April 2024 Issue 73

Racial Disparity in Foster Care

As most foster caregivers are aware, Arizona has more children in DCS out-of-home care than it has foster homes, even though the number of children in out-of-home care continues to decrease. The number of licensed foster careviers has been trending down for the last several years, and the shortage has now reached a critical level. As of February 2024, there are 8,899 children in DCS out-of-home care with 78% of those children residing in a family setting, which includes both licensed foster and unlicensed kinship homes. Although some of the remaining 22% of children in out-of-home care are in alternative settings, that leaves approximately 1,400 youth in congregate care (standard group homes, shelter, and QRTP settings).

Within the population of children in DCS out-of-home care, there is disparity in the racial make-up of this population. Although Black/African American children are only 5% of Arizona’s population, they make up 19% of our out-of-home care population and 25% of our congregate care population.

The issue of racial disparity in foster care is not exclusive to Arizona; it is a nationwide, systemic issue. If you would like to learn more about the overrepresentation of Black/African American children in the child welfare system on a national level, check out the resources below:

• Child Welfare Information Gateway
• Annie E. Casey Foundation
• Children's Bureau

The Arizona Department of Child Safety is working diligently to address and rectify this disproportionality as part of the DCS FY24 Strategic Plan. It is Annual Objective #4:

• Create a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Program in accordance with the Governor’s Executive plan
• Improve relationships to increase collaborative decision-making with communities that are disproportionally involved with DCS

The success of these objectives will be measured by achieving a reduction in the racial disparity in the rate of child entry into DCS out-of-home care, as well as referrals to the DCS Child Abuse Hotline.

The Department’s annual initiatives that support the Objective are:

• Establish an office of DEIA that will provide continuous learning regarding DEIA in the organizational culture, practices, and services to clients and the public, ensuring all are anchored in the DCS DEIA vision
• Establish outreach and engagement with rural communities and providers
• Develop authentic, collaborative partnerships with people who have lived experience with DCS and impacted communities to inform better prevention programs, service delivery, and family experiences.
• Continue to support and integrate the work and recommendations of the DCS Black/African American Disparity committee

In order to meet the overall objective, DCS needs the support of our community. Here’s how the foster care community can help:

1. Encourage family, friends, coworkers, other community members to become foster caregivers. A component of Annual Objective #1 is to reduce the number of children in congregate care, which means that we need more family homes. Caregivers do not need to be married. There is not an income threshold, nor do prospective caregivers have to own their home. They can learn more via the DCS website.

While the foster community needs safe, caring homes and will welcome families of all backgrounds, a vital part of meeting a child’s needs is ensuring that their culture is maintained as much as possible. Children that live with families that share their racial, ethnic, and cultural background can help minimize their trauma. Black/African American children represent 19% (1,651) of our out-of-home population, however only 15% (351) of our licensed foster homes have at least one caregiver that identifies as Black/African American.

2. If you are a licensed foster caregiver, consider adjusting your placement preferences. Of the 1,400 children currently in congregate care, the majority are teenagers, with 25% being Black or African American children. We all know that adolescence can be challenging for any youth. Taking on the unique needs of teenagers who have experienced the trauma of abuse and neglect, as well as navigating the foster care system, can be daunting.

Teenagers often just need someone in their corner, someone to meet them where they are and support them into adulthood. Adolescents in out-of-home care are as valuable and lovable as any other teenager; they need someone who is willing to take a chance on them. Please consider opening up your age range and making the conscious decision to foster teens. Reach out to your licensing worker, as there are often open referrals for teens to move out of group homes into family homes, but if there is no immediate availability, the referral eventually expires without being fulfilled. Your licensing worker will reach out to the DCS Placement Administration on your behalf. If you need assistance facilitating this communication, email Warmline@azdcs.gov

3. Additionally, if you are currently a licensed foster caregiver, support family connections. Statistically, Black/African American children are less likely to be placed initially with kinship caregivers. When possible and appropriate, advocate for family members that come forward, whether they are interested in becoming a caregiver for the child or just want to be involved in the child’s life. Family connections are vital, particularly when a child is placed with a caregiver who does not share their cultural background. Encourage and facilitate contact as much as possible. Share information, ask questions, and support these natural connections.

4. There are plenty of other ways to support youth in out-of-home care if you are not able to open your home to them. Reach out to your local school. The school or district social worker will be familiar with the group homes in the area and can connect you with the group home manager. Perhaps you can plan and sponsor activities in the community for the youth or assist them with home cooked meals. If you would prefer to connect one-on-one, Arizonans for Children has a mentorship program and can pair you with a child in out-of-home care. If you are a member of a community organization such as a church or club or even your business or employer, you can organize activities for the children or arrange a drive for clothing, toys, etc. Each quarter, DCS hosts a Children’s Heart Gallery event where children who are available for adoption gather for a photo shoot and interview to be posted on the website to share with families interested in adoption. Volunteers are always appreciated, and you can email Volunteer@azdcs.gov for more information on these events or becoming involved in other ways.

Support Group for Parents in Racially Diverse Families

Best Interest Determination

Young people experiencing foster care have the right to remain in their school of origin, unless it is not in THEIR best interests to do so. It is important to remember that changes to school placement (outside of promotion) results in more trauma to children/youth through lost relationships/connections with peers and positive adults, as well as with academic progress.

The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-351) , the Every Student Succeeds Act/ESSA of 2015 (P.L.114-95) and A.R.S. § 8-530.04 outline the requirements for state child welfare and education partners to make efforts to maintain children/youth in their schools of origin, unless it is not in their best interest to do so, in which case immediate enrollment in the new school must occur. State law requires the determination of best interest (aka BID) be completed within five (5) days (business days) of entry into foster care or a change to the foster care living arrangement.

The DCS Specialist is responsible for scheduling and facilitating the BID discussion. Participants should minimally include the DCS Specialist (who schedules, facilitates and documents the determination), the child (if appropriate to their age and development), the school of origin/local education agency (LEA), parent, and the caregiver. Additional participants could include the potential new school (especially if there is a greater likelihood that the child/youth may change schools, such as due to a safety issue at the school of origin, or the distance/time would create a burden for the child/youth).

Transportation is a shared responsibility of the LEAs (schools) and the Child Welfare Agency. (Foster Caregivers are an extension of the Child Welfare Agency.) When creating a transportation plan, the best results come when all parties are open to creative ideas and sharing the important task of ensuring transportation to school is provided in the most normal manner that meets the safety (and other needs) of the student. Children/youth must be supported to continue to attend their school of origin during the BID process. Attendance should be in-person unless unsafe or not feasible for some reason, such as distance (or some other need of the student). If in-person attendance is not possible, coordinate with the school to arrange on-line attendance or some other strategy, such as completing packets at home.

Transportation needs are often the most significant barrier to maintaining a child in the school of origin, however it cannot be the determining factor. There are several resources and options to consider:

• Unlicensed out-of-home caregivers can received mileage reimbursement for transporting a child in their physical custody for educational purposes, with preapproval.
• Foster parent reimbursement rates include the costs of routine travel, which includes travel to and from school.
• Determine if the school provides transportation through an existing school bus route or other service
• The caregiver may arrange a carpool with a trusted adult.
• Depending on the child's age, developmental needs, and whether it is safe to do so, consider public transportation.
• Look into flexibility in work schedule, teleworking, or working in an alternative location.

OLR Reminders

When you begin fostering, veteran caregivers will often tell you that it is not a matter of "if" but "when" there is a licensing concern. In most cases, it is easily remedied and often preventable. Below are some reminders from the OLR Concerns Unit to help you out:

1) Individuals are not prohibited from licensure as a foster parent based solely on a Medical Marijuana Card being held by the applicant or another individual in the home. Because cultivation, possession and/or use of marijuana remain prohibited by federal law, the Office of Licensing and Regulation (OLR) shall not issue a license to an individual cultivating, possessing, or using marijuana or who allows a household member to cultivate, possess, or use marijuana despite the individual’s possession of a valid Medical Marijuana Card. This policy is applicable to licensed foster parents, applicants for a foster care license, to all persons residing in the home (adult and juvenile) of a licensed foster parent or an applicant for a foster parent license, and to any visitors in a licensed foster home.

2) The Arizona law (Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standards) gives foster parents the ability to have another adult (18 years of age or older) caregiver provide short-term care for a child in foster care. The law allows foster parents to use their ‘reasonable judgment’ in selecting short term caregivers for children in foster care. Specifically, the law states that foster parents must:

• Use reasonable judgment in their choice of an adult to provide care.
• Notify the DCS Child Safety Specialist within 24 hours in a nonemergency situation.
• Notify the DCS Child Safety Specialist within 72 hours in an emergency situation.

Remember, use of short-term caregivers does not apply to a child with a developmental disability, a child in a therapeutic/ treatment foster care placement, or a medically fragile/complex child. For these children, an alternate care plan approved by DCS is required if the foster parent must leave the child in the care of another person.

Your licensing agency is partnered with DCS to be your family's support throughout your fostering journey, including bumps in the road. Reach out to your licensing worker for resources, such as support groups or a mentor who has experienced something similar.

College for Youth in Care Training

Royal Family Kids Summer Camp

Azura Free Virtual Reading Program

Mentor Program

Arizonans for Children has mentors available for kiddos between the ages of 5-18 with an open DCS case in Maricopa County. Children can be in any placement setting, including licensed, kinship, and congregate care. Children cannot have a current safety plan due to behavior, as volunteers are not professionally trained to manage that level of need. Anyone on the child's team can complete the application, as long as they have sufficient information on the child's case.

Foster Cooperative

Foster Cooperative is an open-sourced online community powered by Foster Arizona for anyone helping children and youth facing adversity to find connections, peer support, quality resources and training, community events, and innovative communication methods to be empowered with tools needed to succeed.

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.

Services we offer include tutoring & extracurricular activities, food pantry, clothing, and meeting basic necessities. Other services include life skills for youth, respite care, therapeutic programs, family activities, peer-to-peer support groups, education and training on utilizing Jacob's Law to obtain behavioral health services, providing resources to families and caregivers to successfully navigate the foster care system, raising awareness, recruiting new foster families, and advocating for families and their children.

The Foster Alliance

The Foster Alliance provides essential needs for children in foster care in an effort to help every foster child feel safe and loved. Our programs provide beds, clothing, hygiene items, birthday packages, backpacks filled with school supplies, licensing safety items, foster footlockers, and more. Our services are open to kinship and foster families with a current Notice to Provider.

Arizona Association for Foster and Adoptive Parents

Christian Family Care Training

Helen's Hope Chest

At Helen's Hope Chest, our mission is to engage the community to provide for the basic needs of children and teens in foster and kinship care. Helen's provides more than just clothes for kids in care. It is important that every youth who comes through our door feels a sense of confidence, acceptance, and dignity. Our boutique environment allows kids to choose their favorite items and feel like they are in a regular store, all at no cost to the foster/kinship family.

Families with a current foster or kinship placement are encouraged to call us at 480-969-5411 to schedule an appointment.

A Mighty Change of Heart

A Mighty Change of Heart provides FREE duffle bags to foster children with new, age-appropriate items inside: 2 outfits, shoes & socks, underwear, a book, diapers/wipes, hygiene items, and more. These bags have the children’s names embroidered on them and are something that they can call their very own. They have delivered over 3,500 bags across the state.

Please check out their website for more information: www.amchaz.com. If your family, business, church group, or school would be interested in holding a donation drive, please contact A Mighty Change of Heart. Items are always needed.

Aviva Children's Services - Tucson