TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – The Arizona Department of Child Safety’s process for determining whether to remove group home staff under investigation for alleged child abuse from having access to children does not fully address potential safety threats, according to a special audit released in September 2026.
The Arizona Auditor General’s office found that although no systemic child safety or investigative process failures were identified, the Department’s reported process leaves children potentially at risk during investigations. The audit examined how the Department handles reports of alleged abuse by staff at Department-licensed and contracted group homes.
“Allowing a congregate-care staff member, such as a group home staff member, who is alleged to have abused a child within the congregate-care setting to have access to children in the group home while under investigation could pose a safety threat to children and could hinder the investigative process,” according to the Child Welfare League of America, cited in the audit.
A new state audit released warns that Arizona is not doing enough to keep kids safe in group homes.
The Department received 93 reports alleging child abuse by group home staff between September 14, 2024 and December 1, 2025, out of 54,578 total child abuse and neglect reports during that period. As of March 2026, there were 172 Department-licensed and contracted group homes in Arizona, with approximately 1,200 children in Department care residing in group homes.
The audit identified four key issues with the Department’s process. In one case, an alleged perpetrator was later alleged to have abused another child in a second group home while under Department investigation. The Department did not follow up with two nonresponsive group homes to ensure they removed alleged perpetrators’ access to children as directed.
“By not following up with this group home for written confirmation that the alleged perpetrator did not have access to children, the Department lacked assurance on what actions the group home took regarding this alleged perpetrator,” the audit stated.
The Department’s practice of interviewing alleged child victims before determining whether to remove alleged perpetrators’ access to children resulted in potential safety threats not being fully resolved for 1.5 hours up to approximately 5 days for reports reviewed. For 14 reports examined, the Department took 32 hours on average, ranging between 1 hour and 23 minutes and approximately 5 days, to interview alleged victims.
The Department lacks written policies, procedures or guidance outlining its process for making and documenting decisions to remove alleged perpetrators’ access to children in group homes, according to the audit. Department contracts with child welfare agencies also do not include specific written requirements outlining expectations regarding group home staff’s access to children while under investigation.
The audit also found that the Department lacks explicit statutory authority to place group home staff on the central registry for child neglect. Laws 2024, Chapter 47, revised the statutory definition of child abuse to include actions by group home staff but did not similarly revise the definition of neglect.
“Because the statutory definition of neglect does not explicitly include acts committed by group home staff, the Department reported it reviews allegations of neglect involving group home staff as potential licensing violations that cannot result in an alleged perpetrator being placed on the central registry,” the audit stated.
The Department agreed with all findings and plans to implement all recommendations. The Auditor General’s office will follow up with the Department in 6 months to assess its progress.
“The Department appreciates the audit’s conclusion that no systemic child safety or investigative process failures were identified,” Director Kathryn Ptak said in the Department’s response.
The audit made seven recommendations, including developing written policies for removing alleged perpetrators’ access to children, updating contract language with child welfare agencies, and determining if statutory changes are needed to clarify the Department’s authority related to investigating allegations of neglect by group home staff.
View report here.
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