GENERAL:

•  Arizona ranks 41 st out of 50 states in overall child well being (KidsCount, 2006).

•  Each day, approximately 98 parents and/ or caregivers are reported for suspected abuse, neglect and abandonment in the state of Arizona (AZ DES, 2006).

•  As of 2003, 12% of Arizona High School students dropped out, tied for the highest percentage in the nation (KidsCount, 2006).

•  Arizona ranks 47 th out of 50 states in highest teen birth rates (KidsCount, 2006).

POVERTY:

•  In 2003, nearly one in five children (21%) in Arizona lived in poverty and ten percent (10%) of those children live in extreme poverty (KidsCount, 2006).

•  In 2003, Arizona ranked 41 st out of 50 states in children living below the poverty level (KidsCount, 2006).

•  Poor children have more health and behavioral problems, fewer years of education and poorer performance in school (Children's Action Alliance, 2006).

•  Poor children are also more likely to become teen mothers, have lower IQs, and achieve lower economic productivity later in life (Children's Action Alliance, 2006).

CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT:

•  Between April 1, 2005 and March 31, 2006, there were over 36,000 reports of child abuse, neglect and abandonment to Arizona Child Protective Services (AZ DES, 2006).

•  More than half of all child abuse victims also suffer from neglect (60%), while one-third suffers from physical abuse (AZ DES, 2006).

•  Six percent (6%) of all reported child abuse cases involve sexual abuse (AZ DES, 2006).

•  There were 40 child deaths in 2004 that were due to child maltreatment (Children's Action Alliance, 2006)

•  Child abuse and neglect often result not only in physical harm or even death, but also profound development and behavior problems ( American Academy of Family Physicians, 2006).

•  Abused and neglected children are at greater risk of delinquent behavior, including substance abuse, criminal activity and high-risk health behaviors, personality disorders, and of mistreating their own children and spouses ( American Academy of Family Physicians, 2006).

FOSTER CARE:

•  On March 31, 2006, there were 9,902 children in out-of-home care. Of these children, the largest percentage (41%) live in a Foster Care environment (AZ DES, 2006).

•  As of March 2006, approximately 35% of children in CPS out of home care are not receiving required CPS visitation (AZ DES, 2006).

•  Child abuse is only one of the reasons a child may be placed in Foster Care. Other problems that contribute to the need to remove a child from their home include family instability, poverty, violence, homelessness, substance abuse and serious illness (Children's Action Alliance, 2006).

•  The typical child leaving foster care is 8 years old, has had 2 or 3 placements and had been in care approximately 15 months (Children's Action Alliance, 2006).

•  Approximately 33% of the children living in foster care are living with relatives. Most relatives serve as guardians rather than licensed foster parents (AZ DES, 2006).

•  The average length of time that a child with a case plan goal of “adoption” has spent in out-of-home care is 2 years, 3 months (AZ DES, 2006).

Arizona 's Children Association has made every effort to include the most accurate, up-to-date information from the State of Arizona and Independent National Reporting Agencies. Arizona's Children Association will not, however, accept liability for any loss, damage or inconvenience arising as a consequence of any use of or the inability to use any information presented.