May | 2026

Wins and Protections for Georgia’s Children

Georgia Appleseed delivered real, lasting wins for children and families across Georgia, including groundbreaking laws and securing a long-overdue fix for kids in foster care. 



Here are some of the key bills and why they matter:

A Fresh Start for Families Seeking Housing 

Georgia's first-ever law to seal eviction records. 

Old or inaccurate eviction filings—even cases a tenant won—have followed families for years, making it hard to find stable housing because landlords had to rely on inaccurate data when evaluating potential tenants. That changes now. Families can now move forward without an old record holding them back. 

More Doctors, More Access to Care 

A new law creates a pathway for internationally trained doctors to practice in Georgia. 

This is a big deal. It helps address doctor shortages and expands access to care—especially in underserved communities—using a practical solution that few thought possible. 

More Stability for Kids in Foster Care 

Schools must now enroll students in foster care within three business days, even if records are delayed. 

Kids in foster care often change schools frequently. This ensures they can get back into a classroom quickly and maintain consistency in their education. 

Harmful Policies Stopped 

We also helped stop several proposals that would have hurt children and families, including efforts to: 

• Make it easier to evict families from extended stay housing without due process  
• Reduce transparency around school discipline  
• Weaken privacy protections for students’ mental health records  

“These were big system changes that few people thought possible, particularly in this legal environment,” notes Darlene Lynch, Legal & Policy Director. “We got there by building partnerships across parties, sectors, and regions, and then a lot of advocacy smarts and late nights.” 

All of these bills passed the General Assembly on April 2 and are now awaiting the Governor’s signature by May 12. We’re optimistic they will become law.

Donor Spotlight:

Georgia Mental Health Funders Collaborative

Roaring for Justice 2026

“Sometimes it’s hard to talk about things, but this project makes it easier.”

That’s what one of our young See Me exhibit artists shared after attending Roaring for Justice.

On April 24, more than 340 supporters gathered at The Foundry for our largest Roaring for Justice yet, raising over $466,000 to support Georgia’s children and families.

This year’s immersive See Me exhibit transformed the space—featuring forty canvases created by youth in foster care. Five artists from South Georgia attended and saw their work displayed publicly for the first time.

Every guest left with a mini art kit. Create something and share it with us. Your response will become part of a collective message back to the youth artists: that their voices were heard.

Housing enforcement and statewide leadership – Atlanta Civic Circle

Michael Waller highlights the role of statewide leadership in housing enforcement, noting the Attorney General can “define what housing abuse means in Georgia.” 

Click here to read more.

High Impact Philanthropy – Authority Magazine 

In a feature on high-impact philanthropy, Michael Waller reflects, “Children don’t choose the world they’re born into,” underscoring the need for systems-level change. 

Click here to read more.  

See Me program elevating foster youth voices – WTXL

Liz McDaniel shares that Georgia Appleseed’s See Me program brings foster youth voices “to the people who are making the policies and the laws,” without requiring youth to retell their stories. Click here to read more.

Workforce legislation and immigrant access to opportunity– WABE 

Darlene Lynch emphasizes the importance of workforce legislation, noting recent reforms are “good for Georgia” and help unlock opportunities for internationally trained professionals. Click here to read more.

Innovation in access to justice through AI tools – Emory Business 

Michael Waller underscores the need for innovation in access to justice, noting Georgia Appleseed “simply can’t reach everyone who needs help,” driving solutions like Seedmore—an AI tool that helps families navigate education rights and school discipline issues. Click here to read more.

See Me exhibit amplifying youth voices in foster care – The Imprint

Liz McDaniel shares that Georgia Appleseed’s See Me exhibit has grown into “something much bigger than we ever thought it was going to be,” highlighting how art allows youth with lived experience in foster care to share their stories on their own terms. Click here to read more.

Your contributions fuel the research, advocacy, and community engagement that make wins like these possible. Click here to donate.

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