Basic Care Item Services

Who Qualifies?

Free clothing, shoes, toys, books, infant care equipment, and more are available for displaced children in Georgia who receive zero to base per diem or comparable SSI (excluding sibling subsidies or diaper allowances). Eligible groups include:

• Children placed in qualifying court-ordered, abandoned, DFCS, and private agency foster homes.

• Children in relative care, fictive kin arrangements, grandparents raising grandchildren (without biological parents living in the same home).

• Teens who have recently aged out of foster care and foster children currently in college.

Special Eligibility for DFCS Foster Youth Ages 18-22:

• Youth aging out of foster care can receive free clothing and other items for two years after exiting foster care, as long as they are living independently or pursuing secondary education.

Relative Care/Fictive Kin/Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Eligibility:

• Children in these care settings are eligible for four seasons of support if they are receiving zero to base per diem or comparable compensation.

• If they are not receiving any per diem, SSI, or equivalent compensation, they can be served until age 18 or high school graduation.

• Biological parents must not reside in the home.

• A DFCS case number may not be required.

Seasonal Inventory Changes:

• If you receive a new placement in March or September during our seasonal inventory switch, please complete a request form. We will contact you to arrange for the current season's clothing before starting the next distribution season.

Eligibility for Children in their Adoptive Placement:

• For children in DFCS or private agency foster homes: once termination of parental rights (TPR) has occurred for both biological parents and the child is in their adoptive placement, the child no longer qualifies for our services. This applies even if adoption papers have not been signed, as responsibility shifts to the adoptive family.

  However, if the child is being adopted by a grandparent, other relative, or fictive kin, they may continue to receive services through the FosterCares™ program under FCSF's relative care eligibility policy.

What We Distribute

The FosterCares™ Distribution Program provides like-new, gently used, and new clothing for displaced children. All socks and underwear are brand new. We ensure that no items distributed are stained, outdated, or in disrepair. In addition to clothing, we offer infant care equipment, toys, books, recreational items, and other goods suitable for infants, children, and teens.

Free car seats are available for families in relative care, grandparents raising grandchildren, and fictive kin who do not receive a per diem. Families with a DFCS case or receiving per diem support should utilize the state car seat program, which reimburses one car seat per child through their caseworker and DFCS office.

Our goal is to provide high-quality, essential items that support the well-being of displaced children, ensuring they have access to the basics needed for a stable and nurturing environment.

How to Receive Services