Audits have found “significant systemic issues” and collected more than 2,000 complaints in 2023 at state-licensed group homes where individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities are cared for, according to reports from Disability Rights Arizona, a nonprofit law firm mandated by the state to investigate the homes.
The complaints ranged from hundreds of allegations of potential abuse and safety as well as more than 20 allegations of potential deaths in 2023.
On a broader note, nearly 60% of the group homes were not in compliance with the policies of Division of Developmental Disabilities, the Arizona agency that oversees group homes.
“In the short time that (Disability Rights Arizona) has been auditing Division of Developmental Disabilities group home services, significant systemic issues have been identified,” said Kim Dorshaw, compliance, oversight, monitoring and investigation team program manager at DRAZ.
In February, DRAZ released two reports: A monitoring report with findings from DRAZ’s visits with 75 group homes and 122 members throughout the year, and an investigations report based on incidents submitted to the state division that oversses more than 1,300 group homes.
Investigators received a total of 2,232 complaints in 2023, an average of 278 per month, which were collected from April through December, from 174 Division of Developmental Disabilities group homes. Some group homes operate more than one facility, and the total number of group home addresses was 723.
With more than 1,100 members on group home rosters throughout the state, more than 80% of them had at least one complaint. One member had 22 complaints, according to the report.
There were 1,008 allegations of abuse in 2023 — 249 allegation regarding rights, 793 allegations regarding safety or risk management, and 22 allegations of death.
Complaints may be submitted by anyone, including the individual receiving services, family members, service providers, community members, or others. They are reported to DDD, who then reviews them to decide if they have merit based on the divisions medical policy manual.
Brett Bezio, a DES spokesperson, said since the release of the reports, DDD has launched a new committee to address the findings and is working to improve case management operations.
Bezio said they plan to improve documentation and roll out training they believe will improve quality and process.
DDD also plans to provide quarterly updates to vendors with information and guidance, as well as interactive technical assistance sessions to close knowledge gaps among group home staff, vendor documentation, and challenges with member goals.
“The results of the reported findings helped to focus our efforts and plan for more initiatives to fully address our deficits,” Bezio said.
“Additionally, Disability Rights AZ has been an excellent partner throughout the first year of the group home monitoring pilot program. It was this partnership, COMIT, and monthly meetings that provided the opportunity to discuss individual issues with urgency and watch patterns unfold in real-time.”
Kelly Carbello, who has a master’s degree in social work and is CEO of Just Kelly Consulting, said group homes have had problems for years, and funding is one key issue. But, she said, issues have more to do with the way people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are perceived — as subhuman, not real people, of no value, and burdens to society.
It needs to start at the root — acknowledgment there are people with intellectual and development disabilities who live among us and that those people and their lives have value, she said.
“There’s still an ‘out of sight out of mind’ mentality. If people cared half as much about individuals with disabilities as they do about stray cats, we might not have so many problems,” she said. “There’s no need to hold anyone accountable if the people experiencing the problems are of no value.”
Carbello added the legislature should be pushed to adequately fund the Division of Developmental Disabilities.
“The state is ultimately responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals in group homes. If the state is not doing their job, how do we hold them accountable? Is 22 deaths in 8 months in a sample of group homes in one county acceptable? If 22 kids died in 8 months in public schools, there would probably be riots in the streets. If 22 inmates died in 8 months in DOC custody it would be all over the news. But 22 people died (allegedly) in group homes and people just shrug their shoulders and go on with their days.”
Former Gov. Doug Ducy signed House Bill 2865 into law on June 23, 2022, creating the Group Home Monitoring Pilot Program that mandates the DDD contract with DRAZ to conduct monitoring for group homes that provide services to clients with complex needs and investigate quality-of-care complaints.
“The audits are critical for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities residing in DDD-funded group homes, not only for ensuring their safety, but also for improving their quality of life,” Dorshaw said.
Philip Haldiman can be reached at phaldiman@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman. We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Philip Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.
Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater.
Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.
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