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  • Home
  • About
    • About DCS
    • Administration
      • Mike Faust, DCS Director
    • Engage
    • Field Offices
    • Policy & Procedure
      • DCS Policy & Procedure
      • DCS Rules & Rulemaking
      • DCS Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
      • DCS Non-Discrimination Policy
      • DCS Limited English Proficiency Policy
    • Procurement & Contracts
    • Strategic Plan
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      • Get Involved
      • Community Partners
      • Community / Volunteer Interest Form
      • FACT Program
      • Giving Tree
    • Contact Us
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      • Child Safety Specialist
      • Child Welfare Investigative Specialist (OCWI)
      • Search All Positions
    • We Are Compassioneers
  • News & Reports
    • News Releases
    • DCS Reports
    • Performance Measures
      • DCS Monthly / Semi-Annual Report
      • Agency Progress
    • Child Fatalities / Near Fatalities
    • Process for Release of Info
    • Settlement - Tinsley v. Faust
  • Parents
    • Parent Guide
    • Parents Rights
    • Parent Advisory Collaborative
  • Foster & Adoption
    • Foster Care
      • Start the Journey! Orientation
      • Licensing Agencies
      • Information Events
      • Kinship Resources
      • Go-to Guide
      • Foster & Kinship FAQ's
    • Adoption
      • Adoption Stories
    • Shared Parenting
    • Children's Heart Gallery
    • Search AdoptUSKids
    • Newsletter
  • Resource
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Request DCS Information
    • Complaint or Disagreement
      • Ombudsman Complaint Form
    • DCS Forms
    • DCS Brochures & Flyers
    • Protective Services Review Team (PSRT)
  • Services
    • Mercy Care DCS Comprehensive Health Plan
      • For Members
      • For Providers
      • News and Updates
      • Contact Us
      • Language and Translation
    • DCS Service Array
    • Prevention
      • Safe Sleep
      • Arizona Families F.I.R.S.T.
      • Healthy Families Arizona
      • Regional Child Abuse Prevention Councils
      • In-Home Services Program
      • Resources for Parents
      • Back-To-School Resources and Tips for Parents
    • Investigations and OCWI
    • Office of Licensing & Regulation (OLR)
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      • Young Adult Program
      • Young Adult Resources
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      • Transitional Independent (TILP)
      • National Youth in Transition Database
      • CAA Chafee Program Funding for Foster Youth
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  • Report Child Abuse
    • Child Abuse Hotline
    • Mandated Reporter Overview Training
    • Safe Haven Newborn
    • SB1114 - Child Abuse Hotline Required Posting
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  • "GO-TO" Guide for Foster and Kinship Caregivers

"GO-TO" Guide for Foster and Kinship Caregivers

Go-to Guide

A "GO-TO" Guide for Foster and Kinship Caregivers

book cover

This Guide provides basic information about the child welfare system in Arizona to help you understand how children come into care, why they are there, and the rules and policies that have been created to protect children in out-of-home care. It has information about the roles and responsibilities of the people connected to the child welfare and court systems who may work with a child, his or her family, and your family.

The information in this guide is primarily focused on the needs of persons (adult caregiver givers and other household members) providing care to children in the custody of the Department of Child Safety (DCS). Each DCS caregiver should have a copy of the following resource handbooks and handouts. They are the must have reference guides for all families.

  • Title 21 Chapter 6, the Licensing Rules
  • DCS Discipline Policy Resource Guide
  • CMDP (Comprehensive Medical and Dental Program) Member Handbook
  • Confidentiality Guidelines for Foster Parents
  • Family Foster Home Agreement
  • Child Placement Rates and Special Allowances Approval Matrix (CSO 1109)

If you do not have copies of this information, please contact your licensing agency or DCS Specialist for assistance in obtaining these documents.

Foster and Kinship Caregivers with the Department of Child Safety (DCS)/Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) or Department of Health Services (DHS)/Regional Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA)/Home Care Treatment Care for Home Care Clients (HCTC) will need some or all of these reference guides in addition to the information specific to either program services.

Download the Full Go-To Guide

Table of Contents

Includes first and second level section titles that will be found in the document. Download a complete copy of the "Go-To Guide" here.

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Section 1: DCS Guiding Principles

Describes what the Department of of Child Safety (DCS) is about, guiding principles, programs & services, permanency planning and more.

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Section 2: Placements

Describes children in out-of-home care, kinship foster care, what is included in the placement packet, overcapacity of licensed foster home and more.

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Section 3: Foster & Kinship Parenting

Provides a summary of foster parent rights, complaint management, communication and documentation with service team members and more.

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Section 4: Shared Parenting
Section 5: Health Care

Discusses the importance of shared parenting, describes the visitation plan, HIPAA, authorization for treatment, dental care, behavioral health services and more.

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Section 6: Financial Supports

Describes foster care payment procedures, adoption subsidy, income tax status and more.

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Section 7: Education

Describes the Arizona Early Intervention Program (AZEIP), educational advocate and more.

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Section 8: Legal Process

Understanding the roles and responsibilities, Arizona Dependency Process, describes the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and more.

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Section 9: Rules, Regulations & Requirements

Describes the Office of Licensing and Regulation (OLR), Life-Safety Inspections, disaster planning, Foster Parent License Renwal and more.

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Section 10: Supports

Finally, a section that describes where you can find more information, discusses the DCS "warm line" for foster caregivers, Arizona Friends of Foster Care Foundation, The Q Line and more.

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Appendix 1 - 3

Acronyms, Bridging The Gap Worksheet, Foster Home Payment Matrix

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Appendix 4 - 5

Reasonable and Prudent Parenting (RPPS), ADA Disclosure

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Disclaimer: This information is subject to change based upon the availability of new interpretations, new standards, new policies, federal and state laws, new eligibility requirements or services offered and other developments in the field. Please refer to the DCS, CMDP or other referenced web sites for the most current available information. The material provided on this document is designed for educational and information purposes only. This information is not inclusive of all terms, provisions, providers, services and/or support necessary to care for a foster child. There is no document available that will provide you with all of the information necessary to be a competent foster or kinship parent.

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