Frequently Asked Questions

Suspected child abuse or neglect may be reported to the police, to Department of Child Safety or both. If the report concerns a person who is not the parent, guardian or custodian of the minor, the report is made to the police. In cases where the report is concerning a parent, guardian or custodian and the allegations are criminal conduct allegations, such as sex abuse, a call is made to DCS and the police. DCS will coordinate its investigations with law enforcement. Although DCS cooperates with the police, the focus of its assessment is different. DCS seeks to protect children and to maintain and stabilize families, not to arrest or prosecute parents.

Arizona state law gives Department of Child Safety (DCS) the authority to protect and to aid children who are at risk in their own homes. These same laws provide safeguards for the rights of children and their parents. Law enforcement officers and DCS specialists may remove a child from the parents if a child is suffering or will imminently suffer abuse or neglect, or for a medical or psychological examination to determine if the child has been abused or neglected. Parents whose children have been removed from the home are given a Temporary Custody Notice within six hours. If a dependency petition is filed, parents are notified of the date, time and location court will review the temporary custody of their children. Children and parents have the right to receive services to promote timely reunification as a family.

After DCS completes an investigation, the parent, guardian or custodian involved will receive a letter stating whether or not the information found during the DCS investigation concludes there is reason to believe the allegations of abuse and/or neglect are true; this is referred to as either a “proposed substantiated” or “unsubstantiated” finding. If the finding is proposed substantiated, that means there is reason to believe the abuse/neglect did take place. An unsubstantiated finding means there was insufficient evidence to conclude the abuse or neglect took place. DCS will provide written notification at the conclusion of the investigation.

In cases where DCS proposed to substantiate an allegation of abuse or neglect that does not involve DCS filing a dependency petition with the Juvenile Court, the proposed substantiation will be forwarded to the Department of Child Safety (DCS) Protective Services Review Team (PSRT) for review. If PSRT agrees with the decision to substantiate, the person whom the allegation is made against will receive a letter from PSRT with information about their right to an appeal.

Voluntary placement is a time-limited service that may be provided for a child as an alternative for the family to keep their child safe. A case plan must be developed with the family aimed at resolving safety and/or risk factors that must be addressed in order for the child to live safely at home. Placement under a voluntary placement agreement shall be with a relative or licensed out-of-home care provider. Voluntary Placement Agreements shall not:

1. exceed 90 days;
2. be consecutive (“back-to-back”) placement agreements;
3. be utilized more than twice within 24 consecutive months, [ARS §8-806(C)];
4. be accepted for a child without the written, informed consent of the parent, legal guardian or legal custodian. [ARS §8-806(E)]
5. be accepted for a child who is age 12 or older and not developmentally disabled without the written informed consent of the child, unless the department determines that voluntary placement is clearly necessary to prevent abuse.[ ARS §8-806(F)]