Frequently Asked Questions

You can click here for a list of sexual behaviors based on a child's age: https://azfamilyresources.org/pdf/TypicalandProblematicSexualBehaviorsinChildren.pdf 

When a child is placed in your home, you will have a Best Interest Determination (BID) meeting with your case specialist to discuss school enrollment options and transportation to and from school. The BID will consider the wishes of the parent, caregiver, and child; the school’s distance from where the child is placed; the child’s age, personal connections, social, and emotional state; academic, developmental, language, and socialization needs; and the effect a school change will have on the child's learning, academic strength, and grade placement.

Caregivers are expected to communicate with the child's teacher, other education personnel and the child’s case specialist on a regular basis in order to monitor the child’s progress.

Your DCS Specialist will help you identify an eligible child care provider by doing the following:

Refer you to the Child Care Resource and Referral: 1-800-308-9000 or https://www.azccrr.com/ and

Assist you to verify the identified provider has a current DES registration agreement and has a vacancy.

Federal law requires schools and child welfare agencies such as DCS to help children in foster care remain in the school they attended prior to coming into care. 

Your school district liaison will work with the DCS specialist to determine school selection, enrolling the child, and a transportation plan.

You can find contact information for your school district's liaison here: https://www.azed.gov/fostercare/foster-care-liaisons. 

If it is decided that the child will not remain in their school of origin, you can enroll the child in any local public or charter school. You can also discuss with your DCS specialist if it is appropriate to enroll the child in an online school, private school or alternative school if those options meet the child’s educational needs.

Children in care can be photographed for school yearbooks, videos, etc. However, children should not be identified as a foster child in any publication.

Yes. The Notice to Provider allows you to sign permission slips from school and register the child in sports and other extracurricular activities. 

 If your child in care receives a suspension or an expulsion, please complete an Unusual Incident Report form.

 If a pattern of behavior emerges or the behavior prohibits the student's ability to receive an education, then an IEP or a 504 Plan may be necessary. If a child already has an IEP, the behavior plan should be reviewed or revised.