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Report: Arizona children’s well-being improves slightly but state still ranks among worst
An annual report that measures the well-being of children showed slight improvement for Arizona kids, but the Grand Canyon state remained among the lowest-ranked states.
Child fatalities: We deserve an answer
In Arizona, 46% of abuse and neglect deaths involved a prior history with the state’s child welfare agency. Arizona Senate Bill 1252, championed by Sen. Janae Shamp, R-Surprise, recognizes these deaths are preventable, and we desperately need to chart a path toward change that will ultimately save lives.
Lawmakers boost money for child safety agency, but with strings attached
Showing a commitment to improving outcomes for Arizona children in the state’s care, lawmakers made child welfare one of the greatest beneficiaries of the $9.6 billion budget adopted earlier this month.
CPS workers can interview children without adult’s consent, AG concludes
Child welfare workers can interview children without the consent of their parents, Attorney General Mark Brnovich concluded Monday.
Don’t give up on DCS yet! What the agency needs is inspiring leadership
Dear Legislature: Don’t give up on Arizona’s children and the Department of Child Safety yet, please.
McKay defends his approach, says DCS problems created by past administrations
Officials at the Department of Child Safety know the beleaguered agency has problems, but Director Greg McKay says previous administrations are to blame.
Hundreds of millions of dollars later, child safety programs plagued by the same problems
A decade ago, a team of auditors embedded themselves in the agency charged with protecting Arizona’s children and found that some reports of child abuse or neglect weren’t properly investigated. Other cases lacked the relevant information necessary to ensure children’s safety. Ten years, hundreds of millions of dollars and a new agency later, the problems that plague the Department of Child [...]
Child Safety director says goal of reducing backlog “not attainable,” money “not well spent”
One year and $29 million later, Arizona’s child welfare agency is no closer to eliminating a sizeable backlog of stagnant child safety cases, a goal the agency’s director now says was unattainable.
Wrongful termination suit filed by 5 ex-CPS workers tossed
A judge Thursday threw out a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by five former Arizona child welfare workers who were fired last year amid an agency scandal.
New child safety director describes plans to improve care
The Department of Child Safety’s new director outlined plans on March 23 to turn around Arizona’s ailing child welfare services in front of a legislative committee.
Brewer preparing budget protecting her priorities
Outgoing Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said Monday she is preparing a budget proposal that protects her top priorities but that she acknowledges can be ignored by governor-elect Doug Ducey.
Governor’s team completes its examination of child welfare cases
A special team formed by Gov. Jan Brewer to address 6,596 reports of neglect and abuse that child-welfare workers set aside without investigating has finished examining the cases.
