ATLANTA – State Representative Mandi Ballinger (R-Canton) is one of only 25 legislators from across the country to be selected to participate in the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) inaugural Child Welfare Fellows Program. This year-long program is designed to support state legislators and legislative staff who are experienced or emerging leaders on child welfare issues.
“It is a great honor to be named to the inaugural class of NCSL’s Child Welfare Fellows Program,” said Rep. Ballinger. “This program will bring together a diverse group leaders from all over the nation to share new ideas and workable legislative solutions to child welfare-related issues. I look forward to working alongside others who are passionate about improving outcomes for children, as well as sharing my experiences as an advocate for Georgia’s children with my fellow program members.”
The Child Welfare Fellows Program will focus on several relevant topics, including child welfare structure and financing; data on child maltreatment, foster care and adoption; child welfare workforce challenges; prevention and early intervention; family preservation and reunification; trauma-informed services; supporting foster parents and older youth transitioning to adulthood; new opportunities through the recently enacted federal Family First Prevention Services Act; and Native American and African-American children in care.
Child Welfare Fellows will participate in several activities, such as in-person meetings and webinars. The first in-person meeting, which will be held in Denver from July 11 – 13, 2018, will provide program participants with the opportunity to meet other Child Welfare Fellows and learn about new federal legislation, the foster care system and other child welfare issues.
For more information on NCSL, please click here.
Representative Mandi L. Ballinger represents the citizens of District 23, which includes portions of Cherokee County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2012 and currently serves as Chairman of the Juvenile Justice Committee and as Secretary of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee. She also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and the Information and Audits, Judiciary Non-Civil, Rules and Transportation committees.
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