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Frequently Asked Questions

Basic Information

Who should I contact if I am unhappy or have concerns with DCS?

Go through the chain of command by contacting your caseworker and their supervisor. Visit https://dcs.az.gov/about/contact for the list of DCS offices and telephone numbers. If that does not work please contact the DCS Office of the Ombudsman, https://dcs.az.gov/resources/resolve-complaint-or-disagreement

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.

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. Remember 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

How can I support family reunification for my child?

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

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.”

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.

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.

Do I have to transport the child to visits?

DCS may request that you transport the child to visits, but if you are not able to provide this transportation, DCS will make alternate arrangements. Having the foster parent transport a child to visits can make visits easier for the child because you are a person the child already knows.

How does the Department know that a child has died or nearly died as a result of abuse or neglect (i.e. maltreatment)?

All allegations received by DCS, including allegations that a child has died or nearly died as a result of abuse or neglect, are called into the statewide DCS Hotline.*

State law allows DCS to release case records, but that part of the law is limited to cases of abuse, abandonment or neglect resulting in a fatality or a near fatality. Therefore, there must be medical proof or other evidence that the fatality or near fatality was caused by abuse or neglect.

Among the information DCS considers when determining that a child’s death was the result of abuse or neglect are:
A statement from a physician or an autopsy finding that the child’s death was the result of abuse or neglect;
A statement from a parent, guardian or caregiver that they caused the child’s death or near death;
The arrest or criminal indictment of a parent, guardian or caregiver in connection with the child’s death;
or, A DCS investigation has resulted in a substantiated finding that abuse or neglect by a parent, guardian or caregiver caused the child's death or near death.

Additionally, in the case of a near fatality, a physician must certify that the child was in serious or critical condition due to the abuse or neglect.

* Not all maltreatment fatalities or near fatalities are reported to the statewide DCS Hotline. For example, law enforcement may not report a child death from maltreatment to DCS if there are no children in the home for whom there are safety concerns or risks. In addition, incidents that occur outside of DCS’ jurisdiction – for example, on tribal reservations or military installations – may not be reported to DCS.

The Goal of Department of Child Safety

Department of Child Safety’ primary objective is to keep children safe within their own families. DCS works cooperatively with parents to make that happen. Department of Child Safety is a program that seeks to help families by strengthening the ability of parents, guardians or custodians to provide good care for their children. The program tries to balance the legal rights of parents and the needs and rights of children to live in a physically and emotionally healthful situation.

Do I have to supervise visits?

DCS may request that you supervise visits, especially if you are a kinship foster parent, but it is not required.

What preliminary information will the Department release about all cases where a child has died or nearly died as a result of abuse or neglect?

State law (see § A.R.S. 8-807.01 A(1) a-g) requires that the following preliminary information be released about a case of abuse or neglect that results in a child fatality or near fatality:

In the case of a fatality, the name of the child who has died.
The age, gender, county and general location of the residence of the child who has suffered a fatality or a near fatality.
The fact that a child suffered a fatality or near fatality as the result of abuse, abandonment or neglect.
The name, age and city, town or general location of the residence of the alleged perpetrator, if available, unless the disclosure would violate the privacy of victims of crime pursuant to article II, section 2.1, Constitution of Arizona.
Whether there have been reports, or any current or past cases, of abuse, abandonment or neglect involving the child or the alleged perpetrator.
Actions taken by the department in response to the fatality or near fatality of the child.
A detailed synopsis of prior reports or cases of abuse, abandonment or neglect involving the child or the alleged perpetrator and of the actions taken or determinations made by the department in response to these reports or cases.

The preliminary information will be posted on this website.

What should I expect when the child in care is initially placed in my home?

The Department of Child Safety (DCS) should make a referral within 72 hours (2 hours for an urgent need) of a child coming into care, this is called a Rapid Response referral. This is an initial in-home assessment during which clinicians will assess immediate needs and triage any crisis or trauma-related issues. Includes behavioral health assessment, screening for developmental delays, support to child/family placement and connection to ongoing services.

If the child in your care is new to the system and has NOT been assessed within 72 hours, please call Member Services or call the dedicated Rapid Response hotline, 602-633-0763. You can also call this 24/7 hotline to schedule an in-home DCS Stabilization Team visit.

For more information on times lines for services and what to expect, visit https://www.mercycareaz.org/

When will the preliminary information be released and how will the public know the preliminary information has been released?

The preliminary information will be released within 5 days of confirmation (Chapter 7 - Section 2) of DCS learning that a child’s death or near death is a result of maltreatment.

The information will be posted to this website.

Who can I contact for help in a crisis situation?

For all medical emergencies, dial 911 immediately. For a behavioral health crisis involving the child in your home, contact the Regional Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA) crisis line for your county:

Maricopa County: 1-800-631-1314 or 602-222-9444
Pima County — 1-800-796-6762 or 520-622-6000
Gila River/Ak-Chin Indian Community — 1-800-259-3449
Yuma, LaPaz, Pinal, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, Cochise and Santa Cruz Counties — 1-866-495-6735
Mohave, Coconino, Apache, Navajo and Yavapai Counties — 1-877-756-4090 For emergent suicide prevention, if you can't reach anyone on the county line, you can call one of twonationwide 24/7 hotlines:
Hope Line Suicide Hotline or 1-800-784-2433
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255
Click here for information about accessing crisis services for your child.

Arizona Department of Child Safety

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