After bringing together families, law enforcement, and tribal officials to discuss significant issues at the Department of Child Safety (DCS), state senator Carine Werner is advocating for substantial changes to Arizona's child welfare system.
The September 3 meeting resulted in DCS committing to several immediate reforms designed to better protect children in group homes and improve communication between agencies, as outlined in a press release.
"This is a step in the right direction, but it can't be the last," Carine Werner said. "Arizona's children deserve a system that responds quickly, communicates clearly, and puts their safety first."
System Issues
Significant problems in Arizona's child protection department were highlighted during Werner's conference. When members of group homes went missing, they failed to notify authorities regularly, which led to potentially fatal delays in search operations and cases of miscommunication between child welfare workers and police.
Tracking information on Native American children in state custody presented additional challenges for tribal governments, which slowed down efforts to reunite families. When the state disciplined group home facilities, affected communities often remained unaware of safety violations at homes where their children lived.
Proposed Plan
Mandatory reporting deadlines for missing children will be established by new procedures, ensuring that state employees and local law enforcement are promptly informed when children leave facilities.
Data on facility locations and regular briefings will be sent to law enforcement agencies to ensure officers can better understand the residents of each home before an emergency occurs. Responding officers will also have access to vital background information concerning missing children, such as family connections and medical requirements, according to a standardized incident report template.
The press release explained that the department will resume scheduled consultation sessions with tribal authorities, starting with the San Carlos Apache Tribe, and create similar arrangements with other sovereign nations. Facility oversight actions will also be shared with tribal partners and community organizations that place children in licensed homes.
The senator credited families, law enforcement officers, and tribal leaders for providing practical solutions during the stakeholder meeting.
"I will keep working with stakeholders and holding DCS accountable until we create a system that best serves families and kids throughout Arizona," she concluded.
