§ 8-884 — Evaluation of community programs; annual report

A. In developing the method of evaluating community substance abuse prevention and treatment programs, the department of child safety in partnership with the Arizona health care cost containment system as joint administrators of the program shall prescribe evaluation factors that are consistent with the following outcome goals:

1. Increase the availability, timeliness and accessibility of substance abuse treatment to improve child safety, family stability and permanency for children in foster care or other out-of-home placement, with a preference for reunification with a child's birth family.

2. Increase the availability, timeliness and accessibility of substance abuse treatment to persons receiving temporary assistance for needy families to achieve self-sufficiency through employment.

3. Increase the availability, timeliness and accessibility of substance abuse treatment to promote recovery from alcohol and drug problems.

B. The department of child safety shall retain a person to evaluate the performance of the contractor for each community program according to the factors developed pursuant to subsection A of this section. The person shall report at least every three months to the department and each contractor on the performance of each contractor. Annually by November 1, the person shall prepare and deliver to the legislature a statewide report concerning the prior fiscal year.