Arizona Department of Child Safety

The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) exists for one purpose - to protect the most vulnerable children in the US state of  Arizona. It is designed to ensure the safety and well-being of children by providing a range of services that support families in need. The organisation works continuously to investigate investigate reports of child abuse and neglect and, when necessary, it is able to intervene to protect those at immediate risk.

As a government-funded organisation, DCS focuses heavily on prevention strategies and offers resources and programmes to the general public to help them and their families. Keeping children safe, whether that's at home or in an alternative location, is the priority. It does this by partnering with other family-serving agencies and community organisations across Arizona to improve community health and strengthen families.

It self-governs via a series of defining principles, with the goal of building what it calls "true connections" with the community it serves. DCS offers advice on parenting, fostering, adoption and preventing child neglect, in addition to providing opportunities for the community to volunteer and support others.