DCS; periodic review hearing; report

SB 1146 requires Arizona courts to hold periodic review hearings for children in dependency cases at least every six months, as mandated by federal law. It expands who must be notified about these hearings (including foster parents, shelter care facilities, parents, and children over 12) and mandates that the Department of Child Safety (DCS) file a detailed, fact-based report 15 days before each hearing. The report must cover the child’s placement, services provided (including educational needs), progress toward case plan goals, and whether the child remains dependent. The bill also directs courts to prioritize child health/safety, assess parent participation in reunification services for children under three, and consider relative placement options during reviews. This directly affects children in foster care, their families, foster parents, and DCS staff managing dependency cases.