Frequently Asked Questions

There are a lot of acronyms inside the foster care system, and when dealing with the state in general. Groups may have titles with several words in them, or a child may have a need that is shortened to save time. Visit the DCS Policy and Procedure Manual site and click Index. https://extranet.azdcs.gov/DCSPolicy/

Yes, you can take your child in care on a trip under the following guidelines:

If you are traveling within Arizona or another state for more than 2 days but less than 7 days, you must notify the child’s DCS case manager and your licensing agency of the dates of travel, destination, and your contact telephone number.

DCS must authorize any trips within Arizona or another state that are 7 or more days long.

A court order is required if the trip is out of state and is for 30 or more days.

Traveling outside of the country requires a court order, passport, and any necessary immunizations. Discuss your travel request with the child’s DCS case manager and your licensing agency as early as possible to allow the child’s DCS case manager to request the court’s permission for the trip. You will need to get a passport for the child after obtaining a copy of the child’s birth certificate from the DCS case manager or Vital Records (if the child was born in Arizona; you will need a court order stating the child is in your custody). To apply for a passport for a foster child who is under 16, you will need a notarized document from DCS stating that you (the foster parents) are allowed to apply for a passport for the child and are permitted to take the child out of the county in addition to other required documents and fees.

If the trip will interfere with parental visitation, the DCS case manager may deny permission for the trip and/or require make-up visits for any missed visits. Also, the child’s parents may refuse to give permission for their child to go on the trip.

When you are traveling with a child in care, be sure to take the following: a copy of the court order placing the child in out of home care; the child’s Notice to Provider; a copy of the child’s birth certificate; the child’s passport (if traveling outside of the country); any available photo ID for the child (for example, school ID); the child’s CMDP card; all medications in their original bottles and placed in a locked container; and contact information for your DCS case manager and licensing agency.

Department of Child Safety’ primary objective is to keep children safe within their own families. DCS works cooperatively with parents to make that happen. Department of Child Safety is a program that seeks to help families by strengthening the ability of parents, guardians or custodians to provide good care for their children. The program tries to balance the legal rights of parents and the needs and rights of children to live in a physically and emotionally healthful situation.

State law (see § A.R.S. 8-807.01 A(1) a-g) requires that the following preliminary information be released about a case of abuse or neglect that results in a child fatality or near fatality: 

1. In the case of a fatality, the name of the child who has died.
2. The age, gender, county and general location of the residence of the child who has suffered a fatality or a near fatality.
3. The fact that a child suffered a fatality or near fatality as the result of abuse, abandonment or neglect.
4.  The name, age and city, town or general location of the residence of the alleged perpetrator, if available, unless the disclosure would violate the privacy of victims of crime pursuant to article II, section 2.1, Constitution of Arizona.
5. Whether there have been reports, or any current or past cases, of abuse, abandonment or neglect involving the child or the alleged perpetrator.
6. Actions taken by the department in response to the fatality or near fatality of the child.
7. A detailed synopsis of prior reports or cases of abuse, abandonment or neglect involving the child or the alleged perpetrator and of the actions taken or determinations made by the department in response to these reports or cases.

The preliminary information will be posted on this website.

The preliminary information will be released within 5 days of confirmation (Chapter 7 - Section 2) of DCS learning that a child’s death or near death is a result of maltreatment.

The information will be posted to this website.

The law allows DCS to release records only in cases of abuse, abandonment or neglect resulting in a fatality or a near fatality. There must be medical proof or other evidence that the fatality or near fatality was caused by abuse or neglect.

Among the information DCS considers when determining that a child’s death was the result of abuse or neglect are:

• A statement from a physician or an autopsy finding that the child’s death was the result of abuse or neglect;
• A statement from a parent, guardian or caregiver that they caused the child’s death or near death;
• the arrest or criminal indictment of a parent, guardian or caregiver in connection to the child’s death;
• or, A DCS investigation has resulted in a substantiated finding that abuse or neglect by a parent, guardian or caregiver caused the child's death or near-death.

In addition, in the case of a near fatality, a physician must certify that the child was in serious or critical condition due to the abuse or neglect.

If there is insufficient information available to believe that the fatality or near fatality was caused by maltreatment, the Department, by federal and state law, cannot release records in the case.

Any individual may request DCS records on a case where a child has died or nearly died as a result of abuse or neglect (maltreatment) by contacting the Records Coordinator. Requests may be emailed, faxed or mailed as indicated on the contact us page.

The more information you provide with your request, the faster the Department will be able to respond to your request. Please provide as much information as possible, including full names and dates of birth for the child, the parents and the alleged perpetrator (if a caregiver other than a parent).

The Records Coordinator will notify you when the request has been received, will provide you with periodic updates on the status of your request, and will provide the records to you once they are available.