Chapter 4 : Section 2

Locating Missing Parents & Family for Notification

Procedures

Within 30 days after the child is taken into temporary custody, the Department shall use due diligence in an initial search to identify and notify absent or missing parents, adult relatives and persons with a significant relationship with the child.

The DCS Specialist shall initiate the search to identify absent or missing parents, adult relatives, and persons with a significant relationship by interviewing:

• the child’s parent to identify the names, type of relationship, date of birth, social security number, and contact information for the child’s absent or missing parent, adult relatives and persons who have a significant relationship with the child;

• the child, if the child is verbal or able to communicate through other means (such as through writing, an augmentative communication device, sign language, etc);

• known adult relatives; and

• other persons who are likely to have information regarding the location of the absent or missing parent, adult relatives of the child or persons with a significant relationship with the child.

With the information collected during interviews, the DCS Specialist or designee shall make attempts to contact the absent or missing parent, adult relatives and persons with a significant relationship and document efforts in a DCS Locate Efforts note in Guardian.

Request locate assistance when efforts to locate absent or missing parents, adult relatives, and persons with a significant relationship with the child with the information collected during interviews are unsuccessful.

The DCS Program Supervisor will review documentation for completeness, enter a Clinical Supervision note documenting the need for locate assistance, and email the Program Specialist for assistance in locating the individual(s).

If an international search is required, the DCS Specialist will email a completed DCS Locate Team Referral, CSO-1310A to the DCS Locate mailbox.

The Program Specialist or International Locate Coordinator will utilize records and databases available to the Department to complete a thorough search for the absent or missing person. The Program Specialist or International Locate Coordinator will email the results of the search to the DCS Specialist and DCS Program Supervisor and upload the results as a DCS Locate Efforts note in Guardian.

Upon receipt of the locate results, the DCS Specialist or designee will make efforts to locate the missing or absent parents, guardians or custodians, adult relatives, and persona with a significant relationship with the child. Attempts to locate based on the Program Specialist or International Locate Coordinator's results include, but are not limited to:

• mailing certified letters;

• visiting potential residential addresses and previous residential addresses that have note been ruled out as the person's residence or a location the person frequents;

• sending an email to any potential email addresses; and

• calling any potential phone numbers.

If the missing or absent person is still not located, the DCS Specialist or designee will make further attempts to locate the person including:

• completing a DPS background check to review MVD information;

• reviewing law enforcement records;

• reviewing state department of corrections records;

• public records and other public sites; and

• if approved by the assigned supervisor, submitting the OCWI Analyst Assist Request, DCS-3239 to ocwianalyst@azdcs.gov to conduct a search of social media.

If absent or missing parents, adult relatives or persons with a significant relationship with the child are not located with the additional information, the DCS Specialist shall staff the case with the DCS Program Supervisor. The DCS Program Supervisor will confirm that sufficient efforts to locate were made.

A Seneca Search may be requested if, after completing the above efforts, adult relatives or persons with a significant relationship with the child are not identified. See Seneca Search Standard Work.

Providing Notice to Adult Relatives and Persons with a Significant Relationship

The DCS Specialist shall send the Notice to Relative or Person Having a Significant Relationship with the Child, CSO-1103A and Response by Relative or Person Having a Significant Relationship with the Child, CSO-1104A to all identified adult relatives and persons with a significant relationship with the child within 30 days of the child’s placement in out-of-home care, and when adult relatives or persons with a significant relationship with the child are identified through ongoing locate efforts. Do not send the letter to any relative or person who has a history of family or domestic violence. Family or domestic violence includes a protective or restraining order, physical or sexual abuse in the home, or convictions for family or domestic violence.

Efforts to locate adult relatives and persons with a significant relationship with the child shall be documented and filed with the court within 30 days after the child is taken into temporary custody.

Ongoing Locate Efforts

Complete searches for absent or missing parents, guardians, or custodians, adult relatives, and persons with a significant relationship with the child prior to key decision points during the case and no less than once every six months when:

• a child in out-of-home care is not placed with an adult relative or person who has a significant relationship with the child;

• a child in out-of-home care is placed with an adult relative or person who has a significant relationship with the child who is unable or unwilling to provide a permanent placement for the child;

• the court orders the Department to continue search efforts; or

• a change in the child’s placement occurs.

Key decision points include:

• prior to the Disposition Hearing, Review Hearings and Permanency Hearing;

• prior to the Hearing on the Motion for Guardianship or Termination of Parental Rights;

• prior to case plan staffings;

• when additional information that will assist in the search is discovered; and

• prior to pre-adoptive placement.

Efforts to locate adult relatives and persons with a significant relationship with the child shall be documented and filed with the court at each Review Hearing and Permanency Hearing.

Documentation

Document all efforts to locate parents, adult relatives and persons with a significant relationship with the child in a DCS Locate Efforts note in Guardian. Include the following information:

• the person communicated with, their relationship to the absent person and their contact information; and

• any information the provided including an address for the absent person, telephone number, date of communication, etc.

Document the address of the parent, guardian, or custodian on the Attachment A and process according to directions found in Court Reports, unless the person is participating in the Address Confidentiality Program.

Document the address of the parent, guardian or custodian in the Demographics Tab, unless the person is participating in the Address Confidentiality Program.

Upload a copy of the Notice to Relative or Person Having a Significant Relationship with the Child, CSO-1103A and Response by Relative or Person Having a Significant Relationship with the Child, CSO-1104A for each relative or person that was sent notice as an artifact in Guardian.

DCS Program Supervisor

Document the determination that all locate efforts have been completed in a Clinical Supervision note in Guardian

Effective Date: February 23, 2026

Revision History: October 10, 2019, November 30, 2012, April 4, 2015, May 6, 2016, February 1, 2021, October 30, 2023, September 14, 2024