Arizona Child Safety Department Faces Scrutiny After Deaths of Three Girls

The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) is facing intense scrutiny after the deaths of three girls—Rebekah Baptiste, Emily Pike, and Zariah Dodd—who were under the agency's oversight, highlighting systemic failures in protecting vulnerable children. A special meeting at the State Capitol brought together lawmakers, tribal leaders, advocates, and family members to address these issues, resulting in a memorandum of understanding aimed at improving communication and information sharing between DCS and tribal nations, particularly to aid law enforcement in cases of missing children. Key concerns raised include communication breakdowns, lack of timely and adequate response to abuse reports, and retention issues among DCS caseworkers, with calls for increased pay and better resources. Despite numerous audits since 2014 revealing persistent problems—including unimplemented recommendations and inadequate investigations into abuse—the agency has struggled to fully address these deficiencies. Governor Katie Hobbs and state legislators have emphasized the need for administrative and legislative changes to better protect Arizona's children, while DCS leadership has remained largely silent amid the crisis. The tragic cases have galvanized efforts to reform the system, though longstanding challenges remain in ensuring the safety and welfare of children in state care.