October 2025 Issue 91

Active Encouragement of Reunification

The foster care system plays a pivotal role in providing temporary care and support for children whose biological families are facing challenges that prevent them from adequately caring for their children. While the ultimate goal is often reunification, the process can be complex and emotionally charged for all involved parties. Foster caregivers, as vital stakeholders in this process, can make a significant impact by actively encouraging and supporting biological parents in their efforts to reunify with their children.

Open Communication: Effective communication is the cornerstone of any relationship, and it holds true for caregivers and parents as well. By establishing open and non-judgmental lines of communication, caregivers can create an environment where parents feel comfortable sharing their progress, setbacks, and concerns. Regular updates on the child's well-being and milestones can help bridge the gap and foster a sense of partnership.

Empathy and Understanding: The journey towards reunification can be arduous for parents, often accompanied by feelings of shame, guilt, and frustration. Caregivers can help by practicing empathy and understanding. Recognizing that these parents are likely undergoing immense personal growth and transformation, caregivers can extend a compassionate hand, offering reassurance that the process is about healing and growth, not judgment.

Strengths-Based Approach: Caregivers can focus on the strengths and positive qualities of parents. Recognizing and highlighting the efforts parents are making, no matter how small, can boost their confidence and motivation. It's crucial to help parents see that they possess the capacity to change and provide a nurturing environment for their children.

Skill-Building Opportunities: Caregivers can actively seek opportunities for parents to develop essential parenting and life skills. This could involve recommending relevant workshops, connecting them with community resources, and offering guidance on practical matters like budgeting, time management, and conflict resolution. These skills not only empower parents but also demonstrate the caregiver's genuine commitment to their success.

Inclusion in Child's Life: Where appropriate and safe, involving parents in the child's life during foster care can provide a sense of continuity. This might involve visits, phone calls, or even joint activities with the child. Such interactions help maintain the parent-child bond, reassure children that their parents are still present, and show parents that their efforts are recognized and valued.

Cultural Sensitivity: Understanding and respecting cultural differences is crucial when working with families. Caregivers can demonstrate cultural sensitivity by acknowledging and respecting the values, beliefs, and traditions of parents. This promotes a sense of inclusivity and helps build trust between both parties.

Celebrate Progress: Reunification is a process marked by incremental progress. Caregivers can celebrate these achievements, both big and small. From completing a parenting program to securing stable housing, each step taken by parents deserves recognition. Celebrations provide a sense of accomplishment and motivate parents to continue their journey towards reunification.

Maintain Boundaries: While fostering a supportive relationship is vital, it's equally important to maintain appropriate boundaries. Caregivers should be mindful of their role and not overstep their boundaries, which could potentially hinder the parent's growth. Additionally, the caregiver should check with the DCS Specialist to ensure that it is safe and appropriate to move forward with any form of communication.

Fostering is more than just providing a temporary home for children; it is about facilitating healing, growth, and reunification. By approaching their role with empathy, communication, and collaboration, caregivers can play a critical role in encouraging parents on their journey towards reunification. The impact of their support extends beyond the immediate process, contributing to the overall well-being and future success of families striving to heal and stay together.

For more information on shared parenting and active encouragement of reunification, email Rhiannon.Schaudt-Hobkirk@azdcs.gov.

National Coming Out Day

National Coming Out Day (NCOD) is an LGBTQ+ awareness day observed annually on October 11th to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning people to “come out of the closet.” Started in 1988, NCOD celebrates coming out and raises awareness of the LGBTQ+ community. Coming out can be terrifying if someone is unsure whether or not they will be accepted for who they are. People are often bullied, harassed, disowned, or ostracized within their own communities or families. LGBTQ+ youth have higher rates of mental health issues, poverty, homelessness, and being victims of violent crimes. LGBTQ+ youth over four times more likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth.

Seeing people living honest and open lives helps give LGBTQ+ people the courage to be themselves and persevere despite the adversity they face. In a world where people can still lose their jobs, their children, or even their lives for being LGBTQ+, it is important to provide our children with as much love and support as we can and give them positive role models, whether it’s family or friends, people in their community, or celebrities living out loud.

In the last 30 years, the estimated number of American adults on the LGBTQ+ spectrum has been about one in ten. As of February 2025, that number is estimated to be one in five adults in Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012). Currently, 9.3% of U.S. adults now identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or some other sexual orientation besides heterosexual. This is up from 7.6% in 2024, 5.6% in 2020, and 3.5% in 2012, the first year this poll was taken. This number increases with every generation, up from:

• 1 in 10 from Millennials (born 1981-1996)
• 1 in 25 from Gen X (born 1965-1980)
• 1 in 50 from Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964)
• 1 in 100 from Traditionalists (born before 1946).

Each generation is becoming more comfortable with being open about their gender and sexual identities. With the rise of social media platforms, children and teens are seeing more and more people that they identify with and look up to. They may come to realize or affirm that they are LGBTQ+ and will need support and resources from their family and community.

So what should you do when a child in your care comes out to you? The most important first response is to tell them that you care about them and give them a hug, if they’re comfortable with that. Thank them for sharing this with you, and let them know that you are willing to listen and learn how to help them in this journey. Then follow through on that promise. The Family Acceptance Project has several publications and resource materials to help families decrease risk and promote well-being for LGBTQ+ children and youth and to strengthen families. The Children's Health Council has some additional tips and information for supporting sexual orientation and gender identity and expression in children.

Some local and national resources are listed below. Please use these in conjunction with the Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standards to ensure the most appropriate and healthy conversations are being had. You may also review the Practice Guidelines for Engagement with LGBTQ+ Youth to ensure that children in DCS care are being treated with compassion and respect.

one-n-ten is a Phoenix-based organization that supports LGBTQ+ youth and young adults, ages 11-24. They offer a variety of empowering social and service programs that promote self-expression, self-acceptance, leadership development, and healthy life choices. Their programs include Housing and Homelessness Services; Life Skills, Workforce Readiness, and Financial Literacy classes; Suicide Prevention, Camp OUTdoors; the Youth Center and Satellite Sites; Parents' Group; and more.

Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s Gender Support Program provides outpatient services that support the physical, mental, and social health of gender expansive children and youth and their families as they progress through gender identity development. They offer a variety of services including consultations with families, readiness evaluations for hormonal therapies, referrals to mental health providers, support and advocacy for patients and families, education and training, and more.

Pride Guide Arizona is a listing of businesses and organizations that serve the LGBTQ+ community. They have listings for Northern Arizona, Phoenix Metro, Tucson Metro, and Southern Arizona. Categories include activities, churches, community resources, events calendar, professional services, and more. The listed businesses have submitted their information to Pride Guide, affirming that they are a safe, supportive business for LGBTQ+ Arizonans.

There are several Pride events throughout the state of Arizona. The purpose of Pride is to promote unity, visibility, and self-esteem among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer persons. Although Pride Month is celebrated nationally in June, some cities in Arizona celebrate it during cooler months, so be sure to check for your local Pride dates: Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Bisbee, Sedona, Navajo Nation.

Arizona Trans Youth & Parent Organization (AZTYPO) is a support group to empower children, teens, and their families in a supportive and inclusive environment in which gender may be freely expressed and respected. Parents, legal guardians and extended family can discuss the challenging issues, raise questions, seek and share resources, and listen to the experiences of others. The meetings take place on the 2nd Thursday of the month via Zoom. In-person meetings are the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Sundays every month.

As an organization dedicated to inclusiveness, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona values and celebrates the diversity and individuality of every child, volunteer, employee, board member, family and community partner. BBBS partners with one-n-ten Youth Center to provide mentors to children who identify as LGBTQ+. They will meet at least twice per month to spend time participating in activities they both enjoy.

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is the first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents and families, and allies. PFLAG is committed to creating a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed. With over 400 chapters nationally, PFLAG provides confidential peer support, education, and advocacy to LGBTQ+ people, their parents and families, and allies. Arizona chapters are located in Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, Sierra Vista, and Sedona/Verde Valley.

Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25. They offer a telephone lifeline, live chat, and secure texting crisis interventions. They also offer suicide prevention trainings and resources, including suicide prevention techniques for adults, ally training to help adults support the unique needs of LGBTQ+ youth, and a free coming out handbook for LGBTQ youth.

CHP News

There is an exciting new pharmacy benefit for DCS CHP members. Effective September 1, 2025, DCS CHP members can obtain a 90-day supply of maintenance medications, with a prescription, at retail pharmacies.

• Maintenance medications are medications prescribed for chronic, long-term conditions. 90-day prescriptions do not apply for all medications.
• Discuss with your child’s physician whether a 90-day prescription is an appropriate option for your child. If determined appropriate and the medication is eligible for a 90-day fill, your child’s physician will be able to write an updated prescription.

Please contact Mercy Care DCS CHP Member Services at 602-212-4983 or 1-833-711-0776 (TTY/TDD 711) with any questions regarding your child/youth's benefits or visit https://www.mercycareaz.org/dcschp/index.html.

SSN Requests

Tax season is coming up quicker than any of us want it to, so start preparing now! Ask the assigned DCS Specialist for the social security numbers of the children in your care to ensure that you have the information before taxes are due!

Per DCS Policy Chapter 4: Section 6: If requested for a lawful purpose, the Department shall provide a foster parent or kinship caregiver with the social security number of a child in the foster parent’s or kinship caregiver’s care within 90 days of the foster parent’s or kinship caregiver’s request (verbal or written).

If a child does not currently have a SSN assigned, the request to have one assigned by the Social Security Administration can take around 60 days. However, if the child also does not have a birth certificate, that will need to be requested and received before the SSN request can be submitted. An in-state birth certificate should only take about 30 days to process and receive, unless the child was not born in a hospital or is a foundling. That process can take much longer, depending on the information that is available. The timeframe for out-of-state birth certificate requests varies by state and can take several months.

Per DCS Policy Chapter 4: Section 6: Within 30 days of the child entering out-of-home care, the Department shall request a birth certificate for a child who is in the custody of the Department and in out-of-home care, unless the child is returned to the custody of the child’s parent within that 30-day period.

If you have requested the social security number and have not received it within 60 days of the initial request, please follow up with the DCS Specialist. If the process is not moving along as it should and you feel the need to elevate the issue, please follow the Complaint Management Procedure as outlined in DCS Policy Chapter 7: Section 17: Complaints should be resolved among those most familiar with the situation and who have the ability to resolve the complaint. Case-related complaints should be first addressed with the DCS Specialist and may be elevated to the DCS Specialist's Supervisor if not satisfactorily resolved. After attempting to resolve the complaint with the DCS Program Supervisor, the complainant may elevate the concern to the Program Manager. After attempting to resolve the complaint with the Program Manager, the complainant may elevate the concern to the Office of the Ombudsman through the Online complaint form (www.azdcs.gov), by telephone (602-364-0777 or toll-free at 877-527-0765), or by email Ombudsman@azdcs.gov.

If you need the contact information for the DCS Specialist or Supervisor, it is listed in Guardian under your Service Approvals. Warmline can also assist in providing the information or facilitating communication: 877-543-7633 option 3 or warmline@azdcs.gov.

Post-Permanency Supports Orientation

Ser Kallai Shine Festival

Community Baby Shower

Trauma-Informed Care Training

Foster 5K

Foster families: Use code 20foster for 20% off!

Rise & Ride

Keys to Success

High-Five

If you want to recognize a foster family, a licensing worker or agency, DCS Specialist/Supervisor or other employee, community partner, attorney, CASA, judge, mentor, or other fostering community member, please fill out the High-Five Nomination Form linked below.

Prescott-Area Foster Families: FREE Monthly Events

Sponsored by The League of Extraordinary Grandparents, volunteer grandparents will guide children in making crafts, painting, storytelling, games and more!

• WHO CAN ATTEND: Children in foster care, ages 4 – 10. Bio siblings may also attend, as long as they are between ages 4 – 10. All children must be registered in advance.
• WHEN: Every 3rd Saturday of the month in 2025 – October 18, November 15, December 20.
• LOCATION: Prescott Valley (details will be provided upon registration)
• TIME: 9 AM – 12 PM
• SNACKS: Snacks and drinks are provided.

ASA Now

ASA Now is a non-profit organization that ADVOCATES for, SUPPORTS, and ASSISTS children and families impacted by foster care. We are passionate about providing support to families and professionals by restoring hope and empowering them to better serve these children in need.

Warmline Supports Kinship and Foster Families

The Foster Parent Warmline is available for kinship families and licensed foster parents. While not an emergency number, Warmline staff can assist with information, timely communication, and support. It is not intended to discourage or replace direct and regular communication between the DCS Specialist and the out-of-home caregiver. You can reach the Warmline by calling 1-877-KIDSNEEDU (1-877-543-7633). Please be prepared with your name, the child's name, DOB, and dates of placement/departure, as well as an explanation of the issue. The Warmline is manned by staff Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (AZ time), excluding state holidays. You may also send an email to Warmline@azdcs.gov and include the above information.

Children's Heart Gallery

More than 70 percent of the children in need of forever families are adopted by their relatives or foster parents. For the remainder, special recruitment efforts like the Heart Gallery are used to connect them with a forever family.

The children featured in the Heart Gallery represent all ethnic groups and range in age from toddlers to teenagers. Some have special behavioral or medical needs, some are without siblings, and others are in groups of siblings.

Miranda