Untrained staffers tend to burn out early and can be too rough on a child. Many children in foster care programs have been abused and can react violently, he said. Applying only to workers in state and private centers, the bill would not affect foster parents themselves, said Demetrius Gorham, a legislative aide for Ford. The state already trains and licenses foster parents. Requiring licensed staff members will not limit an agency's ability to hire new employees, Gorham said.
Agencies can hire anyone they choose.
But the director of a local Athens foster care network said she sees some problems with required licensing. Cindy Birt, the director of Milestone Therapeutic Foster Care Network, said it could be a costly endeavor for agencies. We can't fill professional positions.