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In accordance with a legislative request,
this special performance audit report focuses primarily on two Child
Protective Services (CPS) functions: (1) the child removal process – the
process by which CPS and other involved parties determine whether a child
should be removed from his/her parents’ or guardians’ home, and (2) the
substantiation and appeals process – the process by which CPS and other
involved parties determine whether abuse or neglect incidents should be
substantiated.
State statutes and Arizona Administrative
Code define the circumstances under which CPS can remove a child from his or
her parents’ or guardians’ custody. However, not all conditions that the
public might consider abuse or neglect are defined. Therefore, the
Legislature should consider clarifying the statutory definition of abuse and
neglect. State law also provides for two administrative reviews when CPS
decides to remove a child from their home. However, few parents or guardians
are requesting one review and CPS needs to analyze the impact of the other
review.
Whether or not a child is removed from
the home, CPS must determine whether each allegation it investigates should be
substantiated. In 1997, the Legislature required CPS to add a hearing process
to its procedures for substantiating abuse and neglect reports. This process
may have contributed to a decline in the percentage of cases that were
substantiated between 1998 and 2001. The results of the review process
suggest case managers need more training on the standards for substantiation
and feedback on review results.
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