When Arizona’s foster care system swelled to an all-time-high of over 19,000 children in 2016, the reason should have been obvious to the state’s lawmakers.
It certainly wasn’t because thousands of residents were suddenly abusing and neglecting their children, but Arizona approached the problem with that mentality. As a result, thousands of children were taken from their families when in-home services and support would have sufficed.
Here’s what was actually happening: Since the Great Recession a decade ago, Arizona legislators have cut funding and programs that help families struggling with poverty and related issues and instead began spending more and more money on foster care and adoption services.
[For more on this story by Patty Machelor and Perla Trevizo, go to https://www.centerforhealthjou...care-system-and-find]
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