Division of Behavioral Health Services

Child Protective Services

The mission of the child welfare system is to ensure children experience safety, permanency, and well-being. This mandate is supported through strong partnerships between child welfare and the public behavioral health system to provide rapid behavioral health screening, assessment, and treatment services to referred children and families.

Resources

• Arizona Department of Economic Security/Division of Children, Youth and Families (DES/DCYF)
  • DES/DCYF policy manual
    • Guidelines on the consent and procedures for the use of psychotropic medications for children in out-of-home placements
  • Comprehensive Medical and Dental Program
  • Psychotropic Medication: A Guide for CPS Specialists and Licensed Caregivers
  • DES/DCYF Pamphlet Guidelines for Caregivers: Are you Prepared for Your Child's Psychiatric Evaluation?
    English | Español
• Arizona Department of Health Services, Division of Behavioral Health Services (ADHS/DBHS)
  • The Unique Behavioral Health Service Needs of Children, Youth and Families Involved with CPS
  • Psychotropic Medication: Prescribing and Monitoring
• American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)
  • Child Abuse Resource Center
  • AACAP Position Statement on Oversight of Psychotropic Medication Use for Children in State Custody: A Best Principles Guideline
• Making Health Choices: A Guide on Psychotropic Medications for Youth in Foster Care
• Psychotropic Medication Use in the Foster Care Population in Arizona