DAP was designed to be an alternative legal process to be used before the child is removed from their home. Using Mediators and Attorneys, family members are able to work toward safe outcomes like Guardianship or in Loco Parentis or modifications in legal decision-making agreements.
Court Improvement worked with key representatives from the Pima County Juvenile Court to introduce DAP to Courts statewide. The Pima County Juvenile Court created DAP in 2015 out of concerns over the number of dependencies that closed only a short time after the Court started hearing the cases. DAP was designed to identify situations in which safe alternatives to the filing of a dependency petition could be explored. Since its inception, several counties have implemented DAP. The contact information for these counties, and an informational flyer, is available in the following table.
Publications
DAP Training Videos
• DAP – An Overview (3min 11sec)
• DAP – One Family’s Story (4min 38sec)
• How to Identify a DAP Case (2min)
• The DAP Process (3min)
• DAP Training Compilation Video (11min 31sec)
ARIZONA STATEWIDE DAP COUNTY CONTACTS