Quick Facts: Arizona
Performance Breakdown
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Law & Policy: 57% of metrics met
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Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness: 50% of metrics met
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Preventing youth experiencing homelessness from coming into contact with the criminal and juvenile justice systems: 43% of metrics met
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Providing unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to seek legal independence and live independently: 88% of metrics met
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Addressing the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness: 100% of metrics met
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Allowing youth experiencing homelessness to access critical supports and services: 50% of metrics met
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Systems: 22% of metrics met
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Environment: 6% of metrics met
State Score 2022: 42
State Ranking 2022: 48
2022 Score
2021 Score
42
42
Arizona Highlights
Some areas where Arizona has moved the needle relative to other states include providing unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to seek legal independence and live independently and addressing the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness.
Law & Policy
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The state has extended foster care to age 21 in certain circumstances and allows young adults under 21 to opt back into services after exiting if needed.
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State law provides partial or full contract rights for youth experiencing homelessness.
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The state explicitly allows partial and alternative school credit accrual for homeless youth through regulations.
Systems
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The state allows youth to obtain a state-issued identification card without parental consent.
Environment
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The state promotes safe and inclusive environments in juvenile justice programs by providing protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Recommendations for Improvement
There is room for improvement throughout the metrics in the Grand Canyon State, with emphasis on the Systems and Environment categories. Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness, decreasing contact with the criminal justice system, and protecting the rights and interests of youth experiencing homelessness, including LGBTQ youth, should be prioritized.
Law & Policy
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Enact and fund a state law similar to the federal RHYA to provide key intervention and emergency services for youth experiencing homelessness.
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Enact a state law that allows shelters to take in homeless youth with a delay or waiver of notification requirements.
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Allow unaccompanied youth under 18 to apply for health insurance coverage (without parental consent).
Systems
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Create a state plan to prevent and end youth homelessness, include a strategy to address homelessness among LGBTQ youth.
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Create a state entity – such as an Office of Homeless Youth Services – that focuses solely on designing, implementing, and evaluating youth homelessness programs.
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Create an Interagency Council on Homelessness that mirrors the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), providing a multi-sector approach to preventing and ending youth homelessness.
Environment
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Organize and maintain a self-governing youth action board or council to inform youth homelessness policy within the state.
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Require training about sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, healthy sexual development, or issues specific to LGBTQ youth for staff working in runaway and homeless youth systems.
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Ban harmful and ineffective service provision that includes conversion therapy.
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Promote safe and inclusive environments in child welfare and runaway and homeless youth programs by providing protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.