Pima foster care is in crisis, but you can help

The number of children in foster care has increased by 33 percent in Pima County in the last year, leaving a "woefully and sadly inadequate" network to take care of them.

Foster-child placements in vaccine-free homes OK'd

PHOENIX - State lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to allowing foster children to be placed in homes where other youngsters are not immunized, saying a loving home outweighs the health concerns.

Tucson couple lauded for opening their hearts and home to children

Tawnya and Bruce Groen's days overflow with lesson plans, sippy cups and calls of "mom" and "dad."

Volunteers make attractive bags for kids told by CPS to pack up

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Volunteers make attractive bags for kids told by CPS to pack up

Imagine young children being told to say goodbye to Mom and Dad for a while so they can go live with strangers in an unfamiliar neighborhood and attend a school where they don't know anyone.

Brewer releases $8.9B state budget plan

PHOENIX — Gov. Jan Brewer is proposing an $8.9 billion spending plan for next year, including a first-in-the-nation system of tying state aid for public schools to academic performance, an increase of nearly $400 million.

Josh Brodesky: Children sleeping in CPS offices

A Child Protective Services office morphed into a children's shelter this weekend. Because there weren't enough beds in Pima County foster and group homes, eight or nine children ended up staying in a CPS office.

Rescued beagles need foster homes

Southern Arizona Beagle Rescue volunteers say they desperately need temporary housing for homeless beagles until permanent homes for them can become available.

AZ juvenile courts flooded with CPS cases

Tucson Blue Ribbon event Saturday

The Foster and Adoptive Council of Tucson will hold their annual Blue Ribbon Event from 4-7 p.m. on Saturday at Thoroughbred Nissan, 5163 E. 22nd Street.

Socks and underwear needed for Tucson foster children

Through the month of May, Foster Care Appreciation Month, all Tucson Walgreens stores will have collection boxes for Aviva's annual Undie's Drive.

Fitz:E-mails

     Recently we’ve seen stories of lawmakers behaving badly when it comes to responding to constituent mail in a civil manner. If you have had a similar experience email your exchange to me at tooner@azstarnet.com.

Records released in Tucson tot's starvation death

Child Protective Services has released its case records about Za’Naya Flores, the 21-month old Tucson girl who died from malnutrition in January.

Ohio takes 200-pound boy, 8, from mom

CLEVELAND — The case of an 8-year-old Cleveland Heights boy taken from his family because he weighs more than 200 pounds has renewed a debate on whether parents should lose custody if a child is severely obese.