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Experts: Arizona tracks with national averages but struggles with congregate care and staffing
Summary
Presentations from Casey Family Programs and Collaborative Safety placed Arizona near national averages for many child-safety measures while flagging elevated congregate-care rates, rising teen entries for behavioral-health reasons, and the need for safety‑science practices and workforce supports.
Two outside presenters told the oversight committee that Arizona's child‑welfare system performs near national averages on many measures but has distinct challenges in congregate care and workforce stability.
Malcolm Hightower of Casey Family Programs said Arizona is "pretty much in the middle of the pack" on overall child‑welfare metrics. He highlighted Arizona's success in kin‑first placements — roughly 54% of placements in 2024 versus about 41% nationally — while noting the state…
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