Arizona Family Resources

Medical emergencies

Dial 911 immediately if you have an urgent safety or life threatening matter that requires immediate help.

Behavioral health crisis

Call the Behavioral Health Crisis Line in your service area:

Maricopa County: 1-800-631-1314 or 602-222-9444

Pima County: 1-800-796-6762 or 520-622-6000

Yuma, La Paz, Pinal, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, Cochise and Santa Cruz counties: 1-866-495-6735

Mohave, Coconino, Apache, Navajo and Yavapai counties: 1-877-756-4090

Gila River/Ak-Chin Indian communities: 1-800-259-3449

Suicide prevention

If you can’t immediately reach anyone on your local Behavioral Health Crisis Line, you can call one of two nationwide, 24/7 hotlines:

Hope Line Suicide Hotline: 1-800-784-2433

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

Department of Child Safety (DCS) Hotline

1-888-767-2445

You can call this hotline to contact DCS any time of day or night, report suspected abuse, get an emergency message to your assigned case manager, and get help with emergency medical authorization.

St. Luke's Behavioral Health Urgent Care

1-800-564-5465 or 602-541-8535

You can call for 24 hour assessment.

Family Involvement Center Parent Assistance Center (PAC)

602-288-0155 or 1-877-568-8468

PAC offers support by telephone or in person in English and Spanish, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on holidays. PAC is staffed by parents, called Parent Partners, who have raised or are currently raising children with emotional, physical, or behavioral health care needs. Click here to learn more about the services and supports offered to families, community members, and professionals by Family Involvement Center’s PAC team.

The Birth to Five Helpline

1-877-705-5437

A free service open to all families who need help. Call the Helpline to speak with a bi-lingual (English/Spanish) early childhood specialist Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Helpline combines sensitive, supportive listening with sound information from professionals who have expertise in early childhood development, parenting and caregiving.

Caregiver Resource Line

1-888-737-7494

For information and community referrals.

Poison Control Centers

1-800-222-1222

Staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by trained experts who offer free, confidential medical advice in an effort to prevent and treat poison exposures.

Incident Reports

If you are a licensed foster parent, R21-6-326 requires you to notify DCS and your licensing agency within 24 hours if any of the following incidents occur:

  • Injury, illness, change of medication, or medication error that requires medical attention
  • Theft of money or property belonging to a foster child
  • Significant damage to the property of a foster child
  • Injury to others or significant damage to the property of others caused by a foster child
  • Using physical restraints to control a foster child’s sudden, out-of-control behavior
  • Arrest of a household member or involvement of a household member with law enforcement that does not lead to an arrest
  • Household changes that affect the foster parent’s ability to meet the foster child’s needs
  • Life-threatening illness, injury, or the death of a household member
  • Incidents involving a DCS report or investigation

If you are a licensed foster parent, R21-6-326 requires you to notify DCS and your licensing agency immediately if any of the following incidents occur:

  • Death of a foster child
  • Unexplained absence of a foster child
  • Unauthorized removal or attempted removal of a foster child from the care and supervision of the foster parent
  • A serious illness, injury, or mental health crisis of a foster child that requires hospitalization or emergency room treatment
  • An allegation or the discovery of a sign of abuse or neglect of a foster child
  • Arrest of a foster child or involvement of a foster child with law enforcement that does not lead to an arrest
  • Fire or other situation requiring overnight evacuation of the home
  • Incidents that involve or are likely to involve the media
  • Any other unusual incident that seriously jeopardizes the health, safety, or well-being of a foster child

Within 24 hours of any of the above noted incidents, licensed foster parents shall complete an Unusual Incident Report (Spanish) form and submit it to their licensing agency.

Unlicensed kinship foster parents are to notify DCS within 2 hours of the following: death of a child, hospitalization (medical or psychiatric), alleged abuse, or other emergency threatening the child’s placement.

Unlicensed kinship foster parents are to notify DCS within 48 hours of the following: serious illness, death of a caregiver, change in family composition, or involvement with law enforcement.

Who should I contact if I am unhappy or have concerns with DCS?

Go through the chain of command by contacting your caseworker and their supervisor. Click here for the list of DCS offices and telephone numbers. If that does not work please call the DCS Ombudsman at (602) 364-0777 or email Ombudsman@azdcs.gov