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Frequently Asked Questions

Legal

What are my rights regarding visitation?

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.

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 are my rights regarding Team Decision making (TDM) meetings?

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.

I would like to adopt my grandchild. What will change?

If you adopt your grandchild, you will become the legal parent and make all parental decisions for the child.

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

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

Work with DCS to solve family problems.
Attend and participate in case staffing's, FCRB reviews and court hearings.
Provide DCS with information about the children.
Keep DCS informed about changes such as a new address, telephone number, job, income, marriage, or other living changes.
Follow court orders.
Visit children regularly when they are in out-of-home placements.
Contribute to the cost of children's out-of-home care.
Keep appointments made with DCS, attorneys, therapists and others who are working with the family.
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.
Tell DCS if you do not have enough information to locate a relative or person who has a significant relationship with the child.
If you do not have all of this information, immediately provide the information to DCS when you get the information.
Be ready to provide this information to the Juvenile Court at the Preliminary Protective Hearing.

What is guardianship?

With respect to a minor, Guardianship means the duty and authority to make important decisions in matters affecting the child. You can find more information in regards to Guardianship and DCS you can visit the DCS Policy Manual website here.

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.

What decisions can a Title 8 guardian make?

A guardian is assigned the care, custody and supervision of a child by the court. This means the guardian has rights and responsibilities in making important decisions affecting the life of a child.

What is a guardianship subsidy?

Guardianship subsidy is a monthly payment to the guardian to help with the expenses of caring for the child.

How long does Title 8 Guardianship subsidy last?

Guardian subsidy lasts until the child turns 18 or if the guardianship is terminated or the child no longer resides with the guardian.

What supports are available to children under Title 8 Guardianship?

Cash assistance
AHCCCS (if eligible)
Behavioral health services (if eligible)

Can guardianship be undone?

Yes, a judge may revoke a guardianship.

Can I become a DCS licensed foster home if I have guardianship?

No, once you have guardianship, you cannot become a licensed foster home for that child.

What does a CASA do?

CASA volunteers get to know the child by talking with the child and everyone else in that child's life: parents and relatives, foster parents, teachers, medical professionals, attorneys, social workers and others. They use the information they gather to inform judges and others of what the child needs and what will be the best permanent home for them. Click here to learn more about what a CASA’s responsibilities include.

What is a court hearing?

A court hearing is when the judge is updated about the parents’ progress on their service plan and how the child is doing in placement. Based upon these updates, the judge can make a decision regarding the child’s case plan (for example, ordering for reunification or ordering a case plan change to severance and adoption). Also, the judge may issue orders for additional services for the parents and/or the child.

Arizona Department of Child Safety