Arizona Laws 8-457. Service coordination function
A. The department may arrange, provide and coordinate programs and services that protect children and may provide programs and services that achieve and maintain permanency on behalf of the child, strengthen the family and provide prevention, intervention and treatment for abused and neglected children.
Terms Used In Arizona Laws 8-457
- Child safety services: means a specialized child welfare program that is administered by the department as provided in this chapter and that investigates allegations of and seeks to prevent, intervene in and treat abuse and neglect, to promote the well-being of the child in a permanent home and to coordinate services to strengthen the family. See Arizona Laws 8-801
- Department: means the department of child safety. See Arizona Laws 8-201
- In-home intervention: means a program of services provided pursuant to article 14 of this chapter while the child is still in the custody of the parent, guardian or custodian. See Arizona Laws 8-801
- neglected: means :
(a) The inability or unwillingness of a parent, guardian or custodian of a child to provide that child with supervision, food, clothing, shelter or medical care if that inability or unwillingness causes substantial risk of harm to the child's health or welfare, except if the inability of a parent, guardian or custodian to provide services to meet the needs of a child with a disability or chronic illness is solely the result of the unavailability of reasonable services. See Arizona Laws 8-201
- Petition: means a written statement of the essential facts that allege delinquency, incorrigibility or dependency. See Arizona Laws 8-201
- Prevention: means the creation of conditions, opportunities and experiences that encourage and develop healthy, self-sufficient children and that occur before the onset of problems. See Arizona Laws 8-201
B. If a child and the child’s family require assistance from the department, all of the following apply:
1. The health and safety of the child is the primary concern.
2. Reasonable efforts must be made to provide the assistance in the method that is least intrusive and least restrictive to the family and that is consistent with the needs of the child.
3. Reasonable efforts must be made to deliver the assistance in a culturally appropriate manner and as close as possible to the home community of the child or family requiring assistance.
C. In addition to the requirements of federal law, the case plan shall:
1. Set appropriate time limits on the services provided.
2. Clearly describe the actions the department might pursue if the family:
(a) Participates in the services outlined in the case plan and does what is required for the child to be safe in the home.
(b) Does not participate in the services outlined in the case plan and does not make the changes required for the child to be safe in the home.
D. The department shall establish procedures to ensure that appropriate services have been initiated as scheduled.
E. In determining if a case should be open for ongoing services, the department shall consider as the primary factors if there exists a present or future risk of harm to any child in the family and if services can mitigate the identified risks. Based on the investigation of the case and the results of the risk assessment, the department shall determine whether to close the case, offer voluntary child safety services or open a case for ongoing services.
F. If a case will be open for ongoing services, the department shall determine if the services are to be provided in one of the following ways:
1. Through a voluntary agreement with the department.
2. Pursuant to a petition for in-home intervention.
3. Pursuant to a petition for in-home or out-of-home dependence.