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Frequently Asked Questions

Basic Information

I have an unusual incident; who should I contact?

If you are a licensed foster parent, R21-6-326 requires you to notify DCS and your licensing agency within 24 hours if any of the following incidents occur:

Injury, illness, change of medication, or medication error that requires medical attention
Theft of money or property belonging to a foster child
Significant damage to the property of a foster child
Injury to others or significant damage to the property of others caused by a foster child
Using physical restraints to control a foster child’s sudden, out-of-control behavior
Arrest of a household member or involvement of a household member with law enforcement that does not lead to an arrest
Household changes that affect the foster parent’s ability to meet the foster child’s needs
Life-threatening illness, injury, or the death of a household member
Incidents involving a DCS report or investigation

If you are a licensed foster parent, R21-6-326 requires you to notify DCS and your licensing agency immediately if any of the following incidents occur:

Death of a foster child
Unexplained absence of a foster child
Unauthorized removal or attempted removal of a foster child from the care and supervision of the foster parent
A serious illness, injury, or mental health crisis of a foster child that requires hospitalization or emergency room treatment
An allegation or the discovery of a sign of abuse or neglect of a foster child
Arrest of a foster child or involvement of a foster child with law enforcement that does not lead to an arrest
Fire or other situation requiring overnight evacuation of the home
Incidents that involve or are likely to involve the media
Any other unusual incident that seriously jeopardizes the health, safety, or well-being of a foster child
Within 24 hours of any of the above noted incidents, licensed foster parents shall complete an Unusual Incident Report form and submit it to their licensing agency.

Unlicensed kinship foster parents are to notify DCS within 2 hours of the following: death of a child or hospitalization (medical or psychiatric), alleged abuse, or other emergency threatening the child’s placement.

Unlicensed kinship foster parents are to notify DCS within 48 hours if the child becomes seriously illness, death of a caregiver, change in family composition, or involvement with law enforcement.

What if I disagree with the determination that records cannot be released?

If any person believes that a prosecuting agency has failed to demonstrate that the release of DCS records would cause a specific material harm to the criminal investigation, that person may file an action in Superior Court and ask the court to review the DCS records and tell the Department which records can be released.

Is there any information that cannot be released?

Information protected by state or federal law cannot be released. This may include: information regarding the source of a DCS report, information related to the privacy and dignity of crime victims (Arizona Constitution), criminal history information obtained from the Department of Public Safety, medical records protected under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and educational records protected under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

How do I engage in shared parenting with my child's primary family?

Engaging in shared parenting with a child’s primary family can help the child adjust to your foster home and increase the chance of reunification. Remeber to always abide by any guidelines provided by the child’s DCS case manager. Discuss any questions or concerns about shared parenting with the child’s DCS case manager and/or your licensing worker. https://dcs.az.gov/sharedparenting

What information is included in a records release?

The DCS case file typically includes: DCS investigation case notes, including safety and risk assessments regarding the child and correspondence with the family; court documents filed regarding the child, including the family’s case plan and progress reports filed with the court by DCS; and, reports about the child received by treatment and service providers working with the family.

What happens if someone wants additional records about a case/family where a child has died or nearly died as a result of abuse or neglect beyond what the Department can provide?

State law (see A.R.S. 8-807 K ) allows an individual to petition the Superior Court to request that the Court review the records and tell the Department which records can be released.

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 the request, and will provide the records to you once they are available.

How can I support family reunification for my child?

Foster parents are an important resource for helping foster children reunify with their parents.

Is there any information that cannot be released?

Information protected by state or federal law cannot be released. This may include: information regarding the source of a DCS report, information related to the privacy and dignity of crime victims (Arizona Constitution), criminal history information obtained from the Department of Public Safety, medical records protected under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and educational records protected under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Is there a cost for obtaining the DCS records on a case?

Yes. Contact us for details.

What is the purpose of visitation between a child and their parent(s)?

A visitation and contact plan is part of every foster child’s case plan. As stated in DCS’s Go-To- Guide, this contact “preserves and enhances relationships with and attachments to the family of origin.”

Is there a cost for obtaining DCS records?

Yes. Contact us for details.

Who decides what the visitation plan will be?

The visitation plan is developed by the child’s DCS caseworker in collaboration with the child’s parent(s) and the child (if age appropriate). Sometimes the specifics of a visitation plan (for example, frequency or length of visits) are changed by the DCS caseworker in response to a court order. Visitation should occur in the most natural environment possible and with the least level of supervision possible while ensuring the child’s safety.

How can I obtain additional records on a case, beyond what DCS releases?

State law (see A.R.S. 8-807 I ) allows an individual to petition the Superior Court to request that the Court review the records and tell the Department which records can be released.

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 the request, and will provide the records to you once they are available.

What are the different types of visits?

There are 3 different types of visitation – therapeutic, supervised, and unsupervised. Therapeutic visitation is when visitation is supervised by a therapist in the therapist’s office. Supervised visits can occur in a variety of settings and are supervised by a case aide or parent aide or another DCS approved third party. Unsupervised visits are when the parent(s) are permitted to be alone with their child.

At what age can a child be left home alone when we are at work?

Arizona's statutes (laws) do not designate an age when a child can be left alone. A parent is responsible for the decisions he or she makes about their children being left alone. The law does require however, that the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Department of Child Safety (DCS) investigate reports of neglect which include failure to provide supervision that places a child at unreasonable risk of harm. Leaving children alone is included in the category of supervision.

DCS will take a report when a child, who is not capable of caring for him or herself or other children, is left alone. When calls come into DCS, specific questions are asked to help determine if there is a problem for the child. These may include: Does the child know how to reach the parent? Does the child know how to get emergency help? Is there a neighbor to go to? Is someone checking in on the child?

Sometimes police are called to the home. Before removing children, police will often try to make contact with the parent or other responsible person to come and supervise the children. The police are required to report this information to DCS. This could result in a DCS Specialist contacting the children and parent about the report and making an assessment of any needed services. Parents must use good judgment about their children's capabilities, as they are ultimately responsible. We hope this helps in providing an answer to your question. If you need additional information or wish to speak to someone from DCS, call the Child Abuse Hotline: at 1-888-767-2445.

Arizona Department of Child Safety

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