Governor Kemp's newly appointed Georgia Department of Human Services Commissioner, Candice Broce, recently sent out this memo regarding exemption from immunization requirements for foster families. 

Judge Render M. Heard Jr. of the Juvenile Courts for the Tifton District, contacted Broce for this change! Big win for Georgia foster families.
Here is the newly released memo.  Should this apply to your situation, we recommend you print the document at the link for your records. This is great news for Georgians! 

The letter states:

TO: All DHS DFCS Child Welfare Employees
FROM: Candice L. Broce, Commissioner
RE: Exemption From Immunization Requirements
DATE: June 1, 2022

As Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) and 
Director of the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), I am exercising 
my legal authority to effectuate immediate policy changes regarding noncustodial 
and foster parents’ authority to direct the religious upbringing of their children. 
Effective immediately, no DHS DFCS agent, employee, or contractor shall seek 
immunizations for any child in DFCS’ temporary custody if a noncustodial parent 
expresses a sincere religious objection to immunization of such child, barring 
extreme circumstances such as a specific and unusual medical need. “Child” is 
defined as any person under the age of twenty-one.
Once a noncustodial parent expresses a religious objection to immunization of 
their child to any DHS DFCS agency, employee, or contractor, such agent, 
employee, or contractor shall immediately notify the DHS Office of General 
Counsel (OGC) by email to Judy.Holdaway@dhs.ga.gov. OGC shall immediately 
notify the County Director and Special Assistant Attorney General (SAAG) 
assigned to that child’s case that the noncustodial parent has expressed a 
religious objection to immunization. Absent a lawful court order to the contrary, all 
DHS DFCS agents, employees, and contractors shall comply with the 
noncustodial parent’s religious objection to immunization of their child in DFCS' temporary custody. 
 

Furthermore, and also effective immediately, no DHS DFCS agent, employee, or 
contractor shall require immunization of any child of a caregiver living in the 
household where a child in DFCS custody has been placed if such caregiver 
expresses a sincere religious objection to immunization of their other child. For 
the purposes of this policy change and in accordance with the Georgia Children 
and Youth Act (O.C.G.A. § 49-5-1 et seq.) and the Juvenile Code (O.C.G.A. § 
15-11-1 et seq.), the term “caregiver” includes a relative caregiver, fictive kin, 
foster parent, Child Placing Agency, or Child Caring Institution.
Any provision of any existing policy which now conflicts with these changes stands repealed only to the extent of such conflict.