Present:
Earlier this year, the Arizona Legislature passed The Foster Care Bill of Rights (SB 1186), which updated language and expanded the rights of children living in foster care and the rights of parents. These rights now apply to children living in kinship foster care and include considerations for siblings, schools, medical and mental health services; among others.
Future:
The Arizona Department of Child Safety is required to determine if a child is eligible for Social Security or Veteran’s Administration benefits. There is now a more favorable practice for the handling of these benefits. DCS no long directs the payments to funding the foster care program. Instead, funds will be allocated to an account created for each child. A positive move for each child’s future. Arizona is the first state to adopt this revision.
