Our Work
Home in 5 is a partnership between public agencies, private organizations, and concerned citizens who are working to make a positive change for youth in foster care and families in DFCS Region 5. It was formed as a collaboration in 2015 in response to the rapid growth of the population of youth coming into foster care in the region outpacing the expansion of the network of available foster families. Under the fiscal sponsorship of MAAC, Home in 5 works with the Region 5 Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) and a growing network of local agencies to strengthen recruitment, support incoming foster families, and establish a broader base of in-region placements for foster youth from the area. The program serves the following Counties, encompassing all of DFCS Region 5: Jackson, Barrow, Madison, Clarke, Elbert, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Walton, Morgan, Newton, Greene, and Rockdale.
Our Mission
Home in 5 is founded upon the belief that kids belong in their communities of origin, and that best fit decisions can be strongest when families have the opportunity to learn about the foster care system and the uniqueness of each agency upfront. When children live far from their birth families, reunification efforts are made more difficult for those who work tirelessly to identify permanent options for children and families. Together with local agencies, Home in 5 facilitates informational events, foster parent trainings, and recruitment. The goal of the program is not simply to increase the number of foster homes in Region 5, but also increase the resources available to sustain them.