Arizona GOP clashes with governor over budgeting for care of kids in group homes

PHOENIX — The latest dispute between the Arizona GOP and Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs revolves around the Department of Child Safety.

On Monday, Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro warned that the DCS congregate care program, which uses state funds to house vulnerable children in group homes, will go bankrupt next week.

Earlier this month, DCS requested lawmakers approve a multimillion-dollar transfer to fund congregate care, according to ABC15. If the money doesn’t come through, DCS might need to leave children in group homes to sleep in welcome centers or offices. The TV station reported that DCS made a request to transfer funds from two of its other of its programs to pay for congregate care.

“The solution is literally a Band-Aid,” Republican Rep. Julie Willoughby  told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Tuesday. “She’s asking for $6.5 million to be moved from other DCS line items, which will then just extend the deadline to April 24.”

Why Arizona GOP is clashing with Katie Hobbs over DCS funding issues

Hobbs’ press spokesperson, Christian Slater, accused GOP lawmakers of using the DCS funding request as a political tool. He told The Arizona Mirror that DCS’s request for a fund transfer was routine.

Willoughby disagrees. She said granting the request would throw Arizona’s most vulnerable children into an endless loop of DCS funding uncertainty.

“On April 24, we’re going to be facing the same thing again, so, really, that’s not a solution,” Willoughby said. “One month for these kids at a time is not a way to live. They’re already in a very trying time of their lives, very emotional and the highs and lows for them.”

What money amount could fix the DCS funding issues?

Willoughby said the governor’s office says DCS needs $29 million to be solvent, but state Republicans are setting up an ad hoc committee to confirm the amount.

Willoughby said Republicans are being cautious after Hobbs was accused of involvement in a “pay-for-play” scheme last year that allegedly favored Sunshine Acres Children’s Home, a Mesa congregate care provider that donated a total of $400,000 to Hobbs’ inauguration committee and the Arizona Democratic Party.

Hobbs has denied any wrongdoing, calling the allegations “outrageous.”

“What we’ve been able to discover so far is that there was a raise in group home rates by 30% to one specific congregate care, which is Sunshine Acres,” Willoughby said. “None of the other congregate cares received that same increase. So we’re looking at why did that group home get it.”

Republican says there are also moral reasons for DCS funding clash

Willoughby also claimed Hobbs isn’t putting a high enough priority on helping kids in group homes find permanent housing solutions.

“Her department said that it was fine keeping them in congregate care,” Willoughby said.

The Republican lawmaker said children should be reunited with their families or adopted instead.

“Her administration is saying, ‘We’re not going to put as much effort into looking for other places for them to go,'” Willoughby said. “In fact, one of her asks to fix this March 24 deadline is taking money away from the kinship program and putting it to the congregate care.”

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