(Amending and Superseding Executive Order 2023-18)

WHEREAS, strong families and youth are the future of Arizona and are of vital importance to our communities and economy; and

WHEREAS, the need to support families and youth, especially Arizona’s most vulnerable who are most likely to enter into or are already in the care of the State, is of the utmost urgency; and

WHEREAS, Arizona is committed to reducing the number of individuals who experience Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), such as abuse and neglect, and associated negative outcomes through the development and implementation of trauma-informed services and care; and

WHEREAS, Arizona’s governmental and non-governmental organizations provide support and services to families and youth; and

WHEREAS, the State’s future well-being is intrinsically linked to the cooperative and collaborative engagement of governmental and non-governmental organizations in providing opportunities to develop all families and youth to their fullest potential, with a particular emphasis on those children that may end up in the care of the State.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Katie Hobbs, by virtue of the power vested in me by the Arizona Constitution and laws of this State, hereby order and direct as follows:

1. The Governor’s Council on Child Safety and Family Empowerment (the “Council”) shall continue its work to address challenges faced by Arizona’s children and families within the State’s child welfare system.
2. The Council, in alliance with the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family (GOYFF), shall:
   1. Develop partnerships with the goal of safely decreasing the number of children being placed in foster care by facilitating and providing support for prevention services, trauma-informed services, as well as supporting recruitment to increase the number of foster and adoptive families, and aiding in the support of existing foster and adoptive families.
   2. Bring attention to exemplary programs that serve as innovative and trauma-informed models for effective family and youth programming.
   3. Serve as the Children’s Justice State Task Force, assist in the development of the State’s Three-Year Assessment, and establish recommendations for the implementation of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act/Children’s Justice Act.
3. The Council shall be staffed by GOYFF. All State Agencies shall provide reasonable assistance to help achieve the Council’s mission.
4. The Governor’s designee(s) shall serve as Chair or Co-Chairs.
5. The Council shall be comprised of the following members who are appointed by and serve, without compensation, at the pleasure of the Governor. Membership shall include, but is not limited to:
   1. Director of the Arizona Department of Child Safety;
   2. Director of the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family;
   3. One representative from the Arizona Department of Economic Security;
   4. One representative from the Arizona Department of Health Services;
   5. One representative from an Arizona County Attorney’s Office;
   6. One representative from a Public Defender’s Office that provides family or parent representation;
   7. One Arizona family court judge;
   8. One representative from a law enforcement agency who specializes in crimes against youth;
   9. One representative from a tribal entity who works with youth and/or families;
   10. Two representatives who have lived experience with the foster care system;
   11. One licensed or State-credentialed healthcare provider who works with at-risk youth;
   12. Five representatives from public agencies concerned with child abuse and neglect prevention, such as welfare, child and adolescent mental health, education, foster care agencies, and/or adoption agencies;
   13. One parent who has fostered and/or adopted a child;
   14. Five representatives from community-based organizations who work with underserved populations providing comprehensive services to families;
   15. One representative from an organization that provides statewide prevention training and resources for early childhood practitioners;
   16. One child court advocate or Court Appointed Special Advocate;
   17. One community volunteer who works with at-risk and/or foster youth; and
   18. Such other members as the Governor determines are necessary to satisfy the requirements in the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act regarding state task forces (42 U.S.C. § 5106c(c)) or are otherwise appropriate, including members from populations overrepresented in the child welfare community.
6. The Council shall prepare an annual progress report for submission to the Governor by July 31 of each year.
7. The status of the Council shall be reviewed no later than December 31, 2027, to determine appropriate action for its continuance, modification, or termination.
8. This Executive Order shall not confer any legal rights or remedies upon any person and shall not be used as a basis for legal challenges to any action or inaction of a State Agency, officer, employee, or agent thereof.
9. If any provision of this Executive Order or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity does not affect any other provision or application of this Executive Order which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. To achieve this purpose, the provisions of this Executive Order are declared to be severable.

This Executive Order amends and supersedes Executive Order 2023-18.