Grand Canyon Times

The number of children under the age of 17 in care at the Arizona Department of Child Safety fell to less than 12,000 as of July 2022, representing the lowest number since 2012 and a 30% decrease from the 18,657 children in care in 2016.

“Over the past eight years, Arizona went from near the bottom in child welfare to the top,” Gov. Doug Ducey told the Arizona Department of Child Safety in a press release. “I commend Director Mike Faust and all of the DCS employees, foster parents, community groups and partner agencies who worked, and continue to work, tirelessly to support Arizona’s most vulnerable children and families.”

Faust reasoned there was plenty of praise and credit to go around, adding that reducing the numbers has always been one of the agency’s top goals.

“DCS was deeply challenged a decade ago, and had it not been for the commitment of all those involved to make DCS a standalone agency, the resolve and steadfastness of Director Greg McKay from 2015-2019; the commitment of the thousands of employees and partners who devote their lives to protecting children; the loving support of kinship families; and the dedication of biological families to reunifying with their children, this would not have been possible,” he said.

Faust added there is still much work to be done.

“We are thankful for our system partners, the providers and nonprofit organizations who serve along with us and most notably the community partners who remain committed to improving Arizona’s Child Protection system,” Faust said, according to the press release. “For all the positives, the work is never complete. The Department remains committed to working alongside community leaders to prevent children from needing protection and partnering together to best serve children and their families when intervention is necessary.”