Georgia Implemented Most New Criminal Background Check Requirements for Childcare Providers, but Challenges Remain for Unimplemented Requirements

Georgia implemented most of the new criminal background check requirements established under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014. However, certain criminal background check requirements for childcare providers remained unimplemented as of March 2, 2018, and significant challenges may delay full implementation until 2019 or 2020. Specifically, Georgia said that there does not appear to be a solution for resolving the issue of complying with the inter-State criminal background check requirement because other States do not have an incentive to respond to an applicant's request or Georgia's request for background check information.

According to Georgia, another significant challenge is the cost of providing supervision of provisional childcare staff while background check results are pending. Georgia has until September 30, 2018, to implement the childcare providers' criminal background check requirements. The outstanding challenges may mean that Georgia will not fully implement all of the requirements before the deadline, and, therefore, Georgia may request an additional 1-year waiver from the Administration for Children and Families to address the challenges and comply with the new criminal background check requirements.