SAVANNAH, Ga. — Foster care programs throughout Georgia are preparing for the repercussions of an anticipated $85 million budget reduction to the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFACS).

This announcement has surprised many within the foster care community, especially given Georgia’s reported record budget surplus of $14 billion. The looming financial shortfall is expected to result in service reductions and constrain the operations of nonprofits collaborating with DFACS.

Local program representatives express that this development is yet another setback for nonprofit staff, volunteers, and the children they are dedicated to assisting.

Terry Wright, a volunteer and director of development at Brightside Child and Family Advocacy, emphasized that this challenge arises just as programs are starting to recover from the recent government shutdown.

“We are already struggling with insufficient funds to support our most vulnerable children, those without a traditional family structure,” Wright explained. “Regardless of the state’s financial surplus, there is never enough funding for child welfare.”

Wright said case managers are already overworked and now have to take on additional cases. This could mean those case managers are in court each day representing children in need.

“And the case managers that we did have were already overextended, but now they have to take on all the additional cases,” Wright said.

Brightside offers Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), supervised visitations at the Bright Houses, and parenting and nurturing classes to help reunite kids with their families after crisis.

Wright said these cuts would make their job a lot harder, a thought that made her emotional when talking with News 3.

“I know a lot of these children, and they’re so promising,” Wright said. “They’re just wonderful and kind. To be able to fail them is a very difficult thing.”

Gilliard and Company provides resources to young adults aging out of the foster care system. CEO and Cofounder Whitney Lam Gilliard said they are already seeing impacts from cuts in the past and the government shutdown.

“We have seen that some of the support services that we need, like issuing for therapy, counseling, wraparound services, behavior aids, stuff like that, are put to a halt,” Lam Gilliard said. “I just feel really sad for everything that’s going on.”

Lam Gilliard said she hopes the community will continue to give to those programs that support these young people.

“It’s very emotional for me, because I think the least that we can do is make sure that the one safe place in this community can be ultimately protected by our very own local people,” Lam Gilliard said.

According to the Georgia Department of Human Services, the cost of care has risen nearly 50% over the last three years. Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to release his full budget later this month.