Protecting Arizona’s Children

Nothing is more important to the future of Arizona than the future leaders of Arizona: our children. Since she took office, Governor Napolitano has made our children’s futures brighter – she’s delivered critical reforms and much-needed funding for Child Protective Services, strengthened the Healthy Families initiative, and has worked to keep Arizona’s families healthy by leading the fight against domestic violence.

When Governor Napolitano is in charge, the needs of Arizona’s children come first. It’s easy to understand why she’s earned the reputation as “The Children’s Governor.”

Keeping Arizona’s Children Healthy and Safe

Governor Napolitano believes Arizona must not only be a great state to grow old in, but also a great state to grow up in. Arizona’s children should enter the schoolhouse doors healthy, happy and ready to learn. That’s why Governor Napolitano has made important and successful strides in keeping Arizona’s children healthy and safe.

Governor Napolitano is continuing the important job of reforming Child Protective Services, building on the reforms she made after calling the legislature into a special session to change how the agency operates, and investing much-needed resources to better protect our children. She enhanced the tools available to CPS managers to do their difficult jobs and boosted their training. She has also ensured that CPS investigates all reports of abuse and neglect and improved the coordination between CPS and law enforcement regarding the most serious child abuse cases.

The next phase of CPS reform is focused on increasing the array and intensity of services provided to families so children can remain safely in their own homes and, when they cannot, investing in the success of family-focused foster care. The duty of protecting Arizona’s most vulnerable children is vitally important, and Governor Napolitano will continue to fight for critical resources that ensure the safety and security of our youngest generation.

Every child’s well being starts within the family. Governor Napolitano strengthened the state’s Healthy Families initiative, which provides services to at-risk families by linking them to health care providers, childcare, housing, employment and nutrition, safety, and parenting education. Healthy Families will reach more than 3,700 families across the state this year.

Governor Napolitano is honoring the important work of Arizona’s foster families, and working to put more children in permanent homes. She increased the daily reimbursement rate by more than 50 percent for foster child expenses for the first time in nearly 10 years, and raised the number of licensed foster homes open to children who have been abused by over 20 percent since 2003. The length of time it takes for a new foster family to earn a license has dropped by more than 40 percent, and an improved Web site provides important information to those interested in becoming foster or adoptive parents. Current efforts are focused on recruiting and retaining foster and adoptive families to serve the needs of local communities, enhancing training for these families, and increasing supportive services for relative caregivers.

Enriching Arizona’s Families

Governor Napolitano is dedicated to making Arizona the best state in the nation to raise a family. She’s investing in Arizona’s schools, and in initiatives that strengthen families.

Governor Napolitano strengthened the state’s Healthy Families initiative, which provides services to at-risk families by linking them to health care providers, childcare, housing, employment and nutrition, safety, and parenting education. Healthy Families will reach more than 3,700 families across the state this year.

She also targeted $51 million in childcare subsidies to reduce the number of families that are waiting for childcare assistance. She developed a plan to establish a quality rating system for childcare and preschool providers that will help parents choose the best places for their children.

Leading the Fight Against Domestic Violence

Governor Napolitano has a strong focus, and has dedicated more resources to, ending domestic violence in our state. Arizona’s domestic violence has an alarmingly high rate of turning away those who need assistance because of a lack of resources. In 2003, domestic violence shelters received 52,000 calls for service, but 17,000 women and children were turned away because of a lack of space.

The Governor is working to boost domestic violence resources so all victims get the help they deserve. She targeted an additional $1.5 million to the state’s Domestic Violence Fund, raising the total to $11 million. The new money represents the first increase in the fund since 2001, and will open 75 more beds in domestic violence shelters across the state.