Independent Oversight Committees
In August 2018, legislative changes took effect which renamed the previously known Human Rights Committees (HRCs) to Independent Oversight Committees (IOCs). The legislative changes established within the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) the Independent Oversight Committees (IOCs) of: Department of Economic Security (DES), Department of Child Safety (DCS), Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), and Department of Health Services (DHS)/Arizona State Hospital (ASH).
Each IOC is comprised of between seven and fifteen members; membership requirements are as follows:
- IOC on Persons with Developmental Disabilities (DES/DDD): Statute requires members to have expertise in at least one of the following areas: psychology, law, medicine, education, special education, social work, criminal justice; and shall include the at least two parents of children who receive services from the Division of Developmental Disabilities. [A.R.S. § 41-3801]
- IOC on Children, Youth and Families (DCS): Statute requires members will have expertise in at least one of the following areas: psychology, law, medicine, education, special education, social work; and shall include at least two parents of children who receive services from DCS; if a report of abuse has been substantiated against a parent, that parent shall not serve on an IOC. [A.R.S. § 41-3802]
- IOC on the Mentally Ill (AHCCCS): Statute requires members will have expertise in at least one of the following areas: psychology, law, medicine, education, special education, social work, mental health, housing for the mentally ill, criminal justice, public safety; at least two parents of children who receive behavioral health services pursuant to tile 36, chapter 34, and at least one member who is a current or former client of the behavioral health system. [A.R.S. § 41-3803]
- IOC on Behavioral Health Services for Persons with Serious Mental Illness (DHS/ASH): Rule requires that at least two (2) members of the committee shall be clients or former clients, at least two members shall be relatives of clients, two members shall be parents of enrolled children and at least three members shall have expertise in one of the following areas: psychology, law, medicine, education, special education, social work, or behavioral health services. [A.A.C. R9-21-105]