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NE-YO to appear at 14th annual ‘Celebrating Adoption’ event
November 19, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – Recording artist Ne-Yo is scheduled to help the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) raise awareness about the importance of adopting during the 14th Annual “Celebrating Adoption” event. The event will take place on Saturday, November 21 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Helene Mills Center at 515 John Wesley Avenue in Atlanta. Ne-Yo is a well-known Atlanta resident who is the founder of the Compound Foundation, Inc., one of the event co-sponsors.

DHS board to meet Wednesday, November 18
November 16, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – The Board of Human Services will hold its official monthly meeting at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 18, 2009, in room 29.250, Two Peachtree Street N.W. in Atlanta.

Workshop will show public how to obtain stimulus funds
November 10, 2009 -

ATLANTA (GA) – The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) is holding a stimulus workshop on Thursday, November 12, 2009, at Salem Bible Church in Atlanta, Georgia. The public is invited to attend and learn how to obtain access to federal stimulus funds.

DHS energy assistance program helps Georgians with their home heating bills
November 6, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – As the colder winter months approach, the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) will once again help Georgians struggling to keep up with the cost of heating their homes.

November is national Alzheimer's disease awareness month
October 30, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – There are nearly 120,000 Georgians suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and that number is expected to rise to 160,000 by the year 2025. November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Aging Services (DAS) encourages Georgians to know the warning signs of Alzheimer’s so they can get treatment as soon as possible.

Families meet children in-person or by videoconference at adoption event
October 29, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – Prospective adoptive families will have an opportunity to meet approximately 20 children, each with the hope of finding a permanent family, at an adoption gathering on Saturday, November 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Jim Huie Recreation Center in Jonesboro.

Temporary child care assistance program targets families affected by recession
October 28, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) has created a new federally funded program called Temporary Child Care Assistance (TCCA) that will be operated under the state’s Child Care Program. The program, which ends in September 2010, will provide time-limited assistance with child care costs for families that qualify.

DHS board to meet Wednesday, October 21
October 20, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – The Board of Human Services will hold its official monthly meeting at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2009, in room 29.250, Two Peachtree Street N.W. in Atlanta.

DHS to hold public budget hearing in Macon
October 14, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) will hold a public budget hearing regarding budget proposals for state fiscal years 2010 and 2011 on Thursday, October 15, 2009, in Macon, Georgia.

Georgia celebrates new era of Human Services
October 5, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – The next generation of human services in Georgia will be the focus of Human Services Day on Thursday, October 8, 2009, at the Georgia State Capitol. The celebration, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the Mezzanine Floor of the Capitol’s South Wing, marks the first 100 days of the new Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS). DHS was formed in July 2009 after Governor Sonny Perdue reorganized the former Georgia Department of Human Resources.

Families meet children in-person or by videoconference at adoption event
October 2, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – Prospective adoptive families will have an opportunity to meet approximately 20 children, each with the hope of finding a permanent family, at an adoption gathering on Saturday, October 17, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Cherokee Retreat Center in White.

Flood victims can replace damaged food stamp supplies
October 2, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – Anyone who lost food supplies obtained with Georgia food stamps as a result of the September 18 - 26 flooding can get replacement provisions by visiting their local Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) office.

Georgia fatherhood program to host Duluth career fair
September 18, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – On Wednesday, September 30, 2009, the Georgia Fatherhood Program, a division of the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Child Support Services (OCSS), will sponsor a career fair to provide new career opportunities. The career fair, which is open to all job seekers, will be held at the Goodwill of North Georgia located at 1502 Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth, Georgia, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attendees are asked to dress professionally and be prepared to interview immediately on site.

DHS board to meet Wednesday, September 16
September 14, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – The Board of Human Services will hold its official monthly meeting at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16, 2009, in room 29.250, Two Peachtree Street N.W. in Atlanta.

DHS among ‘best employers for workers over 50’
September 11, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) was recently named among the Best Employers for Workers Over 50 by AARP. The agency demonstrated exemplary practices for recruiting, retaining and promoting older workers.

Georgia Division of Aging Services recognized for organizational excellence
September 11, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Aging Services (DAS) is only one step away from winning Georgia’s highest award for organizational performance excellence.

DHS furlough plan will not affect critical services
August 28, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – As the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) prepares to close operations on state-mandated furlough days, critical human services like child welfare and adult protective services will still be available throughout Georgia during the scheduled closings.

DHS board holds special budget meeting on August 27
August 25, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – The Board of the Department of Human Services will hold a Special Call Meeting on Thursday, August 27, at 3 p.m. to vote on the proposed Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) fiscal year 2010 amended budget and the fiscal year 2011 budget. The budgets will be submitted to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) on September 1, 2009.

Number of OCSS agents nearly doubles as service demands increase
August 20, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) has nearly doubled the number of child support agents in response to an increased demand for services. OCSS recently added 21 new agents to the state’s Fatherhood Program as the number of non-custodial parents receiving unemployment benefits has quadrupled since 2008. The agents will help non-custodial parents who face various economic barriers find jobs so they can pay child support.

DHS holds first official board meeting of fiscal year
August 17, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – The Board of the Department of Human Services will hold its first official monthly meeting at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, 2009, in room 29.250, Two Peachtree Street N.W. in Atlanta.

Georgia seniors enter nursing homes later in life thanks to nutritional wellness program
August 14, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – Results from a study on the impact of a Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Aging Services (DAS) nutritional wellness program reveals older Georgians are staying in their own homes longer before having to enter a nursing home.

DFCS case worker Rita Goodman receives National Adoption Award
August 13, 2009 - ATLANTA (GA) – Rita Goodman, a Clayton County adoption case manager for the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), has received the prestigious Adoption Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for her successful work with Georgia’s foster children.

Families meet children in-person or by videoconference at adoption event
ATLANTA (GA) – Prospective adoptive families will have an opportunity to meet approximately 20 children, each with the hope of finding a permanent family, at an adoption gathering on Saturday, August 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Macon State College in Macon.

DHS seeks public comment on community sevices block grant (CSBG) American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Fund Plan
ATLANTA (GA) – On July 27, the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) will hold a public hearing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to hear public comment on the provisions of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Funding as required by federal regulations.

DHS Debuts July 2009
July 1, 2009 – As of July 1, 2009, the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) began serving Georgians as the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS).

DHR receives Food Stamp Outreach Award
June 22, 2009 – The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) has received an award for Outreach and Access Excellence by officials from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service for the agency’s efforts to provide Georgians access to the Food Stamp program.

Get tested for HIV on June 27
June 22, 2009 – The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) Division of Public Health (DPH) urges citizens across Georgia to get tested for HIV on June 27 - National HIV Testing Day (NHTD).

Georgia achieves highest marks yet on child welfare report
June 19, 2009 – Georgia has received its highest marks yet for improving child welfare in Fulton and DeKalb counties in a report released today by court monitors tracking the State’s progress in fulfilling the provisions of the “Kenny A.” consent decree.

WIC wants to hear from you
June 12, 2009 – The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) is pleased to announce that the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) will hold its annual public comment beginning June 20.

DHR Board to meet Wednesday, June 17, 2009 in Atlanta
June 12, 2009 – The Board of Human Resources will hold its official monthly meeting at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2009, in room 29.250, Two Peachtree Street N.W. in Atlanta.

GDPH response to global pandemic announcement
June 11, 2009 – Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel H1N1 outbreak a global pandemic. The WHO level is based on regional spread of the disease and not on the severity of the novel virus. Research has shown the virus can affect people of different backgrounds but if treated promptly patients can recover.

DHR observes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
June 4, 2009 - The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) Division of Aging Services (DAS) encourages Georgians to wear purple on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15. People worldwide will be wearing purple to show that elder abuse is a global problem. The annual observation recognizes, honors and raises awareness of disabled adults and persons 65 and older who suffer in silence because of abuse, neglect or exploitation.

Update on novel H1N1 virus in Georgia
May 20, 2009 - The Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health announced today that the number of confirmed human cases of novel H1N1 virus in the state has increased to 27 with the addition of two cases that were tested in North Carolina.

Georgia Division of Public Health confirms novel H1N1 cases
May 15, 2009 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today awarded validation to the Georgia Public Health Lab (GPHL) to perform novel H1N1 virus confirmatory testing. This means that the Georgia Public Health Lab has been able to quickly test and confirm all the probable samples in their facility.

DHR hosts community recruitment event for National Foster Care Month
May 11, 2009 – Thousands of children throughout Georgia are in need of a foster or adoptive family. Many have found homes through the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Yet, too many children continue to wait for a place to call home. During National Foster Care Month in May, DFCS will celebrate the families providing care and raise awareness about the children still waiting for foster or adoptive families.

DHR observes National Older Americans Month
May 11, 2009 – There is a growing population of older adults in Georgia and throughout the nation who have a wealth of experience and knowledge who deserve our recognition and respect. A good time to show these individuals how much we care is during National Older Americans Month in May. This year’s theme is “Living Today for a Better Tomorrow.”

Standing water increases risk of mosquitoes
May 11, 2009 – Recent rainfall has prompted the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) Division of Public Health (DPH) to remind residents about the importance of emptying standing water to minimize mosquito activity. The standing water that persists after downpours of rain provides additional places for mosquitoes to breed and may cause mosquito eggs to hatch that have laid dormant for months or even years.

Georgia adopts new federal guidance on school closures
May 5, 2009 – The Department of Human Resources (DHR), Division of Public Health (GDPH) has adopted newly released federal guidance regarding schools and childcare closures as it relates to the novel H1N1 influenza virus.

Eagle's Landing Christian Academy suspends classes pending H1N1 probable case
May 4, 2009 – The Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health and officials of Eagle's Landing Christian Academy in Henry County have agreed to follow current federal recommendations on H1N1 probable cases, and will temporarily suspend all classes until the CDC confirms the status of a student who has become ill.