Arizona GOP plan to increase Department of Child Safety oversight in 2024
Arizona’s GOP senate majority says it will “protect children under state supervision” as part of its plan for 2024.
That paves the way for a veteran state lawmaker to push for increasing oversight of the Department of Child Safety.
For years, Republican Senator David Farnsworth has called for removing fewer children from homes and has claimed without evidence that DCS loses track of some of them.
With new legislation planned for the coming session, Farnsworth says the system is overwhelmed.
"If state government uses law enforcement power to forcibly remove children from their parents' homes because of unsafe conditions, then state government must also provide those children with a safe haven, both physically and emotionally," Farnsworth said.
Of the 9,900 children in state care, 28 were listed as missing or abducted since July 1.
DCS spokesperson Darren DaRonco says the number of children in such care is the lowest it has been since 2008.
