This document provides information on the types of activities supported and the categories or characteristics of individuals served under the provisions of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Public Law 97-35, Subtitle C - Block Grants for Social Services, which amends Title XX of the Social Security Act. The Arizona Department of Economic Security under the statutory provisions of the law administers the Arizona Social Services Block Grant Plan. The program period covered corresponds to the State Fiscal Year, which begins on July 1, and ends June 30. State Fiscal Year overlaps portions of previous Federal Fiscal Year, which runs from October 1 through September 30.

Although there are several adoption agencies in Arizona, the Department of Economic Security is the largest. Almost without exception, the children placed by DES have special needs; that is, they may be older or have physical or emotional handicaps. The information presented here is based on DES’ statewide adoption program. This pamphlet has been prepared to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about adoption.

Arizona physicians with expertise in prenatal substance abuse, Child Protective Services, Arizona Department of Health Services, Indian Health Services, and hospital social services have come together to develop a consistent approach to identifying substance-exposed newborns. Based on extensive medical literature review, review of other state guidelines, and input from Arizona hospital newborn programs, this committee drafted these guidelines.

An update to the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030 (FRP30), to bring its Road Network Illustration (Map 25) into compliance with Arizona Revised Statute requirements and to resolve inconsistencies between Map 25 and parts of the Flagstaff City Code. This update does not alter the intent of FRP30; it is only concerned with correcting errors, removing legal vulnerability, and improving the readability of FRP30.

While the economic environment in Arizona has gradually improved, vulnerable individuals and families rely on the Department for life-saving protective services and essential economic support. The Department has made important improvements in how we deliver benefits, goods and services to vulnerable individuals and families. The Plan outlines several of these on-going improvement efforts including cost-saving process improvements, expanded community collaborations, enhanced transparency and increased accountability.

A resident of Wickenburg, Arizona and her husband reported experiencing some adverse health effects that she felt may be attributed to a recent pesticide application to her home. The family requested the Arizona Department of Health Services to evaluate whether the remaining levels of pesticides present in her home would cause any health effects. The resident reported to ADHS that their symptoms continued to worsen over time, and that the chemical continued to pool in their house even after being wiped up several times, so that she and her husband vacated the house. The couple underwent extensive testing, and are receiving oxygen treatment to alleviate their symptoms. No medical records have been submitted to ADHS for review, and it is difficult to conclusively analyze health outcome information as it has been self reported.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality asked the Arizona Department of Health Services to evaluate the health threat to residents from exposures to ash fallout from a fire at an asphalt plant located on the Salt River Indian Reservation in Mesa, Arizona. The facility has recently been bought by Vulcan, Inc. The site is located just north of the Salt River between Dobson and Alma School Roads. April 13, 1999.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) requested the Arizona Department of Health Services to determine whether exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in the indoor air of a vacant dry cleaning facility and an attached convenience store posed a health threat to workers renovating the former dry cleaners and the patrons and employees of the convenience store. The former Viking Cleaners operated from 1954 until 2000. The building houses two businesses, Viking Cleaners, which is currently vacant but under renovation, and an attached convenience store that is currently in operation.