Arizona Foster Care System Hopes To Find More Parents

By Will Stone
Published: Wednesday, May 27, 2015 - 6:16pm
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(Photo courtesy of dcs.az.gov)
Gregory McKay, Director of DCS

Arizona is trying to get more people to become foster care parents. A commission has been formed to address some of the most pressing needs.

The foster care system is buckling under a rapidly growing caseload. The number of children in care has increased by more than 50 percent over the last five years and that has not kept pace with foster care families able to take them in.

For this reason, the Department of Child Safety has brought together a commission to come up with recommendations for retaining and expanding the pool of foster care families.

Gregory McKay, director of DCS, said the system is "overrun" right now.

“These foster families are not informed or prepared. So they have to know, where did this child come from? What is their background? What do they need? What is their physical and mental condition? Are there any risks to my children for them being here?" said McKay. "These are things that foster parents don’t get.”

McKay said they will launch a website with resources and open an emergency center next month.