Frequently Asked Questions

The inquiry report is generated by the licensing agency in partnership with the family. The family is expected to cooperate with the agency by fully disclosing any requested information. Families will be provided a redacted copy of the licensing report after it is submitted to OLCR/OLR. If a family feels that they have been treated unfairly or inaccurately represented, they may contact the persons listed on the Supplemental Notice of Inspection form that would have been provided by the worker at the time of the visit. The licensing agency has the final authority regarding what is contained in the licensing inquiry report.

When a child is placed in your home, you should receive the following paperwork from DCS:

• Notice to Providers (Out-of-home, Education, and Medical) CSO-1035A, completed at the time of placement
• Child's Health and Medical report - printed by DCS
• Mercy Care DCS CHP (Comprehensive Health Plan) member ID number
• Information that DCS knows about the child's special needs
• Copy of immunization record

Please see DCS Policy Chapter 4: Section 6 for additional paperwork and information needed, https://extranet.azdcs.gov/DCSPolicy/

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/

All allegations received by DCS, including allegations that a child has died or nearly died as a result of abuse or neglect, are called into the statewide DCS Hotline.*

State law allows DCS to release case records, but that part of the law is limited to cases of abuse, abandonment or neglect resulting in a fatality or a near fatality. Therefore, 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 with 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.

Additionally, 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.

* Not all maltreatment fatalities or near fatalities are reported to the statewide DCS Hotline. For example, law enforcement may not report a child death from maltreatment to DCS if there are no children in the home for whom there are safety concerns or risks. In addition, incidents that occur outside of DCS’ jurisdiction – for example, on tribal reservations or military installations – may not be reported to DCS.

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.