Nicole Fries

The meeting began with introductions from committee members representing various organizations such as Three Precious Miracles, Arizona Resources Child Advocacy Organization, Phoenix Police Department, Arizona State University, Voices for Kasa Children, DCS, and the juvenile court department. The Director provided updates, noting the upcoming strategic planning for 2027. Key data points discussed included employee headcount constraints, a significant increase in total intakes and reports possibly due to high-profile media events, and a subsequent rise in total open cases, with a particular concern regarding exits from out-of-home care being significantly down compared to the previous year. The director also detailed efforts to support staff through internal training and addressed concerns about community perception. Additionally, an update was provided on the growth of the extended foster care program and the recent increase in the daily bed rate to better reimburse foster parents. Finally, trends in the out-of-home care population, including an increase in the percentage of children in group homes, older entries, and those with complex behavioral health needs, were reviewed. Staff turnover was also discussed in context with recent events and internal support programs.

The meeting included introductions and member updates related to child welfare. The Arizona Center for African-American Resources is working with the Department of Child Safety to create legislation for 2026, patterned after IQUA, to reduce biases in investigations and decrease the number of children removed from homes. November is National Adoption Day, with an adoption day event scheduled for the Saturday before Thanksgiving at the Durango Juvenile Court. A presentation was given by Nick Palowski, the program manager for the victim services unit, which includes the missing abducted runaway children unit, about the unit's responsibilities and processes.

This strategic plan for the Arizona Department of Child Safety outlines its long-term direction and goals, aligning with its mission to strengthen families, ensure safety, and achieve permanency for children. Key strategic pillars include increasing engagement with primary prevention programs, improving permanency outcomes for children in out-of-home care, reducing re-reports for families receiving in-home services, enhancing staff retention, and maximizing the placement of children in family-like settings. The plan also prioritizes expanding kinship and community foster care, improving timeliness to permanency, fostering professional development, and increasing family engagement.

The meeting included discussion on the hotline primary functions and responsibilities. The hotline assesses suspected concerns of abuse or neglect, and determines whether the concern meets the criteria to qualify as a report for investigation. The top reporting source groups to the hotline are law enforcement, behavioral health professional, school personnel, and hospital personnel. There are multiple quality assurance processes, including reports for invoice investigation and the screened out intake process.

The committee members discussed the annual report, focusing on recommendations for the fiscal year 2025. Key discussion points included updates to the department's website, the implementation and evaluation of kinship support services, and prevention programs. Members suggested modifying language in the report to commend progress made by the department and to focus on the next steps in strategic actions based on current learning. The committee also addressed the need for data on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives and the importance of sharing evaluation results with the community.