The Arizona Auditor General has released its report on the Arizona Department of Child Safety’s Emergency and Residential Placements. The report found that the costs for congregate care nearly doubled between fiscal years 2009 and 2013.
According to the report, “The best setting for abused or neglected children who are removed from their homes is a family-based setting, such as with a relative or in licensed foster care. Because it is not family-based, congregate care, such as emergency shelters, group homes, and residential treatment centers, is the least preferred placement option. However, the number of Arizona children and the length of time they are in congregate care has increased.”
One of the reasons there has been an increase is the fact that there is an “inadequate supply of foster care homes; various state practices, including some related to permanency goals and activities; and inadequate access to behavioral health services.”
The Auditor General suggests that the Arizona Department of Child Safety “should consider other states’ experiences to identify multiple strategies for reducing its use.”