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This audit found that foster
children can be unnecessarily harmed by being moved from placement to
placement, and foster parents need better information about the children in
their care. However, Arizona, like most states, does not meet the national
standard for foster care placement stability. Although the Division is already
taking steps to improve placement stability, it should consider additional
enhancements. For example, the Division should clarify its policy related to
case manager visits with foster children to only rarely allow other staff or
service provider visits to substitute for case manager visits, and consider
whether innovative practices used by other states, such as making single
family-group placements would be beneficial. Further, although there are
already several good mechanisms for foster parents to receive and provide
information about children in their care, additional steps can be taken to
improve communication. For example, foster parents report that they would
benefit from improved information about children in their care including
medical and behavioral health information. Similarly, the Division can improve
communication by enhancing its foster parent training, survey mechanism,
support groups, and Web site.
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