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False Allegations of Child Abuse Can Happen to Anyone, Even Cardi B
Recently, someone called Child Protection Services on Cardi B in the middle of the night. The caller claimed that Cardi B was physically abusing her children. The rapper has had pranks pulled on her in the past (e.g. food deliveries she never ordered), but she draws the line at “pranks” affecting her children. In turn, […]
Help! My Ex Falsely Accused Me of Child Abuse!
False allegations of child abuse from former partners are a reality. Sometimes, they are retaliatory to damage the other parent’s credibility or reputation. This (highly unethical) strategy is used to gain leverage over the other person or to induce the court to change parenting orders. These reports may also be done after a decree has […]
How Public Is a Registry Substantiation?
While we have previously discussed the extent of publicity in a family court proceeding, it is important to note that registry cases are an entirely different area of law. Consequently, different rules apply to the findings, processes, and disclosure obligations, including the rules governing publication of registry findings and records from the administrative proceedings. A […]
Understanding the Adult Protective Services Registry System
In Arizona, a vulnerable adult is statutorily defined through A.R.S. § 46-451(A)(10), which states that: “…an individual who is eighteen years of age or older and who is unable to protect himself from abuse, neglect or exploitation by others because of a physical or mental impairment” [1]. As should be evident from the legal definition, […]
The Impact of the Department of Child Safety’s Document Failure on Parents
On Aug. 21, a letter from the state attorney representing the Department of Child Safety (DCS) went out to all presiding judges across Arizona requesting that they “suspend any trials and severance proceedings” set in the next two weeks after a review revealed thousands of documents were not made discoverable in more than 3,800 cases. […]
In the News: Lack of Discovery Revealed in Thousands of DCS Cases
On August 21, 2023, a letter from the Division Chief Counsel representing the Department of Child Safety (DCS) went out to all Presiding Judges across the state of Arizona. The letter requested that they “suspend any trials and severance proceedings” set in the next two weeks due to a review that revealed thousands of documents […]
Fast-Tracked Termination: What is Happening in Arizona
Once a child is born, its parents are endowed with a “fundamental right to parent.” This means that like other fundamental rights (e.g. right to privacy, right to marry), there is a higher scrutiny placed on any attempts to interfere with that right and the presumption is that the right will remain intact. However, according […]
So DCS has invited you to a Team Decision-Making Meeting (TDM): Now what?
In the grand scheme of nearly indecipherable acronyms in child welfare investigations, one particular abbreviation stands out as being part of nearly every case but nonetheless being misunderstood by most parents. The “TDM,” or “team decision-making meeting,” is an important step in the resolution of child welfare investigations that proceed beyond initial screening. In nearly […]