Post by Logan on Jul 9, 2016 7:22:47 GMT -6
A Juvenile Court judge is holding the Department of Child Safety in contempt for ignoring three orders in a child's case, reflecting frustration with the agency's follow-through on efforts to help families.
The finding by Maricopa County Juvenile Court Judge Karen O'Connor is rare, child-safety advocates say, and signals patience is running thin with the DCS. While the contempt finding stems from an individual case, the sanctions O'Connor imposed extend to the entire agency.
In her June 6 order, O'Connor directed the agency to develop a program to train all case managers in how to quickly refer a case for developmental-disability services, as well as how to ensure parents and children receive those services.
If the agency fails to have the training program in place by Nov. 1, the DCS must pay a $9,000 fine to reflect the three-month period during which the child was denied services.
Read more: www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-investigations/2016/07/08/judge-holds-arizona-child-safety-agency-in-contempt/86752618/
Sad cases where the state has failed to provide for the welfare of the children involved. The fine was appropriate for the lack of oversight by DCS.
The finding by Maricopa County Juvenile Court Judge Karen O'Connor is rare, child-safety advocates say, and signals patience is running thin with the DCS. While the contempt finding stems from an individual case, the sanctions O'Connor imposed extend to the entire agency.
In her June 6 order, O'Connor directed the agency to develop a program to train all case managers in how to quickly refer a case for developmental-disability services, as well as how to ensure parents and children receive those services.
If the agency fails to have the training program in place by Nov. 1, the DCS must pay a $9,000 fine to reflect the three-month period during which the child was denied services.
Read more: www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-investigations/2016/07/08/judge-holds-arizona-child-safety-agency-in-contempt/86752618/
Sad cases where the state has failed to provide for the welfare of the children involved. The fine was appropriate for the lack of oversight by DCS.