After years of ignoring the pleas of the public and individual legislators, Governor Jan Brewer announced on Monday the creation of an “independent” Child Advocate Response Examination Team (CARE Team). The group, which is part of the Governor’s effort to make it look like she is finally doing something, is charged with providing oversight for the investigations of cases that were designated as “not investigated” by Arizona Child Protective Services (CPS).
Over 6,550 cases were reported to the state’s child-abuse hotline but not investigated.
Brewer refuses to fire Arizona Department of Economic Security Director Clarence Carter.
The cases came to light when the agency’s Office of Child Welfare Investigations reviewed several reports alleging child abuse or neglect, and found they had been marked “NI” for “not investigated, according to the Arizona Republic. The Republic reported that a Phoenix police homicide officer on loan to lead that office took his findings to Carter, who then called an investigation by both his agency and the DPS.
The independent CARE Team also will examine the CPS system to identify areas of concern. The review will include consideration of personnel, operations, processes, and policies. Once areas of improvement are identified, the team will submit a summary of its finding to Brewer.
The CARE Team is chaired by Charles Flanagan, Director of the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections. Other team members include Arizona State Senator Leah Landrum Taylor; Arizona State Representative Kate Brophy McGee; Robert Bell, Children’s Justice Coordinator at the Childhelp Children’s Center of Arizona; Cindi Nannetti, a veteran prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office; Deb Gullett, child advocate and former legislator; Greg McKay, Chief of the Office of Child Welfare Investigations (OCWI); Jan Strauss, a former Mesa Police Chief; and a CPS representative (TBD).
The Office of Child Welfare Investigations (OCWI), which uncovered the practice within CPS to disposition cases as “not investigated,” was created as a result of reforms demanded by legislators. It is headed by Chief Greg McKay and employs child welfare investigators to handle criminal conduct allegations of child abuse.