ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
child welfare; DES
responsibilities
Allows
the Department of Economic Security (DES) to pay for the placement of a child
under a voluntary foster care agreement in any out-of-home placement instead of
just family foster homes.
Some
Child Protective Services (CPS) reports involve families self-reporting because
they are unable to access adequate behavioral, mental health or educational services.
The number of children released from juvenile corrections, detention and mental
health facilities whose parents are unwilling or unable to care for them at
home is increasing.
If the family could remedy
the situation within 90 days and placement of the child outside of the home
would help the family resolve issues, a child may be placed in voluntary foster
care with written informed consent of the family.
Current law only allows DES
to pay placement costs for a child under voluntary foster care if the child is
in a family foster home. Although voluntary placement itself does not
constitute abandonment, abuse or dependency, DES must file a dependency
petition with the court if a family foster home is not available or the child
needs a different type of placement.
The fiscal impact of this
bill is unknown. While other types of placements may typically be more costly
than family foster homes, fewer dependencies may result in significant case
management and court cost avoidance.
1. Expands the type of voluntary placements that DES can pay for from family foster homes to any out-of-home placement.
2. Makes technical and conforming changes.
3. Provides for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
January 15, 2001