Arizona’s child welfare system is facing growing scrutiny after three girls — Emily Pike, Zariah Dodd, and Rebekah Baptiste — were killed this year while under the watch of the Department of Child Safety (DCS). These girls were either under investigation for being victims of parental abuse, living in a state-operated group home, or in a group home licensed by DCS. On Wednesday, lawmakers held the first in a series of oversight committee meetings at the state Capitol, bringing together legislators, law enforcement, representatives from five tribal nations, and DCS officials. Their goal: to address systemic failures and prevent more children from falling through the cracks.
