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📞DCS Directory

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Where can I find a DCS press release?

Visit our news page here: dcs.az.gov/news

Where can I find DCS reports?

DCS Reports page: dcs.az.gov/reports

Where can I find DCS Contact information?

Visit our contact page here: dcs.az.gov/about/contact

Receipt and Response to DCS

What Happens after Department of Child Safety Completes the Investigation?

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.

What Services Are Provided Through DCS during or after an Investigation?

The level of services provided to a family is determined on a case by case basis and/or by court determination, some services that may be provided to families involved with DCS after the initial investigation are: Day Care, Parent Aide, Medical and Psychological Examinations and Evaluations, Shelter Care, Counseling, and other administrative and support services.

Voluntary Placement

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:

exceed 90 days;
be consecutive (“back-to-back”) placement agreements;
be utilized more than twice within 24 consecutive months, [ARS §8-806(C)];
be accepted for a child without the written, informed consent of the parent, legal guardian or legal custodian. [ARS §8-806(E)]
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)]

Family Support Services

Family Support Services work with families to ensure children's safety while helping families solve the problems that place children at risk. These services are provided in local communities and may include: help getting necessary food, housing, clothing or medical care; substance abuse testing and treatment; counseling; child care; and parent skills training.

Arizona Child Protection Laws

Arizona's laws about child protection are contained in the Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 8, Sections 2-5. These can be found online at https://www.azleg.gov/.

How Does Department of Child Safety Receive Information about a Family?

A report can be made to the DCS Statewide Toll-Free Child Abuse Hotline at 1-888-767-2445, (1-888-SOS-CHILD) or law enforcement office.

When reporting, the following information if known will be requested:

name, age, and gender of child and other family members
address, phone numbers, and/or directions to child's home
parents' place of employment
description of suspected abuse or neglect
current condition of the child

If the information meets report criteria, it is categorized to the severity of the allegations; this categorization determines how quickly a response is made.

When to Report?

A report should be made when any person, who reasonably believes that a child under 18 has been abused, neglected, exploited or abandoned. A report of suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment is only a request for an investigation. The person making the report does not need to prove the abuse. Investigation and validation of child abuse reports are the responsibilities of child protective service workers.

Law Enforcement and Department of Child Safety

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.

When a Child Needs Protection?

Few of the children who are reported to Department of Child Safety are removed from their homes. In most situations where verified family problems exist, the families and DCS work together cooperatively to resolve them. However, under certain circumstances, the law does allow a police officer or a DCS Specialist to temporarily remove a child for up to 72 hours (not including weekends and holidays) for protection while the investigation takes place.

A child may be removed for up to 12 hours for a medical or psychological evaluation. If the DCS investigation shows that the child must remain out of the home for a longer period to protect him/her from harm, DCS arranges for safe, temporary care.

Safeguarding Rights

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.

Team Decision Making Meeting

The decision to remove a child is not made by one person. The DCS Specialist discusses each case with a supervisor. When an emergency removal of a child has occurred or the removal of a child is being considered, a Team Decision Making (TDM) Meeting is held. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the child’s safety and where they will live.

If a child is removed from the parent, guardian or custodian’s custody or if removal of a child is being considered the following outcomes at the TDM Meeting may occur:

The child is returned or remains in the parent’s custody;
A dependency petition or In-Home Intervention is filed in the juvenile court; or
A voluntary foster care agreement is made.

In certain situations, the parent, guardian or custodian and DCS may agree to place a child in voluntary foster care as an alternative to a dependency petition. This service, limited to a 90-day period, is entered into only when families are willing and able to resolve problems within the allowed time frames. Written consent of the parents as well as the child, if age 12 or older, is required.

Young Adult

Are there other medical/mental health service resources?

Community Bridges, Inc. provides comprehensive behavioral health programs. These services are provided in Maricopa, Pinal, Gila, Yuma, Navajo, Apache, and Cochise Counties. For more information you can visit: https://communitybridgesaz.org/

Other companies include Jewish Family and Children Services (https://www.jfcsaz.org/), Terros Families First (https://www.terroshealth.org/family-services/) , La Frontera Empact (http://lafrontera-empact.org/) also provide services.

Arizona Department of Child Safety