(Photo by Stina Sieg-KJZZ)

Charles Flanagan, leader of the CARE team, at a press conference in December 2013.

Even if lawmakers adjourn this week, it’ll be a short respite – they’re expected to be back at the capitol next month to finish work on creating a new child welfare agency.

Gov. Jan Brewer started the process of separating Child Protective Services from its parent agency in January, after revelations last year of more than 6,500 reports of child abuse and neglect that went uninvestigated.

A task force is working on how to create a stand-alone child welfare agency, and is expected to release its findings May 1.

Here to talk about that effort is Charles Flanagan, the Director of the Division of Child Safety and Family Services.