A new center for children removed from their home by the state opened in Phoenix Monday. The 30-bed building is meant to be a temporary sanctuary for children 10 and under until they can be placed foster care.
In the past, if there wasn’t an immediately available foster parent, youngsters would often sleep in offices at the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Now, they’ll be in a facility with toys and beds, as well as DCS employees and volunteers. The facility came about through a partnership between DCS and the nonprofit Childhelp. But it’s only a temporary fix. DCS spokesman Doug Nick said the building was donated and the lease only lasts 9 months.
"We’re not going to just sit here and wait for that timeline to come along," he said. "We’re actively looking today and every day until we find a potential solution that’s more permanent, but in the meantime, this gives us a bit of breathing space. It’s helpful for kids that are in a concern now."
But it's not helpful to children 11 and older. Ideally, Nick said, DCS will find a facility that can house children of all ages.
