Phoenix, AZ – On Friday Governor Katie Hobbs signed Senate Bill 1333 (SB 1333)—a life-saving measure, created by the Center for the Rights of Abused Children, that will help more children transition from institutional group homes into safe families.
Tragically, Jakob Blodgett and Christian Williams lost their lives due to mismanaged medical care while warehoused in Arizona’s group homes. Arizona places more children in congregate care than any other state in the country. Sponsored by Senator Janae Shamp, the new law is a direct response to these preventable deaths and Arizona’s dangerous overreliance on congregate care.
The new law introduces targeted systemic reforms to reduce group home use and ensure children are protected, including:
- Creating a plan for every child in a group home to move into a family.
- Permitting DCS to partner with proven nonprofits, such as Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, to find permanent homes for teens at risk of aging out.
- Mandating tracking of group home data, such as child demographics and placement duration.
- Ensuring proper medical oversight and safe medication practices in all group settings.
- Setting measurable goals for foster home recruitment and involving national experts.
Darcy Olsen, founder and CEO of the Center for the Rights of Abused Children, praised the legislation:
“This bill will save lives. No child should die in the child protection system. No child should be raised in an institution. SB 1333 is a turning point for Arizona. We will keep fighting until foster care is what it was meant to be: a safe and temporary bridge to family for children who’ve endured abuse.”
With SB 1333, Arizona begins the urgent work of transforming its foster care system—child by child, home by home—into one worthy of the children it serves.
