Advocates from the local nonprofit Fostering Success Act Inc. (FSA) convened at the Georgia state capitol to bring attention to a recently initiated tax credit aimed at supporting foster children. This program, spotlighted yesterday, offers tax benefits to residents who contribute to organizations focused on providing aid to foster kids. Funds from these contributions are allocated to assist foster children with essential resources such as books, computers, and medical assistance, according to reports from FOX 5 Atlanta.
In an update to the scheme, restrictions on contributions to the tax credit for charitable giving toward Georgia’s foster care have been recently lifted. As of the first year since its 2023 inception, the tax credit succeeded to raise $11.6 million, an FSA initiative aiming to further the welfare of former foster children who have aged out of the program. State Representative Mark Newton emphasized the continued need for support beyond the age of 18, stating, "None of them are more important than the work this chamber and our governor has done for adoption and foster care," as reported by Atlanta News First.
The funds from this program can be used by qualified organizations, such as FSA, to cover expenses for medical care, counseling, and even car repairs for the young adults who no longer are under foster care. For individuals like Mike Conger, a former foster youth, this support has been life-changing. Conger described to Atlanta News First how the tax credit effectively financed his essential travel to Atlanta for dental care, which he had not received in nine years, stating, "I don’t know how I would have survived without it."
With the recent elimination of contribution limits, any business or individual taxpayer can now choose to contribute any amount to the foster care tax credit, as long as the contribution does not exceed the $20 million cap. With more than $19 million still available, FSA’s executive director Heidi Carr called upon Georgia taxpayers to step up and help amplify their impact. "We need Georgia taxpayers to step up and help us further our impact across the state and help us provide young Georgians with the necessities resources and support they need to successfully create a better life for themselves," Carr told Atlanta News First at a press conference yesterday.
