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Knowledge is Power... and our goal is to empower foster and adoptive families in Arizona!

 
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The Arizona State Senate is getting ready to vote on SB 2148  We have heard from many of our members on this bill to mandate that the Arizona Department of Economic Security and adoption agencies give primary consideration to a married couple when placing a child for adoption.  The language of the bill follows:

 ·         Requires the Division or its contracting agency to give primary consideration to placement with a married couple.

·          Requires the Division or agency to give primary consideration to placement with a married couple and may consider placement with a single person only if a qualified married couple is not available, unless any of the following applies:

      The single person is a relative of the child, and the alternative for the child is extended foster care.

       A meaningful and healthy relationship between the single person and the child has already been established.

      The child's best interests require the adoption by the single person.

      The adoption is the result of a direct placement adoption.

We encourage you, however you feel, to contact your state senator and let him/her know.  To read the entire bill and determine who your Senator is, visit www.azleg.gov .  If you are interested in a fact sheet generated by the Children's Action Alliance regarding the potential impact of this legislation, e-mail me at kris.jacober@cox.net.

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The adoption subsidy office moved, and forgot to let parents know.  If you're not aware, the new information for the Adoption Subsidy office is 602.771.6470, the fax # is 602.771.6480, and the address is 4000 N. Central Ave., Ste. 2100, Phoenix, AZ  85017.

 

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 The Department of Children Youth and Families has recently implemented direct deposit of foster care reimbursement checks.  If you are interested in having your reimbursement be directly deposited into your checking or savings account, e-mail me at kris.jacober@cox.net and I will forward the enrollment form.  Simply sign, enclose a voided check, and return with your next billing statement.  Voila!  Your reimbursement check will be directly deposited into your account.


 

Arizona allows foster parents to exercise "Reasonable Judgment" when choosing short term caregivers!

Foster parents can now have another adult caregiver provide short-term care for a child in foster care. The new law allows foster parents to use their “reasonable judgment” in selecting short-term caregivers for children in foster care without having to notify CPS for approval in advance.

Foster parents are to notify the CPSS before the care exceeds 24 hours in a non-emergency situation and before the care exceeds 72 hours in an emergency situation.

Foster parents caring for a child with DD or who is medically fragile or a child receiving treatment foster care shall use the alternative care plan approved by the department if the foster parent must leave the child in the care of another person.
 
Click HERE to view AZAFAP recommended guidelines for choosing short term caregivers.

 

 

The best advocates for kids and families involved in the Arizona child welfare system are the ones who KNOW how our system is supposed to operated.  With that INFORMATION we can make sure that DES and legislative policy makers HEAR the real life affect their decisions have.  Our goal for  this section is to keep ourselves up to date on proposed changes to policy and state laws, and provide a unified voice to speak out on behalf of the children we serve.
Click here for the AZ CPS policy manual.

In our work with the state legislature and Arizona policy makers, your voice counts!  Never hesitate to contact your Senator or Representative to express your opinions on matters involving the issues impacting the children in your care.  Here is how to find the person to tell:
Click here to find your state senator or representative.
Click here to find a bill in the legislature.
 

Arizona Association for Foster and Adoptive Parents
2320 N 20th St
Phoenix, AZ  85006
602.930-4320
info@azafap.org

Send mail to Webmaster@AZAFAP.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 07/12/10