DCS - Changing the Story

Yesterday various news agencies reported the closure of the DCS placement center with an emphasis on children “once again sleeping on the floors” of state agency offices. 

The “story behind the story” is that the placement center was needed due to an average 30-hour wait time for children to be placed. To solve the root problem, the Department of Child Safety has beefed up staff, adding 12 placement coordinators and 12 case aides who are dedicated full time to child placement.  This has reduced the wait time from 30 hours to just under 15 hours before a child is placed.

In addition to cutting the wait time in half, the locations the children are taken to are now equipped with beds, showers, food, TV’s and toys.  The children will be protected from further harm, provided healthy food, receive hygiene care, and can rest during the just over half a day average wait time for placement.

The Department of Child Safety is dedicated to Changing the Story for at risk kids in Arizona.  Our vision is that Arizona’s kids will thrive in family environments that are free from abuse and neglect.  Our mission is to successfully engage children and families to ensure safety, strengthen families, and for every child to have a “forever family”.

This is a big challenge, and we invite you to join us.  There are plenty of ways you can make a difference in the lives of Arizona’s at risk kids.   We urgently need foster families, adoptive families, child mentors, and other types of volunteers to meet the needs of these precious children.  Will you help us in Changing the Story for Arizona’s kids that need our help?  Find out more about ways to help at https://dcs.az.gov/services .