Bill Text: AZ SCR1017 | 2014 | Fifty-first Legislature 2nd Regular | Introduced
Bill Title: Child protective services
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-06 - Referred to Senate HHS Committee [SCR1017 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2014-SCR1017-Introduced.html
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REFERENCE TITLE: child protective services |
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State of Arizona Senate Fifty-first Legislature Second Regular Session 2014
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SCR 1017 |
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Introduced by Senator Gallardo
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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
committing to cooperation in addressing CPS reforms.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Whereas, the primary purposes of Child Protective Services (CPS) are to protect children by investigating allegations of abuse and neglect, promoting the well-being of the child in a permanent home and coordinating services to strengthen the family and prevent, intervene in and treat abuse and neglect of children; and
Whereas, in November 2013, the Arizona Department of Economic Security disclosed that Child Protective Services had closed, without investigation, over six thousand five hundred reports (NI Reports) of child abuse and neglect since 2009; and
Whereas, Governor Brewer’s CARE Team identified fifteen zip codes in Arizona that have the highest number of CPS NI Reports. Of these fifteen zip codes, eight are majority Latino zip codes, four are majority White zip codes and three zip codes are other; and
Whereas, the eight majority Latino zip codes with the highest number of CPS NI Reports are located in Maricopa County and have median household incomes significantly below the county median income of $54,000, including three with median incomes between $20,000 and $30,000 and two between $30,000 and $40,000; and
Whereas, thirteen of the fifteen zip codes with the highest number of CPS NI Reports have a median household income of less than the state median income of $50,000; and
Whereas, there are over fifteen thousand children in out-of-home care in Arizona, an increase of sixty per cent since 2008; and
Whereas, nearly forty per cent of the fifteen thousand children in out‑of‑home care are Latino; and
Whereas, CPS caseworkers are carrying caseloads that greatly exceed caseload standards, including investigation caseworkers whose current average caseload is more than double the standard; and
Whereas, since 2009 the Arizona Legislature has enacted a series of deep funding cuts to programs that provided critical support services for struggling families and their children, including:
1. Elimination of the Healthy Families Program that provided services to children under five years of age and their families and that was designed to prevent child abuse or neglect and promote child development and wellness.
2. Elimination of the Family Builders Program that funded community based providers offering assessment, preservation and support services to families of children who are in the CPS system.
3. Freezing child care subsidy enrollment for thousands of low-income, working parents. This subsidy allows parents to keep and find employment without forcing parents to have to choose between leaving their children at home alone and providing for their families.
4. Cutting substance abuse treatment services, domestic violence services and homeless services and Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance.
Therefore
Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:
1. That the Members of the Legislature believe that CPS has failed in its responsibility to protect children by investigating allegations of abuse and neglect especially in majority Latino communities where over one-half of the zip codes with the highest number of NI Reports were located.
2. That the Members of the Legislature believe that large cuts in state support of the CPS system, including programs that provide critical support services for poor and low income families, is a major factor in the unprecedented growth in CPS caseloads and uninvestigated reports.
3. That the Members of the Legislature commit to working together to institute needed CPS reforms and providing adequate funding including:
(a) Strengthening the CPS workforce with lower caseloads, additional bilingual caseworkers and improved training and supervision.
(b) Reducing the number of children entering foster care and keeping children safe at home with their families by bolstering prevention services, child care subsidies and substance abuse and mental health treatment.
