In the fall of 2024, the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) mailed letters to parents who once had an open dependency and/or severance case.

Who sent me the letter?

The letter you received was sent to you by the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS).

Why did I get a letter?

You received this letter because at one time, you had an open dependency and/or severance case. DCS discovered that the documents you received were related to your case and may or may not have been provided to your attorney while your case was open.

Am I required to do anything?

What you do or do not do could affect your legal rights. Accordingly, you may want to contact the attorney that represented you during your dependency case to discuss your rights and what to do next.

How long do I have to respond?

If you have concerns, you may consider contacting the attorney that represented you during your dependency case to discuss your concerns as soon as possible.

How does this impact my case?

The attorney who represented you during your dependency case can help you determine if the documents were received during your open case and if not, any potential impact of them not being provided.

How do I find my attorney from the case?

You can contact the juvenile court in your county to obtain contact information for your attorney.

What if the attorney is no longer employed at the office involved with my case?

If your attorney is no longer employed at the office that represented you, the office will direct you to their former supervisor.

I am a foster/adoptive parent who heard about these letters, what possible impact could this have on the adoption process.

You may want to contact your adoption attorney for more information.