Arizona Department of Child Safety
For all emergency child abuse and neglect reports, call: 1-888-SOS-CHILD (1-888767-2445) If your concern involves an emergency situation, call 911 immediately.
Online Reporting Service for Mandated Reporters
Mandated reporters are required by law, as defined by ARS 13-3620, to report all concerns
of child abuse or neglect. Department of Child Safety (DCS) provides this secure website for
mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect to report non-emergency concerns, as
authorized by ARS 13-3620. Non-emergency concerns are those in which a child is not at
immediate risk of abuse or neglect that could result in serious harm. This website is only
for mandated reporters to report situations that do not require an emergency
response. An emergency is a situation where a child faces an immediate risk of abuse or
neglect that could result in death or serious harm.
Case Plans and Staffing
A case plan is required for every child and family receiving ongoing services from
DCS, consistent with the requirements of federal and state law. The case plan is a
document that identifies what behavioral changes are required from the parent
and/or the child to address the safety threats and risk factors that caused the child
to be removed from the home and/or prevent the child from living safely at home
without DCS involvement. The case plan identifies the case goal for the child
(permanency), services/supports to be provided to achieve the behavioral changes,
person responsible, and planned date of review. The case plan also must include
what services/supports will be provided to assure the child’s health, behavior,
educational, and independent living needs. The case plan is written and developed
with the family. If the parent is not able or willing to participate in the development
of the case plan, it will be noted in the plan. The DCS Specialist must provide parents
with a copy of the case plan. This proposed case plan must be a part of the report
that is submitted to the court at the time of the Preliminary Protective Hearing.
A staffing is a meeting held with parents and others who are providing services to
the family to develop or review the case plan. At the first staffing the permanent
case plan is developed. Parents are encouraged and expected to be involved in this
planning process. Staffings also provide an opportunity for all participants to
discuss progress, exchange ideas and suggestions, and to work together
cooperatively to resolve family problems. Regular staffings are scheduled at least
every six months to discuss case progress.
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are citizens who are appointed
by dependency court judges and are trained to investigate the circumstances of
children who have been removed from their homes primarily due to abuse or
neglect. They become a voice for foster children and help protect their rights by
advocating for their best interests, their safety and permanency and by acting as
“eyes and ears” for the court.
Volunteers get to know the child by spending time with them and doing their
independent assessment on the case, talking with everyone in that child's life;
parents and relatives, foster parents, teachers, medical professionals, attorneys,
social workers and others. They use the information they gather to write a report to
inform judges and others of what the child needs and what will be the best
permanent home for them. For additional information go to:
www.CASAofArizona.org
Services for the Family When There is Court Involvement
The Department of Economic Security provides services to help families deal with
problems and work toward the goal of family reunification. Usually, there is no
charge for these services. The DCS Specialist talks with family members to decide
what is needed. There are also other agencies or groups in Arizona that offer help.
Services that may be suggested include:
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Help in getting food, housing, clothing and medical care.
Intensive family preservation services.
Psychological evaluations.
Individual, family or relationship counseling.
Day care.
Parent aide services.
Parenting skills training.
Educational programs, job training or vocational rehabilitation.
Sexual assault or domestic violence counseling.
Drug or alcohol treatment programs.
Peer self-help groups.
The Office of Prevention and Family Support
The Office of Prevention and Family Support (OPFS) has a number of programs and
services that strengthen communities and families facing a wide variety of needs. All
families can benefit from information in helping to connect with resources to help them
with the challenges of parenthood and family life. The programs range from primary
prevention to intervention services. The parent's involvement in these programs may be
voluntary or as a result of a referral from Department of Child Safety (DCS). The goal of
OPFS is to help parents create safe, stable and nurturing home environments that promote
the safety of all family members and healthy child development.
To accomplish these goals, DES contracts with local agencies and organizations to provide
services to families across Arizona.
The Arizona Families F.I.R.S.T. program helps parents address substance abuse issues
that affect their ability to care for their children or to get and keep a job. It provides the
opportunity for families to overcome the barrier of substance abuse in order to reach
permanency for children, family reunification and self-sufficiency.
The Behavioral Health Services unit assists the Division in achieving safety, well-being
and permanency for children, youth and families by collaborating with Arizona
stakeholders to fulfill the Arizona Vision for behavioral health services.
The Healthy Families Arizona program started delivering services in October of 1991 and
is a credentialed, home-based, voluntary program serving families at risk during pregnancy
and after the birth of the baby. Voluntary home visiting matches parents with trained
professionals to provide information and support during pregnancy and throughout the
child's first five years, a critical developmental period.
In-Home Services is a contracted service set-up for Department of Child Safety (DCS)
families. A very important function of DCS is to identify services in order to assist in
supporting and improving the family unit with the goal of maintaining children in the home
and reunifying the family whenever safely possible.
Regional Child Abuse Prevention Councils educate Arizona communities about child
abuse/neglect and its prevention. Councils are run by volunteers in their local
communities. Act now to prevent child abuse! Join a Child Abuse Prevention Council in your
area.