Frequently Asked Questions

Formal kinship care refers to when children are placed in the legal custody of the State by a judge, and the Department of Child Safety places the children with a kinship caregiver (relative or an adult who has a significant relationship with the child).

Formal Kinship caregivers are expected to follow the guidelines set by the DCS in regard to education, medical needs, discipline, and contact with parents. In these cases, children have services provided by the DCS including medical insurance, behavioral health services and a reimbursement provided to caregivers at an unlicensed rate.

Formal Kinship caregivers also have the option of becoming licensed for the children in their care.

Licensed foster care refers to a kinship or non-kinship caregiver who has gone through the licensing process and has been granted a foster care license through the Office of Licensing and Regulation (OLR). In addition to working with system partners such as DCS and other service providers, a licensed foster home is monitored by a foster care licensing agency that can provide additional supports and advocacy to the family as well as help the family maintain their home in compliance with licensing requirements.

Kinship Foster Care resources can be found here, https://dcs.az.gov/foster-and-adoption/kinship-resources

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)volunteers are citizens who are appointed by dependency court judges and are trained to investigate the circumstances of children who have been removed from their homes primarily due to abuse or neglect. They become a voice for foster children and help protect their rights by advocating for their best interests, their safety and permanency and by acting as eyes and ears for the court.

For additional information go to: www.azcourts.gov/CASA (link is external)

The juvenile court handles adoptions.

If the information has not been volunteered, ask the child ONLY these four questions:

1. What happened?
2. Who did this to you?
3. Where were you when this happened?
4. When did this happen?

The Department shall facilitate frequent parenting time and ongoing contact between a child in out-of-home care and the child’s parents, siblings not placed together, relatives, friends, and other individuals with significant relationships to the child to preserve and enhance relationships with, and attachments to, the family and culture of origin. This contact may be restricted or denied only when a court finds that parenting time or contact is contrary to the child’s safety or well-being. You can find more information by visiting the DCS Policy Manual website here (link is external). 

The purpose of a TDM meeting is to engage the family in decisions about the safety, stability, and permanency of a child at critical points in a case. The meeting is a collaboration between the Department, parents, guardians and/or custodians, child(ren), extended family and kin, family support persons, and service providers. You can find more information by visiting the DCS Policy Manual website here (link is external).