An Arizona lawmaker has scheduled a closed door meeting addressing the failures within the state’s child protection system after the recent deaths of three Arizona children.
Arizona Senator Carine Werner announced that she has scheduled the first closed door “stakeholder” meeting of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on the Department of Child Safety for Wednesday, September 3.
Earlier this year, the remains of 14-year-old Emily Pike were discovered after she ran away from her state-licensed group home. Zariah Dodd, a pregnant 16-year-old, was shot and killed in a park after leaving her state-licensed group home. Meanwhile, 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste was found dead after DCS received multiple reports of abuse over time; her father has since been arrested on murder and child abuse charges. All three cases involve prior contact with DCS, raising concerns about gaps in safeguarding vulnerable youth.
The committee’s ongoing stakeholder meetings will bring together leaders from the Arizona Department of Child Safety, Tribal Nations, law enforcement, legislative members, and child welfare experts to review state protocols for licensed group homes and child welfare oversight.
This meeting will be closed to the public and media.
This meeting will be closed to the public and media. WHY?
My thought exactly. AZ DCS Oversight Group and the public should definitely be able to attend.