Kandiss Taylor, a Republican candidate in Georgia’s 1st Congressional District, has raised concerns about the state’s child welfare system, highlighting a funding shortfall that she claims is impeding protective services for families. Taylor has called for an immediate reallocation of funds from reserves to address these issues.
“This is a serious issue,” said Kandiss S Taylor, Congress Candidate. “We have children all across GA and families who are not receiving necessary services for safety and to prevent additional emotional trauma. Our GA legislators must step in now to move funds we have in surplus to meet this vital need.”
According to Taylor’s post on X, the lack of services for children and families is exacerbating risks and trauma. She shared a link to media coverage detailing budget constraints faced by the Division of Family and Children Services.
Georgia’s child welfare system is experiencing an $85 million deficit for fiscal year 2026 within the Division of Family and Children Services. This financial gap has resulted in suspended support for families with disabled children and halted new case intakes. Service providers report increased pressure on existing resources despite the state’s significant surplus.
The United States foster care system currently includes over 328,000 children as per 2025 data. Demographic trends indicate varying age distributions with ongoing needs for permanent placements. National statistics reveal persistent challenges in securing stability for youth in care across different states.
Taylor was born in Baxley, Georgia, and has three children with her husband Ryan. With over 19 years of experience in education and holding a Ph.D. in counseling, she previously ran as a Republican candidate in both the 2020 Georgia Senate special election and the 2022 gubernatorial primary.
