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.
DISCLAIMER
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.
A. Within thirty days after placing a child in a congregate care setting, the department shall do the following:
1. Work with the child, if developmentally appropriate, the child's attorney and the child's family and service team to do both of the following:
(a) Establish a plan to place a child in an appropriate family-like setting. The plan shall be specific to the child and, if applicable, the child's siblings and the child's minor parent or parents. The plan shall include steps to identify and recruit an appropriate family-like setting for the child. In developing the plan, the department shall identify and consider the placement preferences of the child.
(b) As part of the plan established pursuant to subdivision (a) of this paragraph, develop a child-specific congregate care implementation plan to ensure that the child's needs are appropriately met while the child is placed in a congregate care setting.
2. Conduct an on-site visit of a group home within forty-eight hours after placing a medically complex child in a group home to ensure that all staff members who will have contact or care responsibilities for a medically complex child have proper training.
3. Document both of the following in the child's case plan:
(a) The plan for placement of a child in an appropriate family-like setting and the child-specific congregate care implementation plan pursuant to paragraph 1, subdivisions (a) and (b) of this subsection.
(b) The results and findings of the group home on-site survey, if applicable, pursuant to paragraph 2 of this subsection.
B. For the purpose of this section:
1. "Family and service team" includes any of the following:
(a) Coaches.
(b) Court appointed special advocates.
(c) Department employees.
(d) Former foster caregivers.
(e) Mentors.
(f) Teachers.
(g) Any other individuals who have knowledge of the child.
2. "Medically complex child" means a child who the department has determined has or is at risk for a chronic physical or developmental condition and who requires health-related services beyond the health-related services that are required by a child in general.