It was not long ago that the deaths of children prompted the legislature to restructure Child Protective Services as the new Department of Child Safety. A new director and a plan to change the system were meant to ensure that all children were protected.
Now, the news that DCS plans to stop assigning lower-priority cases of child abuse for investigation is as shocking as it is disturbing.
We have seen the damage created by policies like this: the 2013 investigation into CPS revealed that thousands of reports of child abuse and neglect were uninvestigated.
The reports came in, but because the agency was understaffed, thousands of reports were labeled “NI” (Not-Investigated) and forgotten.
Now, less than a year later, the new agency returns to the old policies, which endangered children. Although the label is slightly different, calling a case “unassigned” instead of “not-investigated” has the same potentially deadly result.
Likewise, changing the name of the agency is meaningless if the agency reverts to the same dangerous practices.
Clearly, it is more important than ever to demand accountability from those making the decisions that will have long-term, devastating consequences. If you, too, are outraged by how our state government is treating our children, I challenge you to do more than just feel bad. Empathy is not enough. We must be actively compassionate.
Voting is an act of compassion. It is one of the most powerful steps anyone can take to help protect the future of our state and the well-being of our children.
And those children need it, because Arizona has a dismal child-welfare track record. We have a backlog of more than 15,000 reports of child abuse and neglect. There are about 17,000 children already in foster care, many of them living in group homes.
This year, Gov. Doug Ducey and the Republican-controlled Legislature took $11 million from DCS that was dedicated to dealing with the backlog. Additionally, they cut $9 million from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, which provides support for our state’s most poverty-stricken families.
The Republican leadership made other choices that a report from Children’s Action Alliance says will “leave more children in danger and will drive up neglect.” The new budget cuts $2 million from the Department of Economic Security, $3 million from youth treatment funds and $4 million from child care assistance for working families. The budget did, however, include funding for a new private prison and more than $3 billion in corporate and special interest tax giveaways.
If you are ready to take action, you can contact your elected officials and demand that state law be followed. Demand that all reports of child abuse and neglect be assigned and investigated. Demand the restoration of preventative services to help Arizona’s struggling families. I implore you to show your compassion at the ballot box.
