Category Archives: Child Protective Services
Regulatory Issues in Arizona Residential Treatment Centers
On February 19, The Arizona Republic/azcentral.com published its third entry in a multi-part investigative report into Arizona’s regulation of residential treatment centers for at-risk youth. Reporters launched the investigation last year in order to determine whether Arizona is meeting its … Continue reading
Outcry Over Russian Adoptee’s Texas Death
On February 18, CNN reported that Russian officials are outraged after the death of Max Shatto, a Russian boy living with his adoptive family in Texas. Texas Child Protective Services is investigating the boy’s death, citing the suspiciousness of his … Continue reading
Suspected Non-accidental Trauma: Femoral Shaft Fractures
Imagine the following: You are the parent of two boys, ages 12 and 2. Your children get along well – the 12-year-old recently helped you wean the little one off of bottles and takes pride in teaching his brother new … Continue reading
Munchausen by Proxy Allegations in Arizona
Allegations of child abuse can come from a number of sources. Teachers, caretakers, physicians, and some other professionals are required to report their suspicions of abuse due to Arizona’s “mandatory reporting” statute (A.R.S. § 13-3620), leading to CPS investigations in … Continue reading
CPS Under Scrutiny for Placement in Colorado City
Child Protective Services (CPS), the state agency responsible for protecting the safety and welfare of vulnerable children, is one of the most embattled sectors of our local government. Understaffed and underfunded, CPS struggles with the ever-growing task of investigating child … Continue reading
Sex Offender Registration and Real Estate
In a November decision, the Arizona Court of Appeals held that sellers and agents have no duty to report the presence of nearby sex offenders when offering a home for sale – a decision with meaning unrelated to real estate. … Continue reading
Injunction Against Procreation as Probation Condition
A Wisconsin court issued an injunction on Dec. 3 which prohibits a father of nine from having any more children until he demonstrates that he can support the ones he already has. The man owes close to $100,000 in unpaid … Continue reading
Adoption Tax Credit
Adopting a child can be tremendously costly because of numerous legal issues which must be navigated in addition to collateral expenses. A complicated adoption may require a ‘contested’ termination proceeding (severance) that requires experts and an exhausting trial. Fifteen years … Continue reading
CPS Database Glitch Causing Headaches
In June, the Arizona Department of Economic Security (“DES”) discovered a glitch in the computer program that Child Protective Services (“CPS”) uses to disclose records and information about pending cases and investigations. Statistically, the scope of the glitch is staggering. … Continue reading
Phoenix Foster Parents Arrested
On October 11, a husband and wife were arrested by Phoenix police after a yearlong investigation. Police say that the man abused seven of his 15 foster children over a six-year period, and that this wife did nothing to stop … Continue reading
