This report addresses (1) expenditures for the recruitment, retention, training, licensing, and tracking of homes maintained by foster parents; (2) an assessment of whether the Department’s contract process of home recruitment, study, and supervision is the most appropriate means to provide these services; and (3) best performance measures to evaluate the effectiveness of these services. Although contracting appears to be an appropriate method for obtaining foster home recruitment-related services, the Department should improve how it contracts for these services.

The Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030: Place Matters (Regional Plan) updated the Flagstaff Area Regional Land Use and Transportation Plan (2001). The vision and goals for the Regional Plan are directed toward creating a cohesive and sustainable land use and development pattern resulting in a contextsensitive and efficient transportation system that supports economic development, multimodal transportation, and improved safety and accessibility.

This Land Use Survey, conducted for the Cochise County Planning Department, was designed to elicit citizen opinions about the future pattern of growth in Cochise County and land use issues in areas outside of City limits. This project is an initial step in the County’s "Envision 2020: Land Use Planning in Cochise County" process, developed to measure citizen opinions on how growth is currently managed in the County and how to manage future growth.

This study examines the feasibility of Turner Parkway and establishes guidance for the preservation of right-of-way to assure the functional integrity of the transportation framework. The Turner Parkway corridor is located 13 miles west of Loop 303 in northwestern Maricopa County. When completed, this parkway will be the first major, high-capacity, north-south facility west of White Tank Mountains.

One in a series of long-range transportation planning studies being conducted by the Maricopa County Department of Transportation to assess the ultimate corridor footprint requirements to enable consistent implementation across multiple jurisdictions. The study area for this project includes Peoria Avenue from the future Jackrabbit Trail Parkway alignment to Dysart Road (Peoria Avenue Corridor). The study area generally encompasses a two-mile wide corridor centered on the existing Peoria Avenue.

In fiscal year 2013, the Department paid at least $14.6 million for transportation services for child protective services clients. However, the Department does not use performance measurement to manage and evaluate these services, including overseeing contracted transportation providers. The Department should develop and implement a performance measurement system to evaluate these services and ensure that this system provides the necessary data to evaluate the appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of contracting for these services. In addition, although the Department has implemented some procedures to help ensure proper payments to transportation providers for these services, additional steps would help address internal control deficiencies.

The best setting for abused or neglected children who are removed from their homes is a family-based setting, such as with a relative or in licensed foster care. Because it is not family-based, congregate care, such as emergency shelters, group homes, and residential treatment centers, is the least preferred placement option. However, the number of Arizona children and the length of time they are in congregate care has increased and as a result, the costs for this placement type nearly doubled between fiscal years 2009 and 2013. Contributing to the increase in congregate care use is an inadequate supply of foster care homes; various state practices, including some related to permanency goals and activities; and inadequate access to behavioral health services. Although the Arizona Department of Child Safety has taken some steps to reduce the use of congregate care, it should consider other states’ experiences to identify multiple strategies for reducing its use.

The Division of Children, Youth and Families is the state administered child welfare services agency responsible for developing the Child and Family Services Plan and administering the title IV-B programs under the plan. The Division provides child protective services; services within the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program; family support, preservation, and reunification services; family foster care and kinship care services; services to promote the safety, permanence, and well-being of children with foster and adoptive families; adoption promotion and support services; and health care services for children in out-of-home care.

This report provides the findings and recommendations of an independent evaluation of the methodologies employed by the Arizona Department of Corrections in the preparation and application of its Operating Per Capita Cost Report and Private Prison Cost Model. The purpose of the Cost Report is to provide the average daily operating cost incurred by ADC during a fiscal year to incarcerate an inmate. Information has also been utilized to compare state versus private prison costs. This report and the evaluation upon which it is based were conducted and prepared at the Department's request by MAXIMUS, Inc.

The purpose of the Verde Valley Multimodal Transportation Study is to develop a long-range regional transportation plan to guide the implementation of transportation improvements on the roads of regional significance in the Verde Valley, including I-17, State Routes, and roads on the County Regional Road System. This Study is an update of the 1999 Verde Valley Transportation Study Update.