We are three weeks into the 2014 Legislative Session and
there is much to report. I’m deeply grateful for the caring and concern
expressed by so many of you! Your encouragement helps so much to put difficult
issues out there, and push for their consideration.
My main focus this session is the new Division of Child
Safety and Family Services (DCSFS), formerly Child Protective Services (CPS). As
a member of the Governor's CARE Team I'm relieved to report that all 6,554 of
the "Not Investigated" (NI) cases have been reviewed and assigned. 4,000+
children involved in these cases have been seen - "Eyes on the Child" - and
investigations are underway. In addition, over 400 children have been
removed from unsafe homes.
The new DCSFS Director, Charles Flanagan and his newly
assembled management team, along with Greg McKay and the Office of Child Welfare
Investigations, are working around the clock with dedicated CPS frontline
workers to respond to incoming reports and manage ongoing cases. The
safety of our children is paramount, and transparency in reporting outcomes
achieved in the NI cases is now being carried forward into DCSFS
operations. We cannot back away from this issue until we have systems
in place that assure Arizona children are safe!
The Governor's CARE Team will wrap up its work on or
before January 31st, as promised. In addition to ensuring proper
disposition of the 6,554 cases, we were charged with examining the CPS system,
identifying areas of concern and developing recommendations for improvement, and
then submitting those findings to the Governor. It has been my honor to meet
with and hear perspectives from many stakeholders and child advocates who
interact with Arizona's child welfare system on a daily basis. Case workers,
foster parents, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA's), Foster Care Review
Board members, behavioral health providers, Juvenile Court judges, Guardians Ad
Litem, doctors, nurses, teachers, police and firefighters and many more caring
adults - all committed to helping children in distress. As I learn more about
their efforts, I am convinced we can and will put a system in place
that will safeguard our children.
This past week, I joined with legislators and
stakeholders to begin work on legislation I commenced several months ago to
establish CPS, now DCSFS, as a separate, stand-alone agency. We have
both legislative and executive resources available to us, and the support of the
Governor, Speaker Tobin and President Biggs. We WILL get this
done, and most importantly we will make certain we do not simply
cut-and-paste the old agency into the new agency. Our ultimate goal - child
safety - is one that we must get RIGHT as opposed to
just getting it done.
For my part, I will work tirelessly to keep this issue
in the public eye as we work toward getting the statutory framework in place for
a child welfare system fundamentally changed for the better. Speaker Andy
Tobin and Governor Brewer have been enormously supportive, and my colleague on
the CARE Team, Senator Leah Landrum Taylor, reports that President Biggs is on
board! With so many varying perspectives sharing a common goal - the safety
and wellbeing of Arizona's children - we are bound to succeed in a very
difficult and complicated undertaking.
On other legislative fronts, I continue to work hard on
a number of bills related to my chairmanship of the House Financial Institutions
Committee and my membership on the Health Committee. I will have more to share
with you on these bills in the weeks to come.
I'm so excited about the many visits to the Capitol from
4th Grade Government classes from around the district. I've had the opportunity
to greet many of them, answer questions and take them onto the Floor of the
House. These children are our future leaders, and their eagerness to learn makes
me proud to be an Arizonan.
I'm looking forward to updating you as the 2014 Session
continues. Thanks so much for your continued support and encouragement.
Please continue to send emails, letters, and make phone calls to my
office. Your participation helps in more ways than I can
count!
