Removal Review Program
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What is HB2024?
On December 18, 2003, Governor Janet Napolitano signed into legislation House Bill 2024, now known as A.R.S. 8-822. This legislation created a new role for members of the Department of Economic Security/Administration of Children, Youth and Families’ “Removal Review Team.” There are several components to this bill; however, only a few pertain specifically to the Removal Review Program. These are the pertinent elements of House Bill 2024:
A) The review shall occur within 72 hours of the removal of a child from his/her home. The review team shall include two removal review volunteers.
B) A child shall not be removed unless a majority of the members of the review team agree that removal is necessary. If a majority of the members of the review team do not agree removal is necessary, the child shall not be removed. If the child has already been removed, the child shall be returned to the home.
What is a Removal Review?
A) Child Protective Services must review the case of each child that they remove from the care of their biological parents, legal guardian or custodian that is expected to result in a dependency petition.
B) The review team shall consist of a case manager, case manager supervisor and two removal review volunteers. If the child has a medical need or a chronic illness, the review team shall include the child’s physician. If all reasonable efforts to reach the child’s physician have been made and the physician is not available, the team shall include a physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17 and who is familiar with children’s health care.
What is the Removal Review Volunteer’s Time Commitment?
A) Each volunteer will be assigned to a CPS District and must commit to a minimum of one day per month.
B) The volunteer will be on-call for the day(s) to which they have committed. The volunteer will participate in these reviews telephonically.
C) Volunteers are required to complete 6 hours of training per calendar year throughout the course of their appointment.
D) Volunteers are not compensated for their time as this is a volunteer service.
How Do I Become a Removal Review Volunteer?
Volunteers are selected and appointed by the Presiding Juvenile Court Judge in their county of residence. Appointment terms are for three years. However, if a removal review volunteer is already appointed to and serving on a Foster Care Review Board, then the appointment term will expire on the same day as their review board term. Volunteers cannot serve on a removal review team until they complete training.
If you are interested in becoming and FCRB volunteer, please visit our application page for further information and to fill out and application.