Georgia's Office of the Child Advocate

Advocacy and Awareness ResourcesProgram

OCA shares ways to speak up for children's welfare, such as awareness campaigns, local causes and community resources. It also has a quarterly newsletter. April is typically Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month.

Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting GuidanceService

OCA explains how to report suspected child abuse or neglect to DFCS, which takes the reports. You can call any time, and people who are required by law to report can also use fax, email or an online form.

Child Welfare Professional TrainingProgram

OCA sponsors training events during the year for people who work in child welfare in Georgia. Topics include preventing, recognizing, stopping and prosecuting child abuse.

Guardian ad Litem Training OversightProgram

People must finish training approved by OCA before a judge can name them guardian ad litem in a Juvenile Court dependency case. OCA offers online training for attorneys, and Georgia CASA's 40-hour training counts for non-attorneys.

Independent Child Welfare OversightProgram

OCA investigates complaints and looks for patterns in child welfare services that may need policy or system changes.

Mandated Reporter TrainingProgram

A free online course that teaches how to spot signs of abuse and neglect and how to report. In-person training is offered by Prevent Child Abuse Georgia.

OCA Assistance or Investigation RequestService

If you are worried that DFCS did not protect a child or give a family the help it needed, you can send OCA a complaint. Staff look into it and decide how to handle it.

Statewide Model Child Abuse Protocol SupportProgram

OCA maintains Georgia’s statewide model protocol for investigation and prosecution of alleged child abuse, sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation cases.