Department of Economic Security - Division of Developmental Disabilities

Coordination between the Division and Child Protective Services can be improved to ensure that foster care children with developmental disabilities receive timely and appropriate services. Comprehensive cross-training and updated policies on sharing and transferring cases could help alleviate delays in obtaining services. The Division also needs to continue to pursue a pilot project to improve its management of Unusual Incident Reports, which record incidents of client abuse and neglect. The report also includes information on the future expansion of service needs for Arizonans with developmental disabilities, its progress in implementing a fair and equitable rate structure, and its contract management practices.

In addition, the Division should consider upgrading its information system, ASSISTS, to better meet client needs and manage its operations, because it does not capture key client information and cannot provide up-to-date reports. Replacing ASSISTS will cost about $25 million in state funding, since no federal funding is available. Whether or not ASSISTS is replaced, the Division should improve maintenance and management of its client waiting list. Revised policies and better training could improve the waiting list allowing managers to more effectively ensure that clients receive services in a timely manner and that highest priority needs are met first.