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Arizona Department of Child Safety
Phone: Child Abuse Hotline 1-888-767-2445
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CLICK to Report Child Abuse or Neglect
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  • Home
  • About
    • About DCS
      • Engage
    • Administration
      • Kathryn Ptak, DCS Director
    • Field Offices
    • Policy & Procedure
      • DCS Policy & Procedure
      • DCS Rules & Rulemaking
      • DCS Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
      • DCS Non-Discrimination Policy
      • DCS Limited English Proficiency Policy
    • Procurement & Contracts
    • Strategic Plan
    • Tribal Relations
    • Community Advisory Committee
    • Volunteer
      • Get Involved
      • Community / Volunteer Interest Form
      • Giving Tree
      • Luggage of Love
      • Community Screening Partners
      • FACT Program
    • Contact Us
  • Careers
    • Career Opportunities
      • Child Safety Specialist
      • Child Welfare Investigative Specialist (OCWI)
      • Search All Positions
    • We Are Compassioneers
  • News & Reports
    • News Releases
    • DCS Reports
    • Performance Measures
      • DCS Monthly / Semi-Annual Report
    • Child Fatalities / Near Fatalities
    • Process for Release of Info
    • Settlement - Tinsley v. Faust
  • Parents
    • Parent Guide
    • Parents Rights
    • Parent Advisory Collaborative
  • Youth in Care
    • Foster Youth Bill of Rights
    • Medical and Behavioral Health Services
    • Resources for Youth
    • Young Adult Program
    • Rights for Children in Out-of-Home Care, CSO-3121
    • Victims' Rights
    • Self-Advocacy Resources
    • Guardian Ad Litem Survey
  • Foster & Adoption
    • Foster Care
      • Start the Journey! Orientation
      • Learn More
      • Kinship Support Services
      • Therapeutic Foster Care
      • Licensing Agencies
      • Information Events
      • Kinship Resources
      • Go-to Guide
      • Foster & Kinship FAQ's
    • Adoption
      • Adoption Stories
    • Caregiver Training
    • Shared Parenting
    • Children's Heart Gallery
    • Search AdoptUSKids
    • Newsletter
  • Resources
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Request DCS Information
    • Complaint or Disagreement
      • Ombudsman Complaint Form
    • DCS Forms
    • DCS Brochures & Flyers
  • Services
    • Medical and Behavioral Health Services
      • For Members
      • For Providers
      • Health and Wellness
      • News and Updates
      • Contact CHP
      • Language and Translation
    • DCS Service Array
      • Service Array Materials
    • Prevention
      • Safe Sleep
      • Arizona Families F.I.R.S.T.
      • Healthy Families Arizona
      • Regional Child Abuse Prevention Councils
      • Resources for Parents
      • Back-To-School Resources and Tips for Parents
    • Investigations and OCWI
      • Joint Investigation Protocol
    • Office of Licensing & Regulation (OLR)
    • Young Adult
      • Young Adult Program
      • Young Adult Resources
      • Extended Foster Care
      • Successful Transition to Adulthood
      • Education
    • Victims' Rights
  • Report Child Abuse
    • Child Abuse Hotline
    • Mandated Reporter Overview Training
    • Safe Haven Newborn
    • SB1114 - Child Abuse Hotline Required Posting
  • Home
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  • Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Legal

Where are the courts located at?

You can find a list of courts here: https://www.azcourts.gov/AZ-Courts/AZ-Courts-Locator

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program

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

Do different rules and time frames apply for younger children?

If the parents have not made efforts towards reunification, the state may file for termination of parental rights earlier if children under 3 years of age have been in care for 6 months.

Foster Care - When the Court becomes involved in a DCS Case

All foster homes and other facilities used by DCS to provide temporary out-of-home care are licensed by the state and supervised by an assigned licensing worker. Foster parents are trained to provide care and to work with DCS and family members toward the goal of family reunification. DCS Specialist visit regularly with children and foster families to ensure that the necessary services are being provided and to monitor the child’s progress. The department will provide all children with medical and dental services, which may include updating immunizations (If the parent has concerns regarding any medical treatment the DCS Specialists must be contacted). Whenever possible, children needing protection are placed with members of their extended family. Placements with relatives may occur during the period of temporary custody or at any later time. Relatives providing such placements must agree to a background investigation, a home evaluation, and sign an agreement with DCS that specifies the conditions of placement.

As a foster parent, do I have a right to attend court proceedings?

Yes. Rule 41 (I) of the Arizona Rules of Procedure for Juvenile Court gives you that right to notice, to attend, and to be heard in a court proceeding.

Services for the Family When There is Court Involvement

The Department of Child Safety provides services to help families deal with problems and work toward the goal of family reunification. Usually, there is no charge for these services. The DCS Specialist talks with family members to decide what is needed. There are also other agencies or groups in Arizona that offer help. Services that may be suggested include:

  1. Help in getting food, housing, clothing and medical care.
  2. Intensive family preservation services.
  3. Psychological evaluations.
  4. Individual, family or relationship counseling.
  5. Day care.
  6. Parent aide services.
  7. Parenting skills training.
  8. Educational programs, job training or vocational rehabilitation.
  9. Sexual assault or domestic violence counseling.
  10. Drug or alcohol treatment programs.
  11. Peer self-help groups.

What is adoption?

Adoption is the legal transfer of all parenting rights and responsibilities from the biological parent to a new parent. The biological parent's parental rights have been severed and the adoptive parents have all the rights of birth parents.

Visitation - When the Court becomes involved in a DCS Case

Visitation with children in the custody of DCS is approved on a case-by-case basis. All case plans for children in out-of-home care include a Visitation Agreement which is developed by the case manager and family members. Family members include persons who are related by blood or law, are legal guardians, siblings, or adults with a meaningful relationship with the child. Family members should contact the child's DCS Specialist to request visitation.

What is the difference between adoption and guardianship?

Adopted parents become the legal parents and the biological parents parental rights are terminated. A guardianship does not sever the parental rights of the biological parents.

Parent Responsibilities - When the Court becomes involved in a DCS Case

During Department of Child Safety involvement, parents are expected to:

  1. Work with DCS to solve family problems.
  2. Attend and participate in case staffing's, FCRB reviews and court hearings.
  3. Provide DCS with information about the children.
  4. Keep DCS informed about changes such as a new address, telephone number, job, income, marriage, or other living changes.
  5. Follow court orders.
  6. Visit children regularly when they are in out-of-home placements.
  7. Contribute to the cost of children's out-of-home care.
  8. Keep appointments made with DCS, attorneys, therapists and others who are working with the family.
  9. Immediately provide DCS the names, type of relationship and all information you have to locate persons related to or who have a significant relationship with your child. This includes the child's grandparents, great-grandparents, brothers or sisters of whole or half-blood, aunts, uncles and first cousins.
  10. Tell DCS if you do not have enough information to locate a relative or person who has a significant relationship with the child.
  11. If you do not have all of this information, immediately provide the information to DCS when you get the information.
  12. Be ready to provide this information to the Juvenile Court at the Preliminary Protective Hearing.

When Children Are Returned Home - When the Court becomes involved in a DCS Case?

The goal of DCS is to return every child who has been removed to a safe and permanent home. The agency helps parents in solving problems and making a safe living situation for their children. Although the DCS Specialist may recommend that a child return home, the court makes the final determination about when the child is returned. DCS works diligently with families to reunify them as quickly as possible and usually continues to provide needed services for some period after family reunification has occurred.

Where are FCRB meetings held?

Visit this website to learn more: https://www.azcourts.gov/fcrb/Adult-Participation/County-Locations

What is a case plan?

The Department shall facilitate the development of an individualized, family-centered, written case plan for every child, youth, and family receiving ongoing services from the Department.

The case plan identifies the permanency goal and target date, desired outcomes, tasks, time frames, and responsible parties. You can find more information by visiting the DCS Policy Manual here.

What is a Safety Plan?

A Safety Plan is a written arrangement between the parent, guardian, and/or custodian; the responsible adult(s) who will take action to control danger threats; and the Department. The Safety Plan establishes how impending danger threats to child safety will be controlled. The Safety Plan describes safety actions that must be taken in order to control anticipated danger and prevent harm to the child. You can find more information by visiting the DCS Policy Manual website here.

Should the child in care attend court hearings?

Children in care have the right to attend court hearings. Many factors should be considered when deciding whether or not a child in care should attend a hearing, including the child’s age and maturity level, the impact on the child’s education (if the hearing is during school hours), the existence of a no contact order, and the information expected to be discussed at the hearing.

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