Resources
The information provided on this resources page is a public service of the Barton Center. Nothing contained in these pages constitutes legal advice. Most links direct readers to sites independent of the Barton Center.
The Barton Center represents a small number of individual clients each year. Center faculty and students do not provide legal advice or legal services outside formal attorney-client relationships or formalized relationships with community partners. The Barton Center does not provide walk-in direct legal representation in individual cases. The resources below may direct you to information, resources, and contacts that may be helpful in your situation.
How Do I...
Apply for Financial Assistance from the Georgia Department of Human Services?
Many financial assistance programs are administered by the GA DHS. The DHS web site provides information about applying for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), food stamps, Medicaid, PeachCare, and child care assistance.
Contact the Georgia Office of the Child Advocate?
For assistance with concerns about a case involving the Division of Family and Children Services or a case that was handled by a juvenile court, contact the Georgia Office of the Child Advocate. That office is designed to oversee the agencies responsible for providing services to abused and neglected children and to advocate for needed changes in law and policy affecting children. The Office of the Child Advocate can be reached by calling 404-656-4200 or by visiting their web site at oca.georgia.gov. The office has an on-line complaint system for reporting concerns.
Find a Lawyer?
If you are in need of an attorney to assist you with a legal issue, we suggest that you contact your local community bar association for a lawyer referral. If you cannot afford a lawyer and you have a case pending in juvenile court, you may be entitled to a court-appointed lawyer.  Contact your juvenile court for additional information. The State Bar of Georgia provides some public information that may be helpful in finding a lawyer and has an online searchable directory of Georgia lawyers.
These resources may also be helpful:
Atlanta Legal Aid Society
Georgia Legal Services Program
LegalAid-GA
Find a State of Georgia Employee?
The Georgia Technology Authority maintains a searchable directory of state employees.
Look up Georgia Department of Human Services Policies?
The DHS policy manuals are housed in DHS's "On-line Directives Information System (ODIS)" in MS Word format.
Look Up Georgia Laws?
The Official Code of Georgia is available on the Georgia General Assembly web site.
Report Suspected Child Abuse?
The Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Family and Children Services web site provides information on reporting suspected child abuse and neglect:
How to report abuse or neglect
FAQ on reporting abuse or neglect
CPS After-Hours Call Center
In general, if a child is in immediate danger, contact the police immediately. If the child is not in immediate danger, a report of abuse or neglect should be made to the DFCS office in the county where the child lives. DHS has a list of county offices on their web site. For more information regarding child abuse and neglect visit DHS's web site.
Search for Registered Sex Offenders in Georgia?
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation maintains a searchable database of Georgia registered sex offenders. Registered sex offenders in other states may be found in this directory of state sex offender registries.
General Information Web Sites
- Georgia Department of Corrections Offenders Search
- Georgia Governor's Office, Customer Service: phone 1.800.georgia
- U.S. Census Bureau information
- United Way 211
Georgia Government Web Sites
- Bright from the Start, Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
- Case Plan Reporting System (CPRS)
- Child Policy Initiative, Georgia State University's Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
- Council of Juvenile Court Judges
- Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
- Department of Community Health
- Department of Education
- Department of Human Services
- DHS Division of Family and Children Services
- DHS-DFCS Family Violence in Georgia
- Department of Juvenile Justice
- Family Connection Partnership
- General Assembly (Georgia legislature)
- Governor's Office for Children and Families
- Project Healthy Grandparents
- The Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia
- Public Defender Standards Council
- Putative Father Registry
- Secretary of State
- Supreme Court of Georgia Committee on Justice for Children
- Systems of Care
Georgia Non-Governmental Organizations
- 2020Georgia
- A Future. Not a Past. (Georgia)
- Adoptive and Foster Parent Association of Georgia
- Celebration of Excellence
- Children's Advocacy Centers of Georgia
- Children's Restoration Network
- Communities in Schools Georgia
- Duluth Foster Children's Foundation, Inc.
- Families First
- Foster Care Support Foundation
- Georgia Advocacy Office
- Georgia Afterschool Investment Council
- Georgia Appleseed
- Georgia Association of Counsel for Children
- Georgia Association of Homes and Services for Children
- Georgia Budget and Policy Institute
- Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention
- Georgia Care Connection
- Georgia Center for Adoption Resources and Support
- Georgia Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics
- Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- Georgia Council on Substance Abuse
- Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates
- Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students
- Georgia Head Start Association
- Georgia Justice Project
- Georgia Parent Support Network
- Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education
- Georgia Psychological Association
- Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia
- Interfaith Children's Movement
- JUSTGeorgia
- Juvenile Justice Fund
- Marcus Autism Center
- Men Stopping Violence
- Mental Health America of Georgia
- Multi-Agency Alliance for Children
- Parent Attorney Advocacy Committee
- Smart Start
- Southern Juvenile Defender Center
- Southern Center for Human Rights
- Truancy Intervention Project
- Voices for Georgia's Children
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