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Kathryn Ptak: Mission-driven director of the Department of Child Safety
Kathryn Ptak spent most of her career working in child welfare before becoming director of the Department of Child Safety earlier this year. She says her personal connection to the […]
Lawmakers demand greater oversight of Arizona’s Department of Child Safety
Key Points: Legislators want to review licensed group homes Some are concerned children are too often labeled as runaways, not missing Move is part of a larger push for oversight […]
DCS blows a chance to turn child care crisis into opportunity
I’ll say this much for Gov. Katie Hobbs’ administration and the Arizona Legislature: When it comes to fixing the wretched mess that is the Arizona “child welfare” system, they never […]
Feds: Arizona child safety agency discriminates against parents, children with disabilities
The Arizona Department of Child Safety is violating federal law by discriminating against both parents and children with disabilities, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Childcare agency survives with tighter controls
The Department of Child Safety was put in the spotlight again this legislative session, but the agency was granted a lifeline – tied to stipulations – despite some lawmakers’ stance that it should not be continued at all. Legislation that passed this session will put aspects of the agency under a microscope and set up policy that aims to increase housing security for foster children that age[...]
Child safety agency getting 4 more years, but…
The Department of Child Safety will likely be granted a four-year continuation, following significant concerns from lawmakers as to how it operates. However, its lifeline comes with a set of conditions.
Lawmakers consider tightening oversight of Department of Child Safety
In a debate over how long the Arizona Department of Child Safety should be allowed to continue, a state representative denounced the agency at a sunset review hearing Wednesday and two legislators voted against recommending the agency’s continuation.
GOP lawmakers want more oversight of child safety agency
A veteran state lawmaker says he wants more oversight of the Department of Child Safety, saying the agency is taking far too many children from their homes and then losing track of some of them.
Travers pushing for exception to state laws that allow clergy to hide abuse confessed
A first-term Democratic lawmaker wants to enact an exception to state laws that allow clergy to refuse to disclose what was told to them in confession or similar confidential communication.
Lawsuit against LDS church could become basis for court to consider statute protecting clergy
A lawsuit against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints could become the legal basis for the state Court of Appeals to consider -- and void -- a statute that protects members of the clergy from disclosing an adherent's confession of child molestation.
New report says DCS reluctant to take punitive enforcement action against foster, group homes
A new report says the state Department of Child Safety has a "culture of not wanting to take punitive enforcement action against its foster homes and group homes.''
The impact of DCS’ discovery gap on parents – a former department attorney’s perspective
The Attorney General and Department of Child Safety did the right thing here by flagging an issue for the public. Transparency is crucial in the days to come so that we, as advocates for families can trust that we have all the information to which we are entitled to help ensure a fair process.
