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Arizona Department of Child Safety

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Arizona Department of Child Safety
Phone: Child Abuse Hotline 1-888-767-2445
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Main menu

  • Home
  • About
    • About DCS
      • Engage
    • Administration
      • Kathryn Ptak, DCS Director
    • 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
    • Tribal Relations
    • Community Advisory Committee
    • Volunteer
      • Get Involved
      • Community / Volunteer Interest Form
      • Giving Tree
      • Luggage of Love
      • Community Screening Partners
      • FACT Program
    • Contact Us
  • Careers
    • Career Opportunities
      • 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
    • Child Fatalities / Near Fatalities
    • Process for Release of Info
    • Settlement - Tinsley v. Faust
  • Parents
    • Parent Guide
    • Reunification Stories
    • Parents Rights
    • Parent Advisory Collaborative
  • Youth in Care
    • Foster Youth Bill of Rights
    • Medical and Behavioral Health Services
    • Resources for Youth
    • Young Adult Program
    • Rights for Children in Out-of-Home Care, CSO-3121 (link is external)
    • Victims' Rights
    • Self-Advocacy Resources (link is external)
    • Guardian Ad Litem Survey (link is external)
  • Foster & Adoption
    • Foster Care
      • Start the Journey! Orientation
      • Learn More
      • Kinship Support Services
      • Therapeutic Foster Care
      • Licensing Agencies
      • Information Events
      • Kinship Resources
      • Go-to Guide
      • Foster & Kinship FAQ's
    • Adoption
      • Adoption Stories
      • Search AdoptUSKids (link is external)
    • Caregiver Training
    • Shared Parenting
    • Children's Heart Gallery (link is external)
    • Newsletter
  • Resources
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Request DCS Information
    • Complaint or Disagreement
      • Ombudsman Complaint Form
    • DCS Forms
    • DCS Brochures & Flyers
  • Services
    • Medical and Behavioral Health Services
      • For Members
      • For Providers
      • Health and Wellness
      • News and Updates
      • Contact CHP
      • Language and Translation
    • DCS Service Array
      • Service Array Materials
    • Prevention
      • Safe Sleep
      • Arizona Families F.I.R.S.T.
      • Healthy Families Arizona
      • Regional Child Abuse Prevention Councils
      • Resources for Parents
      • Back-To-School Resources and Tips for Parents
    • Investigations and OCWI
      • Joint Investigation Protocol
    • Office of Licensing & Regulation (OLR)
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      • Young Adult Program
      • Young Adult Resources
      • Extended Foster Care
      • Successful Transition to Adulthood
      • Education
    • Victims' Rights
  • Report Child Abuse
    • Child Abuse Hotline
    • Mandated Reporter Overview Training
    • Safe Haven Newborn
    • SB1114 - Child Abuse Hotline Required Posting
  • Home
  • Department of Child Safety Understands the Delicate Balance of Protecting Children and Respecting Parental Rights

Department of Child Safety Understands the Delicate Balance of Protecting Children and Respecting Parental Rights

March 30, 2016
Press Release

Recent media coverage of children being removed from their homes as a result of parental drug usage illustrates the issue of protecting children while respecting parental rights. It is a scenario that the Department of Child Safety (DCS) faces on a daily basis.  According to Director Gregory McKay,

“We take our responsibility to protect children very seriously.  We need to delicately balance the rights of parents with the rights of child victims, and in the end, we must protect all people by exercising due diligence and good faith."

DCS is dedicated to achieving safety, well-being, and permanency for children, youth, and families.  The best solution for protecting Arizona’s children and respecting parental rights is to prevent child neglect and abuse from occurring. To that end, DCS has made significant effort to support parents, equipping them with the training and support they need to succeed.

The Healthy Families Arizona prevention initiative is one of those efforts.  It is a very effective educational program focused on helping expectant and new parents get their children off to a healthy start. In 2015, the program served almost 5,000 exceptional need families in Arizona with extremely positive results.  

Out of the almost 5,000 families enrolled in the program, 96% had no substantiated cases of child abuse or neglect.  Additionally, 90% of children received timely developmental screens in their first year of life and 89% of all children enrolled were immunized. Of equal importance is that 95% of families enrolled received substance abuse screening, and only 5.6% reported substance abuse problems in the following year.  

The Healthy Families Arizona program continues to expand in 2016, as are other DCS efforts to engage the community in preventing child neglect and abuse. National Child Abuse Prevention month launches Friday April 1st, and the Department of Child Safety will be providing education and resources to help keep Arizona’s children safe and families strong.

For more information about Healthy Families Arizona, go to: https://dcs.az.gov/services/prevention-and-family-support/healthy-families-arizona

Media Contact

Darren DaRonco
Public Information Officer
Email: Darren.DaRonco@azdcs.gov
Phone Number: (602) 255-2564

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