The Social-service providers says the US state of Arizona is cheaping out on child-welfare services. They warn, the children could linger longer in foster care if Arizona follows through with a new round of contracts they say will cut rates, lower standards and deter qualified applicants, the Social-service providers warns.

The complaints came as the state of Arizona is on the verge of awarding new contracts for services the Department of Child Safety insists will get kids out of foster care and into permanent homes more quickly, without increasing costs to the state.

Suzanne Schunk, vice president of family support services at Southwest Human Development, said that, "This was done on the cheap." "It's expecting the least-experienced staff to do the most difficult work," she said.

Michael Dellner, the DCS deputy director of operations, said that, "I don't want to get into a situation where we're throwing rocks at providers," But, the new contract is a "wake-up call" to some who are used to bigger payments from the state.

Dellner said that, DCS is following Ducey's directive to make government more efficient. "The goal was to increase capacity with no increase to taxpayers," he said.

"DCS does not want to be the agency that continually goes back to the Legislature and asks for more funds," Dellner said.

Bob Heslinga, executive director of Aviva Children's Services in Tucson, said that, "We are not a for-profit organization and the state is not our charity."

Also Read: Insurers' Exits affects Obamacare Exchanges

Nandini