took the helm November 1, will be responsible for directing child support services throughout the state which includes locating non-custodial parents, confirming paternity, establishing and enforcing child support and medical support orders, and collecting and distributing payments.
November 27, 2007 – Columbus area parents who are behind on child support payments are being offered the opportunity to get back on track with their payments just in time for the holiday season. This opportunity, appropriately called Settlement Day, is being offered by the Georgia Department of Human Resources’ Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) and is extended to all parents with who are at least two months behind on their payments.
November 27, 2007 – The Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) will soon disconnect the Child Support Hotline in order to convert to a new telephone contact center. On December 1, OCSS will take each of the 39 published office numbers and direct them to one contact center. The new approach will offer OCSS customers the opportunity to access a central information center. This will allow members of the community to work with employees trained in call center techniques. Additionally, it will provide a faster, friendlier, easier way of doing business.
November 27, 2007 – The Georgia Department of Human Resources’ Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) welcomed a member of the National Football League (NFL) to its Fatherhood Program Orientation ceremony. At the orientation, Vernon Haynes of the Pittsburgh Steelers recently gave a motivational talk to 29 new Fatherhood Participants on the campus of Atlanta Technical College. Haynes described his journey as a single father and the struggles he has faced along the way.
November 27, 2007 – Across the state, older Georgians rely on family caregivers for support, but who can those caregivers turn to? Over the past year, the Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Aging Services (DAS) and the aging network have provided over 358,000 instances of help for such family caregivers, including respite care, adult day care, information and assistance, caregiver education and training sessions, care management, and material aid in the form of assisting with purchasing transportation, food or groceries.
November 27, 2007 – On November 30th, the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) located at 1 Courtland Street, Statesboro, Georgia will be closing. This closure is due to its relocation to its new office at 34 Hill Street, Statesboro, Georgia. Due to the relocation planned for early 2008, the current office will be closed during the months of December and January. All staff will be temporarily reassigned to other state offices in the surrounding area.
November 27, 2007 – South Georgia Circuit parents who are behind on child support payments are being offered the opportunity to get back on track with their payments just in time for the holiday season. This opportunity, appropriately called Settlement Day, is being offered by the Georgia Department of Human Resources’ Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) and is extended to all parents who are at least two months behind on their payments. Parents wishing to take advantage of this opportunity to resolve their child support obligations are asked to report to the Mitchell County Courthouse, West Broad St. Camilla GA 31730 on December 12, 2007. Parents who are unable to attend may send their payment to: Family Support Registry, P.O. Box 1600, Carrollton, GA 30112-1600.
November 27, 2007 – There are approximately 200 children in foster care in Clarke County and the Clarke County Department of Family and Children Services is working to make sure they have a cheerful and memorable holiday season. Beginning Friday, December 7, Clarke County will kick-off its "Angel Project" in partnership with WMLS Radio and to provide Christmas gifts for foster children in Athens and throughout the county.
November 27, 2007 – During National Influenza Vaccination Week (November 26 – December 2), the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health is reminding individuals that it is not too late to get vaccinated to protect against seasonal flu. Influenza, or the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness that hospitalizes more than 200,000 people each year and about 36,000 die from it.
November 26, 2007 – To close out National Adoption Month and enter into the holiday season, several South Georgia DFCS offices and community partners will take part in a Candle Light Ceremony Thursday, November 27 at 6:00 at the Tift County Courthouse at the corner of Tift Ave and 2nd Street in Tifton. Judge Jim McCorvey, Chief Justice of Tift Judicial Court will be the keynote speaker.
November 19, 2007 – Cobb County parents who are behind on child support payments are being offered the opportunity to get back on track with their payments just in time for the holiday season. This opportunity, appropriately called Settlement Day, is being offered by the Georgia Department of Human Resources’ Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) and is extended to all parents with who are at least two months behind on their payments.
November 15, 2007 – There are more than 5 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and an estimated 11 to 16 million will have Alzheimer’s by the year 2050. Over 160,000 people in Georgia have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and 70 percent of them are cared for at home. November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and the Department of Human Resources Division of Aging Services (DAS) urges Georgians to reflect on those suffering from the disease, their families, and caregivers.
November 14, 2007 – The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR), Division of Public Health (DPH) received more than $1.9 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to increase testing and early diagnosis of HIV among African-Americans. Of Georgia’s 2005 new HIV cases, African-Americans accounted for 79 percent of the diagnoses. This is the first time the CDC has given funds to the Division Public Health specifically to increase HIV testing among populations disproportionately affected by the disease.
November 14, 2007 – November is National Diabetes Month. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death and it affects millions of Americans of all ages. There isn’t a cure yet, but it can be managed by individuals taking an active role in their own health. Nationally, there are 20.8 million children and adults with diabetes. The disease affects 10.3 million aged 60 or older, or 20.9 percent of all people in this age group, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Diabetes Fact Sheet. The Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Aging Services (DAS) is offering tips to help older adults manage their diabetes.
November 13, 2007 - Over the last few years, Georgians with developmental disabilities have benefitted from the most community resources in the Department of Human Resource (DHR) history. In addition, the number of children admitted into Georgia state hospitals has decreased by 50% due to an increase in crisis stabilization services and in-home supports. Increasing the number and quality of community services for vulnerable populations, including the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, is one of five key goals of DHR.
November 8, 2007 – Adoption will take center stage in Savannah Sunday, November 11 at noon at the Chatham County Department of Family and Children Services’ "One Church, One Child" celebration of adoption. The program will highlight the specific efforts of adoption awareness in churches, based on the concept that if one family in every congregation adopted one child, there would be no more children waiting for adoption. The event, which is open to the public, will be at Smryna Missionary Baptist Church, 1501 Burroughs St., in Savannah.
November 8, 2007 – The month of November is celebrated as National Adoption Month and DHR’s Division of Family and Children Services Adoption Unit is focusing its efforts this month on raising awareness about the specific needs of children in foster care. Throughout the month of November, DFCS’ Adoptions Unit will provide numerous opportunities for the community to learn about the thousands of children in state care who are waiting to be adopted.
November 8, 2007 ATLANTA (GA) - On, Tuesday, October 30th, the Department of Human Resources (DHR) was awarded the Governor's Customer Service Agency of the Year Award. The Governor announced and presented the award to Commissioner B.J. Walker, before an audience of leaders from state agencies. In addition to the overall award, several DHR Divisions, Offices, and employees won awards. The Office of Child Support Services was awarded the Outstanding Team Customer Service Improvement Initiative, the Georgia Immunization Program of the Division of Public Health was awarded the Team Customer Service Attribute Award, the Cancer State Aid Program of the Division of Public Health was awarded the Team Customer Service Attribute Award of the Year, and Trina Norwood from Washington County DFCS was awarded the Individual Customer Service Attribute Award.
November 8, 2007 - The Board of Human Resources will hold its official monthly meeting at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14, in room 29.250, Two Peachtree Street N.W. in Atlanta, immediately following a review of the morning committee meetings.
Novermber 8, 2007 - The Division of Aging Services (DAS) GeorgiaCares program is encouraging Medicare beneficiaries to contact their State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) before making any changes to their prescription drug plan or health care insurance. SHIP can provide information about all options available to help them make the most informed decision. Medicare Part D open enrollment starts November 15, 2007.
November 8, 2007 - Due to advances in medicine and technology, people with developmental disabilities are living longer - making the role of family caregiver ever more important. According to the National Alliance of Caregiving, the value of family caregiving is estimated at $257 billion annually. National Family Caregivers Month is an annual observance to recognize and thank the 50 million family caregivers who support loved ones with chronic illness or disabilities. Each year, the Georgia Department of Human Resources' (DHR) State Office of Developmental Disabilities serves approximately 15,000 people with disabilities and provides their families with respite and in-home support services in an effort to keep families together. National Family Caregiver's Month in Georgia will be recognized November 14 by the Board of Human Resources.
November 8, 2007 – Oconee District parents who are behind on child support payments are being offered the opportunity to get back on track with their payments just in time for the holiday season. This opportunity, appropriately called Settlement Day, is being offered by the Georgia Department of Human Resources’ Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) and is extended to all parents with who are at least two months behind on their payments.
November 8, 2007 – The Camilla Office of Child Support Services, in partnership with the Council on Aging, is working to establish a support group to provide emotional support and resource information to help grandparents and other relatives raising children that are not their own. Through this program, titled Kinship Care, OCSS will provide grandparents and other relatives with services that can help bring income into the homes of Georgia’s children.
November 7, 2007 – October, November and December are the typical months that seniors become prey to Medicare scams because of open enroll for Medicare Part D prescription drug options. The Department of Human Resources Division of Aging Services (DAS) GeorgiaCares program urges seniors to be aware of Medicare scams this season. They should be cautious of anyone who calls claiming that they are from Social Security or Medicare and requesting their social security or bank routing numbers , because Medicare and Medicaid do not participate in telemarketing or door-to-door sales.