>> GROWING PAINS FOR THE

DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY.

>> THE CHANGES THAT NEED TO

HAPPEN ARE CULTURAL, AND A LONG

TIME.

WE'VE GOT TO GET THE

INTERVENTION RIGHT BUT THE

CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE

TO HAPPEN TO THE SYSTEM AREN'T

GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

>> WATCHING OUT FOR CASE WORKERS

AND NEARLY 20,000 CHILDREN.

>> THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST

VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

IN OUR STATE.

AND WE REALLY NEED TO DO THE

BEST FOR THEM.

>> AS THE CASE LOAD GROWS SO

DOES AGENCY TURNOVER.

>>> A PILOT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO

HELP FOSTER FAMILIES IS MAKING

AN IMPACT IN PIMA COUNTY.

ARIZONA PUBLIC MEDIA'S

CHRISTOPHER CONOVER HAS THE

STORY.

>> TWO DOZEN CHURCHES IN PIMA

COUNTY ARE OPENING DOORS,

STORAGE ROOMS, WALLETS AND

HEARTS TO WORK WITH WITH THE

DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY TO

HELP FAMILIES IN NEED.

IT'S A PROGRAM CALLED CARE

PORTAL.

>> OFTENTIMES THE CASE WORKER

KNOWS THE IMMEDIATE FELT NEED OF

A CHILD OR FAMILY BUT IT'S VERY

DIFFICULT TO GET THAT OUT TO THE

PEOPLE WHO CAN REALLY DO

ANYTHING TO MEET THAT NEED.

SO, BELIEVING THAT THE CHURCH IS

CALLED TO CARE FOR WIDOWS AND OR

PHONES AS IT SAYS IN JAMES 1:27,

THAT'S PURE RELIGION CARING FOR

WIDOWS AND ORPHANS IN DISTRESS

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND A

RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP DCF MEET

THE NEEDS OF THIS CHILDREN.

>> WHEN DCS FINDS A FAMILY

NEEDING ASSISTANCE CARE PORTAL

SENDS E-MAIL TO MEMBER CHURCHES

ASKING FOR HELP.

AT FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD IN

TUCSON AND LENA AND JOE WHO GET

THAT.

>> SINCE WE'RE A TEAM, IT'S KIND

OF SIMPLE.

I'M NEXT TO HIM LOOKING AT THE

COMPUTER REQUESTS, AND WE TALK

OVER WITH EACH OTHER.

WE PRAY ABOUT IT.

AND IF IT'S SOMETHING WE FEEL WE

CAN DO WE BRING IT BEFORE THE

CHURCH.

>> THOSE REQUESTS CAN RUN THE

GAMUT.

>> WE'VE TAKEN TODDLER BEDS,

REGULAR BEDS, BUNK BEDS, FOOD,

DRESSERS.

>> THEY SCOUR THE INTERNET FOR

GOOD DEALS ON THINGS FAMILIES

NEED.

THE MOST EXCITING FOR EVERYONE

IS BEDS.

>> THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

>> THAT'S PERFECT.

>> A DRESSER INCLUDED.

>> THE KIDS, THEY LOVE IT WHEN

YOU BRING THEM A BED.

THEY JUMP ON THE BED

IMMEDIATELY, AS SOON AS YOU SET

IT UP THEY GET ON THE BED AND GO

OH, MOM, IS THIS MINE.

THEY LOVE IT.

>> CARE PORTAL DOESN'T CAKE

MONEY FROM DCS TO RUN THE

PROGRAM.

THE FUNDS COME FROM DONATIONS.

SOMETHING THAT COULD PUT A

STRAIN ON CHURCH BUDGETS.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT

EVERYBODY COULD BE INVOLVED

WITH.

IF YOU CAN ONLY THROW A DOLLAR

TOWARD IT THAT GOES A LONG WAY

WHEN YOU HAVE NEEDS LIKE

MATTRESSES, BEDS, DRESSERS,

BEDROOM FURNITURE, OR SOFA FOR

THE LIVING ROOM.

AND SO, EVERYBODY HAS BEEN VERY

GENEROUS.

>> DCS IS OFTEN SEEN AS THE BAD

GUY, THE PEOPLE TAKING KIDS OUT

OF HOMES.

BUT OFFICIALS SAY PARTNERING

WITH CARE PORTAL IS ABOUT JUST

THE OPTS SIT.

>> IT'S TO KEEP IT OUT OF THE

SYSTEM, IT'S TO PRESERVE THEM

WITH PEOPLE THEY KNOW AND THEY

ARE LOVED.

WE BELIEVE WHEN IT'S NOT SAFE

FOR A CHILD TO BE IN A HOME WITH

FAMILY THEN WE SHOULD LOOK AT

SOMEBODY ELSE THAT IS CONNECTED

TO THAT CHILD TO LOVE THEM AND

GIVE THEM CARE IN THAT TIME.

SO IT'S A WAY WE CAN REACH OUT

TO RELATIVES AND THEY MAY NEED

OKAY, WE NEED A BED TO DO THAT

OR WE'RE NOT SET UP YET OR YOU

KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE FOUR

KIDS TO THEIR HOME SO MAYBE THEY

NEED EXTRA HELP THROUGH THAT

WEEK.

SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S REALLY

ABOUT.

>> I THINK WE HAVE THAT.

WE SHOULD REALLY TAKE THAT ONE.

>> CARE PORTAL LAUNCHED IN PIMA

COUNTY IN DECEMBER, OFFICIALS

SAY THEY WANT TO TAKE TO THE

MARICOPA COUNTY BASED ON THREE

MONTHS OF SUCCESS.

>> IT IS WORKING, WE ARE

FOLLOWING UP, WE DO A WEEK

FOLLOW-UP, WE DO -- WE'RE GOING

TO FOLLOW UP AND SEE IF THIS IS

REALLY WORKING SO THOUGH IT'S

EARLY STAGES EVEN THE FAMILIES

THAT HAVE BEEN HELPED IN THE

LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, THEY ARE

STILL A FAMILY, WE HAVEN'T

REMOVED CHILDREN.

>> THE GOAL IS GET MORE THAN 100

CHURCHES INVOLVED IN PIMA COUNTY

BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

NOT TO MENTION THE EXPANSION TO

MARICOPA.

FOR CHURCHES WORRIED ABOUT

TAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY ON,

PASTOR MUNNS UNDERSTANDS HOW

TIGHT BUDGETS GET.

BUT HE SAYS THAT'S NOT AN

EXCUSE.

>> SO, IT'S ALMOST LIKE I CAN'T

DO ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.

WELL, NOW IS WHEN IT'S NEEDED.

SO, I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE

JUST TO STOP SOMETHING ELSE THAT

YOU'RE NOT REALLY BEING

EFFECTIVE WITH AND LET'S KEEP

THE KIDS WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND

SO THERE'S NOT ALL OF THIS

SHUFFLING KIDS FROM' TER CARE TO

FOSTER CARE AND DIFFERENT PLACES

THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE TO STAY AND

JUST KEEP THEM WITH THEIR

FAMILIES.

>>> NEARLY 20,000 CHILDREN IN

ARIZONA ARE OUT OF THEIR HOMES

AND CONSIDERED IN STATE CUSTODY.

SENATE PRESIDENT ANDY BIGGS SAYS

LAWMAKERS TAKE THAT NUMBER

SERIOUSLY.

>> WE INCREASED FUNDING THERE

LIKE 350% OVER FOUR YEARS, AND

AS YOU SAY, WE CONTINUE TO SEE

CASE LOAD GROWTH AND SOMETIMES

THE PRIORITIES ARE NOT REALLY

WHAT I PERSONALLY AND I THINK A

LOT OF MY MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO

SEE.

I THINK -- I THINK WE ALL COME

ACROSS -- CAN COME TO THE

BIPARTISAN CONCLUSION NOW THAT

IT IS BETTER TO KEEP A CHILD IN

THEIR HOME WITH SERVICES WHERE

POSSIBLE.

BUT OUR REMOVAL RATE IS AN

OUTLIER NATIONALLY.

SO WE'RE TAKING AWAY TOO MANY

KIDS.

I THINK THERE IS KIND OF A

CONSENSUS ACROSS BOTH PARTY

LINES OF THAT.

BUT WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU IS

THAT AS WE LOOK AT IT AND IF WE

CHECK IT OUT WITH BUDGETTARY

ISSUES, WITH POLICY ISSUES,

THOSE ARE GOING TO BE RELATED TO

ONE ANOTHER.

WE WANT TO SEE PROGRESS AND IF

WE SEE PROGRESS OR AREA OF NEED,

WE WANT TO KNOW THAT THAT AREA

OF NEED IS BEING MET, BOTH

RESOURCE WISE FROM A BUDGETARY

STANDPOINT, CERTAINLY FROM THE

HUMAN CAPITAL SIDE.

SO THIS IS -- THIS IS REALLY --

THIS IS REALLY THE PROBLEM THAT

WE HAVE.

AND I THINK THERE'S NO ONE HERE

THAT IS SAYING THIS IS FIXED OR

WE'RE CONTENT.

I THINK EVERYBODY HERE IS

ACTIVITY CONTINUES TO REMAIN AT

THE FOREFRONT OF OUR

DISCUSSIONINGS.

WHETHER IT'S BUDGET OR POLICY.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING.

SO I WAS ORIGINALLY -- LET ME

GIVE YOU A FOR INSTANCE.

I WAS ORIGINALLY OPPOSED TO THE

REMOVAL FROM EES BECAUSE THEY

WERE TRYING TO SELL IT AS

EFFICIENCY MEASURE.

BUT I NEVER COULD SEE HOW THAT

COULD BE THE CASE BECAUSE WHEN

YOU'RE IN DES, A LOT OF SERVICE

PROVIDERS ARE HOUSED AND YOU

CAN -- YOU SHOULD BE HAVING THE

COMMUNICATIONS TO MAKE THAT

WORK.

BUT THE ONE THING I'LL SAY IS

REALLY HAPPENED IN A POSITIVE

WAY.

ALTHOUGH A LOT OF PEOPLE PAY NOT

SEE IT AS POSITIVE.

I DO.

IS BY PULLING DCS OUT OF DES

WHAT YOU HAVE DONE NOW IS THERE

IS -- THERE'S NO PLACE TO HIDE.

IT IS UNDER MAGNIFYING GLASS.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD

SAFETY KNOWN AS DCS IS ONE OF

THE LARGEST STATE AGENCIES.

AS A NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THE

SYSTEM GROWS, SO DOES TURNOVER

RATE FOR CASE WORKERS.

HERE AGAIN IS CHRISTOPHER

CONOVER WITH DOUG NICK.

>> WE'VE SEEN IN SEVERAL MONTHS

ENCOURAGING TRENDS, ONE THING

OUR SERVICE WAIT LIST IS DOWN

WHICH IS EXCELLENT.

SERVICES THAT GO TO FAMILIES

THAT MAY BE IN CRISIS, AND

THAT'S A GREAT MEASUREMENT OF

INTERVENING BEFORE A CRISIS GETS

OUT OF HAND AND A CHILD IS IN

DANGER AND NEEDS TO BE REMOVED.

THAT'S A GOOD TREND TO SEE THAT

WAIT LIST GO DOWN.

WE SEE THE BACKLOG OF ACTIVE

CASES BEING WHITTLED DOWN, ABOUT

22% SINCE THE DIRECTOR TOOK

OFFICE, ALMOST EXACTLY A YEAR

AGO.

WHEN HE STARTED THAT LIST OF

INACTIVE CASES THE BACKLOG WAS

OVER 16,000.

AS OF TODAY IT'S ABOUT 12,500.

THAT'S ABOUT A 22% DROP.

SO THAT'S EXCELLENT NEWS.

AND THAT SHOWS A LOT OF HARD

WORK ON THE PART OF OUR FIELD

STAFF AND SUPERVISORS, PEOPLE

OUT THERE IN THE OFFICES DOING

THE JOB, TO CLOSE THOSE PORTS

THAT COME IN TO COMPLETE THE

CASES THAT ARE COMPRISED OF MANY

OF THOSE REPORTS.

IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THEIR HARD

WORK AND STATUTORY.

A COUPLE OF ENCOURAGING

STEININGS.

>> THE DIRECTOR SPOKE RECENTLY

WITH THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS

COMMITTEE, GAVE ALL OF THE

NUMBERS, SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS

ARE UP ESPECIALLY THE CALLS

COMING IN.

BUT THE NUMBER OF REPORTS FILED

IS CHANGING.

YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF

REPORTS THAT COME IN, OR RATHER

THE CALLS THAT COME IN.

WE ANSWER THE PHONE REGARDLESS

OF WHO CALLED.

MANY OF THOSE CALLS ARE MUNDANE

IN TERMS OF ALLEGATION OF CHILD

ABUSE OR NEGLECT.

MAY BE SOMEBODY THAT CALLED IN

THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO GET A

PHONE NUMBER OF A CASE WORKER

AND IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY.

SO THE NUMBER OF REPORTS THAT WE

TAKE FOR INVESTIGATIONS IN THE

LAST CALENDAR YEAR WAS IN THE

NEIGHBORHOODS OF 51,000, WE'RE

PROJECTING ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER

OF MAYBE SLIGHT INCREASE THIS

YEAR.

BUT THEN IT'S LEVELING OFF.

SO, THE REPORTS THAT COME, SORRY

THE CALLS THAT COME IN AS A

REFLECTION OF WHATEVER CALLS

ARE, AND THE REPORTS REFLECTION

OF OUR HOT LINE EXPERTS LOOKING

AT THE CALL AND DETERMINING

OKAY, DOES THIS RISE TO THE

LEVEL OF A REPORT THAT NEEDS TO

BE INVESTIGATED AND IF SO, WHAT

PRIORITY.

SO, WE'RE SEEING LEVELING OFF

THERE AND PART OF THAT WOULD

HAVE TO DO AGAIN WITH LOWERING

THE SERVICE WAIT LIST BECAUSE

SERVICES ARE GETTING OUT THERE

IN A MORE RAPID TIME BEFORE

TROUBLE BECOMES MUCH WORSE IN A

FAMILY AND ALSO WHEN WE LOWER

THE REPORTS OR THE NUMBER OF

REPORTS WE COMPLETE MORE OF THEM

THAT FREES UP PERSONNEL HOURS TO

ADDRESS OTHER MATTERS THAT NEED

TO BE ATTENDED TO AT THE AGENCY.

SO IT DOES HAVE A HEALTHY METRIC

TO IT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THE

DIRECTOR TALKED ABOUT PUBLICLY

AND WE HEAR IN LEGISLATIVE HALLS

IS THE USE OF PRIVATE

CONTRACTORS TO HELP OUT.

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> WELL, THERE IS LEGISLATION TO

THAT EFFECT, AND WE'LL SEE HOW

THAT PLAYS OUT.

WE CERTAINLY WELCOME ASSISTANCE,

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR

ROLE AS A STATE AGENCY AS IS

LAID OUT TIP STATE LAW THERE ARE

CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE AS A

STATE AGENCY MUST DO IN TERMS OF

INVESTIGATION.

THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT NEED

TO CONFORM WITH THE LAW.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING

ASSISTANCE IN SOME AREAS, THERE

ARE PROPER VENDORS AND SERVICE

PARTNERS WE WORK WITH TO PROVIDE

SERVICES, BUT ALSO SOME OTHER

AREAS LIKE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT

LOWERING THE BACKLOG OF ACTIVE

CASES WE HAVE ANOTHER STATE

AGENCY HELP US WITH

ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.

FREEING UP OUR PROFESSIONALS TO

DO THEIR PROFESSIONAL JOB.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME VENDORS

HELPING US IN THAT REGARD NOW.

SO THAT WE CAN KNOCK DOWN THAT

BACKLOG MORE.

SO WE'RE CERTAINLY WILLING AND

HAPPY TO HAVE THAT ASSISTANCE,

WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE AND DONE

IN A WAY THAT FURTHERS THE

STATUTORY MISSION OF THE AGENCY.

>> I DON'T THINK ANY ONE WILL

SAY BEING A CASE WORKER FOR

CHILD PROTECTIVE AGENCY IS EASY.

2:00 IN THE MORNING PHONE CALLS,

LONG DAYS WITHOUT THOSE.

THERE IS A BIG ATTRITION RATE

AND THE DIRECTOR ADDRESSED THAT.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?

>> OUR ATTRITION RATE WE'RE NOT

AN OUTLIER IN THE COUNTRY, AND

AMONG OTHER VENDORS NOT STATE

SERVICE PROVIDER IT IS.

SOME IDEAS FOR MERIT PAY AND

INCENTIVES, SPOT INCENTIVE PAY,

THAT KIND OF THING.

ONE THING WE'RE DOING IS WITH

THE INCREASE IN THE ABILITY TO

TRAIN OUR PEOPLE AND HELP THEM

TO DO THEIR JOBS BETTER AND TO

BRING IN THESE OTHER ENTITIES

THAT COME IN AND DO SOME OF THE

ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS THAT FREES

UP OUR PROFESSIONALS TO DO THE

PROFESSIONAL WORK.

AND THAT HELPS THEM WHEN THEY

ARE DOING THE WORK THAT REALLY

DEALS WITH THE CHILD'S

WELLBEING, THAT HELPS REALLY

BRING HOME THE FACT THAT THEY

ARE DOING THIS TO HELP A CHILD.

IT'S A MULTI-PRONGED EFFORT WITH

AGAIN, THE PROPOSAL WE TALKED

ABOUT, MORE TRAINING, THEY GET

22 WEEKS AS THEY COME IN.

AND THEN WE ADDED THREE WEEKS

NOT CONSECUTIVELY BUT THREE

WEEKS ADDED TO THAT OVER TIME,

OF ADVANCED TRAINING.

AND THE MORE YOU GIVE PEOPLE

THESE TOOLS, THE BETTER THEY CAN

USE THEM, THE BETTER THEY FEEL

ABOUT THEIR JOB AND THE MORE WE

DEAL WITH REPORTS COMING IN AND

GET RID OF THE BACKLOG OF CASES

THAT FREES UP WORK THAT IS

MEANINGFUL WORK IN TERMS OF

GETTING TO A CHILD THAT MAY BE

IN DANGER.

>>> TURNOVER IN DCS IS AT ABOUT

35%.

THE YEAR BEFORE IT WAS 25%.

THE AGENCY SAYS ARIZONA CASE

WORKERS AVERAGE ABOUT SIX YEARS

ON THE JOB AND THEIR AVERAGE

SALARY IS ABOUT $41,000 A YEAR.

HERE'S TIMOTHY SCHULTZ FROM THE

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL

WORKERS ARIZONA CHAPTER.

>> YOU ASKED THE LEGISLATURE AND

CONTINUE TO NOT GIVE UP ON THE

AGENCY.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> IF YOU DON'T ADD ADDITIONAL

RESOURCES, IT'S THE TECHNOLOGY,

IF YOU DON'T HIRE QUALIFIED

PROFESSIONAL STAFF, WHO KNOW THE

BEST PRACTICES, IF YOU DON'T

HAVE INSPIRING PRAGMATIC GOOD

LEADERSHIP, YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS

WORK.

AND IN THE END, CHILDREN AND

FAMILIES ARE THE ONES THAT

SUFFER.

IT'S THE CHILD WHO LANGUISHES IN

FOSTER CARE WHO DOESN'T GET

ADOPTION, A CHILD IN FOSTER CARE

WHO DOESN'T GET RETURNED TO HIS

PARENTS.

ALL OF THOSE WHEN YOU GIVE UP,

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT

CHILDREN SUFFER.

AND THESE CHILDREN HAVE SUFFERED

ENOUGH.

THE REALITY IS THAT THEY MAY

HAVE BEEN REMOVED, THEY MAY HAVE

EXPERIENCED NEGLECT, THEY MAY

HAVE BEEN HUNGRY ACTION ALL OF

THESE THINGS WHEN YOU GIVE UP ON

THE AGENCY, WHEN YOU DON'T

PROVIDE RESOURCES, TECHNOLOGY,

QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL STAFF,

AND, AND, QUALIFIED INSPIRING

LEADERSHIP, YOU END UP WITH KIDS

CAUGHT IN THIS SYSTEM.

>> HOW WOULD YOU FIX THE AGENCY?

A LOT OF LEGISLATORS WILL SAY

YOU JUST CAN'T THROW MORE MONEY

AT IT.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF

QUESTION ABOUT LEADERSHIP RIGHT

NOW.

I THINK THAT ONE IS THAT I THINK

THAT THE AGENCY NEEDS HIGHLY

QUALIFIED, HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL

CHILD WELFARE LEADERSHIP AS A

START.

I THINK SECOND, I THINK WE NEED

TO RAISE THE SALARIES OF THE

PROFESSIONAL STAFF ON THE LINE.

PROBABLY IN OUR GUESS, ESTIMATE,

ANALYSIS, BY $10,000.

NOW, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

BUT IT WILL STABILIZE THE AGENCY

BECAUSE PEOPLE -- PEOPLE ARE

LEAVING THE AGENCY BECAUSE OF

ALL OF THESE MORALE AND CASE

LOAD FACTORS, AND WE NEED -- WE

NEED TO STABILIZE THAT WORK

FORCE AS A WAY TO DO SHORT AND

LONG TERM SOLUTIONS.

SO, MORE INSPIRING, QUALIFIED

LEADERSHIP, HIGHLY PAID, HIGHLY

QUALIFIED STAFF.

I'D MAKE MOST OF THESE JOBS

REQUIRE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN

SOCIAL WORK OR RELATED FIELD,

VERY CLOSELY RELATED FIELD.

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY.

WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE

COMMUNITY AGENCIES THAT ARE

PROVIDING THE SERVICE.

ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT, SUBSTANCE

ABUSE TREATMENT, FAMILY

COUNSELING, ALL OF THOSE KINDS

OF THINGS.

AND I THINK WE -- WE NEED TO BE

PATIENT A LITTLE BIT.

IF WE DID ALL OF THAT.

TAKES MORE RESOURCES,

TECHNOLOGY, QUALIFIED STAFF.

AND THEN A LITTLE PATIENCE.

IF WE DON'T DO THOSE THINGS,

WE'RE JUST -- WE'RE GOING TO BE

HERE ANOTHER YEAR FROM NOW, TWO

YEARS FROM NOW IF WE DON'T

IMPLEMENT SOME OF THOSE

SOLUTIONS THAT WE KNOW ARE OUT

THERE.

BEST PRACTICES, INSPIRING

LEADERSHIP, SMALL CASE LOADS,

HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFF.

HIGHLY PAID STAFF.

THOSE KINDS OF SOLUTIONS.

>> AS YOU SAID STICKING YOUR

FINGER IN THE DAM.

>> YEAH, RIGHT NOW WE'RE

STICKING OUR FINGER IN THE DAM.

AND WE'RE NOT DOING A VERY GOOD

JOB.

WE'RE LEAKING A LOT.

35% TURNOVER SAYS THAT WE'RE

LEAKING A LOT.

THAT PEOPLE ARE -- THAT

DEDICATED PEOPLE ARE LEAVING.

I KNOW THAT I'VE HAD PEOPLE SAY

THAT TO ME.

I HAD A YOUNG SOCIAL WORKER THE

OTHER DAY, AS SOON AS I'M DONE

WITH MY COMMITMENT TO THE

DEPARTMENT, SHE GOT HER MASTER'S

DEGREE, I'M LEAVING.

I SAID WHY?

SAID IT'S JUST TOO CHAOTIC.

I CAN'T -- I WANT TO SERVE

CHILDREN BUT I CAN'T DO IT THAT

WAY.

AND THAT'S THE WRONG ANSWER.

I MEAN, THAT'S -- HERE IS

SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO DEDICATE

THEIR LIVES, BUT WE NEED TO

ENCOURAGE AND INSPIRE, AND

FRANKLY, PAY THEM WELL ENOUGH

AND KEEP THEM QUALIFIED TO DO

IT.

>> DCS DIRECTOR GREG McKAY LED

THE AGENCY FOR THE LAST YEAR.

MINORITY LEADER ERIC MEYER SAYS

HE IS DISAPPOINTED WITH

LEADERSHIP THUS FAR.

>> HE PAINTED A GOOD PICTURE,

BUT THE FACTS DON'T SUPPORT THE

PICTURE HE PAINTED.

HE'S TALKING ABOUT REDUCING THE

NUMBER OF CASES IN THE SYSTEM

AND THAT COULD BE HAPPENING, WE

DON'T KNOW.

WE DON'T GET NUMBERS RIGHT NOW

ON THE FREQUENT ENOUGH BASIS TO

KNOW.

BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT

WE'RE SHORT OVER 400 CASE

WORKERS AND THAT NUMBER HASN'T

IMPROVED.

UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP THAT

NUMBER'S -- THE NUMBER OF CASE

WORKERS HAS DROPPED SO THERE IS

A BIGGER DEF FIT THAN WHEN HE

STARTED IN THE JOB.

THE NUMBER OF KIDS TAKEN OUT OF

THE HOME IS APPROACHING OVER

20,000 NOW THAT ARE IN EITHER

FOSTER OR CONGRA GAT CARE.

AND THE COURTS ARE BACKLOGGED.

AND WE KEEP -- AT LEAST I KEEP

ON SO DO MANY OF MY MEMBERS KEEP

ON HEARING STORIES ABOUT PARENTS

HAVING PROBLEMS IN NOT GETTING

SERVICES, NOT GETTING SERVICES

FOR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND

A BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS.

SO IT'S NOT A PRETTY PICTURE.

THIS IS GOVERNOR DUCEY'S HAND

PICKED GUY.

WHO DOESN'T SEEM TO BE CAPABLE

OF DOING THE JOB.

IT'S A HUGE AGENCY, $850 MILLION

AGENCY.

>> SOMETIMES WE HEAR THAT IT

DOESN'T TAKE NECESSARILY MORE

MONEY, MAYBE A RESTRUCTURING OF

WHAT CURRENTLY EXISTS.

>> WELL, WE HAVE INVESTED

HEAVILY AND IT'S $850 MILLION

BUDGET, AND WHEN I ASKED THE

DIRECTOR FOR INSTANCE HOW HE IS

SPENDING HIS MONEY ON THOSE

PREVENTIVE SERVICES TO KEEP KIDS

AND PARENTS TOGETHER HE COULDN'T

GIVE ME AN ANSWER.

SO, MONEY HELPS IN SOME CASES

BUT WE NEED TO KNOW HOW IT'S

BEING SPENT AND NEED TO HOLD THE

DIRECTOR ACCOUNTABLE SO.

IF WE DO GIVE HIM MONEY IN THIS

BUDGET, WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT

THERE ARE ACCOUNTABILITY

MEASURES IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE

IT'S BEING SPENT APPROPRIATELY

AND THAT WE'RE GETTING THE

OUTCOMES WE SHOULD BE GETTING.

>> ARIZONA CONTINUES TO BE ONE

OF THE WORST STATES IN THE

COUNTRY.

WHY IS THAT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE WERE

MAKING A LITTLE PROGRESS AFTER

WE REMOVED THE AGENCY AND MADE

IT A STAND ALONE UNDER DIRECTOR

FLANAGAN.

THERE WAS A NUMBER OF THE

NON-INVESTIGATED CASES AND THE

BACKLOG STARTED TO SHRINK.

BUT WE JUST AREN'T DOING WHAT

OTHER STATES HAVE DONE AND WE

PAID FOR AN AUDIT THAT SAID

THESE ARE SPECIFIC THINGS OTHER

STATES HAVE DONE THAT YOU COULD

DO TO CHANGE THE COURSE.

AND NONE OF THOSE POLICIES HAVE

BEEN ADOPTED BY DIRECTOR McKAY

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE A TOOL

THAT ASSESSES A CHILD AND

WHETHER THEY ARE SAFE TO STAY IN

OR OUT OF HOME, WE AREN'T USING

AN APPROPRIATE TOOL.

AND OUR AUDITOR GENERAL SAID THE

SAME THING.

WE HAVE TO INVEST IN SERVICES

THAT KEEP KIDS IN THE HOME.

MOST OF THE KIDS COMING OUT ARE

BECAUSE OF NEGLECT.

SO THEY DON'T HAVE FOOD OR

HEALTH SERVICES OR CHILD CARE.

OR MAYBE DRUG OR ALCOHOL OR

MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE COULD

INVEST IN.

NOW THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET

DOESN'T DO THAT, IN FACT IT CUTS

FUNDING FOR THAT AGAIN.

SO IT'S NOT A GOOD SITUATION.

AND WE NEED TO CHANGE COURSE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO

TAKE.

HOPEFULLY NOT A TRAGEDY.

>>> LAWMAKERS HAVE INTRODUCED

TWO CHILD SAFETY BILLS THIS

LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

HERE'S REPRESENTATIVE REBECCA

RIOS.

>> WE HAD TWO BILLS THIS YEAR

AND ONE OF THEM HAD TO DO WITH

THE BACKLOG AND ESSENTIALLY WENT

AS FAR AS REDEFINING THE BACK

LOG.

AND I WAS VERY OPPOSED TO THE

BILL BECAUSE NOW NOT ONLY DO WE

HAVE THE PROBLEM OF THE BACK

LOG.

NOW WE'RE CHANGING THE METRIC

HOW WE MEASURE SO IT WHEN WE

HAVE HIM COME REPORT IN THREE

MONTHS OR SIX MONTHS, IT'S GOING

TO SAY THE BACKLOG DECREASED BUT

YOUR NOT COMPARING APPLES TO

APPLES.

YOU CHANGED THE METRIC SO I'M

VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT BILL

GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS.

I'M SURE THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN

IT.

IT'S AN AGENCY BILL.

THE OTHER BILL THAT I WAS VERY

VOCAL IN OPPOSITION HAS TO DO

WITH THE HOTLINE.

YOU KNOW IT'S HARD TO GET PEOPLE

TO CALL AND MAKE REPORTS WHEN

THEY THINK A CHILD ISSING ABUSED

OR NEGLECTED.

LAST YEAR THERE WERE ABOUT 100 I

THINK PER HIS REPORT, OR HIS

TESTIMONY, ABOUT 143,000 CALLS

TO THE HOT LINE.

ABOUT 43,000 ROUGHLY, ROUGH

NUMBERS, WERE INVESTIGATED.

SO HE AND THE DEPARTMENT CAME

AND HAD A BILL THAT ESSENTIALLY

SAID YOU KNOW WHAT, THERE'S ALL

OF THESE CALLS THAT REALLY WERE

NOT ABLE TO INVESTIGATE OR

WORTHY OF INVESTIGATION, SO YOU

KNOW, WE'RE JUST GOING TO ASK

YOU LEGISLATURE TO GIVE US

PERMISSION TO NOT EVEN TAKE THE

REPORT.

AND SO NOW WE HAVE A BILL GOING

THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT AGAIN,

LIMITS THE TYPES OF REPORT THAT

WILL EVEN BE TAKEN AND FOR ME

IT'S TROUBLING BECAUSE THE

HOTLINE IS THE FIRST STEP AND IF

YOU NOW PUT A BILL OUT THERE

THAT SENDS A MESSAGE TO THE

PUBLIC YOU KNOW, MANY OF YOU ARE

CALLING UNNECESSARILY I THINK

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE

CHILLING EFFECT OF PEOPLE SECOND

GUESSING THEMSELVES AND SAYING

YOU KNOW WHAT, MAYBE IT'S NOT

WHAT I THINK, MAYBE I SHOULDN'T

GET INVOLVED I'M NOT GOING TO

MAKE THAT CALL.

THE OTHER PART IS, YOU MAY HAVE

ONE OR TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT

REPORTS THAT DON'T RISE TO THE

LEVEL OF AN INVESTIGATION.

BUT THAT FOURTH REPORT COMES IN,

AND THEY ARE ABLE TO SEE A

HISTORY.

AND ABLE TO GO WAIT A MINUTE,

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A CALL FROM A

TEACHER AND A NEIGHBOR, SOMEBODY

GET OUT AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

NOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE

THAT HISTORY BECAUSE THIS BILL

WILL IN ESSENCE GIVE THEM

PERMISSION NOT TO TAKE EVEN

REPORTS ON SPECIFIC TYPES OF

CALLS.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY

CONCERNING.

>> ARIZONA RANKS AS ONE OF THE

WORST STATES IN THE COUNTRY WHEN

IT COMES TO CHILD SAFETY.

AND SOME LAWMAKERS SAY IT WILL

TAKE TIME TO OVERHAUL THE

AGENCY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS

ACKERLEY, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> CHILD SAFETY, WHERE IS IT

NOW?

THE NUMBERS KEEP GROWING.

WE'RE HEARING THAT THERE IS A

BLEAK PICTURE PAINTED.

>> THE NUMBERS HAVE INCREASED.

THE NUMBER OF REPORTS COMING IN

HAVE INCREASED.

WHAT THE DIRECTOR IS TESTIFIED

TO IS THAT THERE ARE RIGHT NOW

ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE

NUMBERS, BUT THAT THAT HAS NOT

ALLOWED THEM TO MAKE A WHOLE LOT

OF PROGRESS ON THE BACKLOG THAT

HAS MADE YOU KNOW, QUITE

IMPORTANTLY OVER THE LAST COUPLE

OF YEARS.

>> WHAT'S YOUR ANALYSIS OF THESE

NUMBERS?

>> I TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD.

I THINK WITH MOST OF THE WORK

THAT WE'VE DONE ON THE CHILDREN

AND FAMILY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE IN

THE HOUSE REVOLVED AROUND ISSUES

WITH DCS, A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT

THINGS, WE'RE WORKING ON.

ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT BACK

LOG AND ONE OF THE MEASURES WE

PASSED AWAITING ACTION TO

ACCEPTED TO THE SENATE IS TO

ALLOW DCS TO CONTRACT WITH

OUTSIDE PROVIDERS IN ORDER TO

CLEAR SOME OF THAT BACK LOG.

I KNOW IN A LOT OF AREAS THERE

ARE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT

WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH LAW

ENFORCEMENT AND DCS AND A NUMBER

OF SERVICE PROVIDERS AND THEY

HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HELP WITH

THAT.

SO, ALLOWING THEM TO DO SOME OF

THAT WORK TO START WORKING DOWN

THAT BACK LOG.

>> WHY DOES THIS CONTINUE TO BE

SUCH A SERIOUS ISSUE IN THIS

STATE?

>> WELL, IT'S A CRUCIAL ISSUE.

AND DUE TO THE LIFE AND DEATH

NATURE OF THE ISSUE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY

THERE ARE CAPACITY ISSUES AND WE

HAVE TO ADDRESS THOSE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY KIDS'

SAFETY AND SOMETIMES THEIR LIVES

HANG IN THE BALANCE SO WE HAVE

TO GET IT RIGHT.

THERE IS NO QUESTION WE HAVE TO

GET IT RIGHT.

>> ARE THERE CHANGES YOU SEE AS

SNAG COULD BE DONE IMMEDIATELY

MAYBE WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY DOING

AS A STATE?

>> DCS DOESN'T HAVE RIGHT NOW

SORT OF A UNIFORM THAT IS

PUBLICIZED CRITERIA ON HOW THEY

ARE WORKING THROUGH CASES.

EACH ONE OF MY UNDERSTANDING IS

THAT EACH ONE OF THE FIELD

OFFICES HAS SOMETHING IN PLACE,

BUT IT'S NOT UNIFORM ACROSS THE

SYSTEM AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING

THAT PEOPLE CAN POINT TO TO

EVALUATE JUDGMENTS, THAT CREATES

A LOT OF CONFUSION.

THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM.

SO ONE OF THE MEASURES SPONSORED

BY REPRESENTATIVE TOWNSEND IS TO

SAY OKAY, YOU HAVE TO ADOPT AND

PUBLISH A UNIFORM SET OF

CRITERIA THAT'S GOING TO APPLY

TO ALL OF THE OFFICES ABOUT HOW

YOU'RE MAKING DECISIONS AS TO

WHETHER TO REMOVE OR NOT REMOVE

CHILDREN.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S GOING TO BE

DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO VARY

FROM THAT.

YOU CAN'T BASE EVERYTHING ON A

CHECK LIST.

THAT WOULDN'T BE IN THE BEST

INTEREST OF THE KIDS BUT IT

GIVES YOU A METRICS TO SAY IF

YOU ARE GOING TO DIFFER THEN

WHAT IS THE REASONING FOR THAT.

RIGHT NOW THERE'S NOT THAT

REASONING AND IT LEADS TO A LOT

OF CONFUSION.

>> WHAT IS MOST BOTHERSOME ABOUT

WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THIS AGENCY?

>> I THINK WHAT'S MOST

BOTHERSOME IS THAT FRANKLY WE

LET IT GET TO THIS POINT.

THAT THERE HAS BEEN A SYSTEMWIDE

BREAKDOWN.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IS

STARTING TO IMPROVE BUT WE STILL

HAVE IN THE AGENCY STILL HAS

TREMENDOUS TURNOVER.

UNTIL THAT PROBLEM GETS SOLVED I

DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO

MAKE A LOT OF HEADWAY ON THAT

CULTURAL SHIFT THAT NEEDS TO

HAPPEN UNTIL THEY CAN STABILIZE

THE EMPLOYEES AT THE AGENCY.

SO THAT YOU HAVE THAT

INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND

EXPERIENCE AND YOU'RE NOT

RETRAINING EMPLOYEES.

OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

>>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM.

FOR ALL OF US AT ARIZONA PUBLIC

MEDIA, I'M LORRAINE RIVERA.