The Arizona Revised Statutes have been updated to include the revised sections from the 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session. Please note that the next update of this compilation will not take place until after the conclusion of the 57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session, which convenes in January 2026.
This online version of the Arizona Revised Statutes is primarily maintained for legislative drafting purposes and reflects the version of law that is effective on January 1st of the year following the most recent legislative session. The official version of the Arizona Revised Statutes is published by Thomson Reuters.
8-509.02. Licensed foster homes; minimum number required; annual report; definition
A. The department shall establish the minimum number of licensed foster homes that are required throughout this state and within regions that are designated by the department. The minimum number of available licensed foster homes shall be sufficient to place a child in a licensed foster home that best meets the needs of the foster child. The department shall determine the minimum number of licensed foster homes needed. The department may use an estimator tool to calculate the minimum number of licensed foster homes in each designated region. The department shall estimate annually the minimum number of licensed foster homes, which shall be effective at the beginning of each fiscal year. The department may not reduce the minimum number of licensed foster homes until the estimate for the next fiscal year.
B. The department shall categorize the minimum number of licensed foster homes needed pursuant to subsection A of this section into categories of need, including the following categories of foster children who:
1. Have developmental disabilities.
2. Have behavioral or emotional needs.
3. Have medically complex conditions.
4. Are over thirteen years of age.
5. Are part of a sibling group of three or more foster children.
C. The department, in consultation with national experts, shall design and begin a campaign to recruit at least the minimum number of licensed foster homes required in each designated region. The department shall report progress toward maintaining or exceeding the minimum number of licensed foster homes pursuant to section 8-526.
D. On or before December 31 of each year, the department shall report to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the joint legislative oversight committee on the department of child safety. The report must contain the following:
1. Progress toward achieving the minimum number of licensed foster homes.
2. Obstacles preventing the department from obtaining the minimum number of licensed foster homes.
3. Solutions for recruiting and maintaining the minimum number of licensed foster homes.
E. This section does not limit the department's ability to place a child in a kinship foster care setting.
F. For the purposes of this section, "medically complex condition" means a chronic physical or developmental condition that the department has determined a child has or is at risk of having and that requires health-related services beyond the health-related services that are required by a child in general.