Phoenix, AZ – Disability Rights Arizona (DRAZ), through its Compliance, Oversight, Monitoring, and Investigations Team (COMIT), has released its Third Annual Program Report and Three-Year Summary Report, outlining the program’s objectives, accomplishments, identified barriers, summary of findings and recommended improvements.
Under this Arizona statute, the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) contracts with DRAZ to provide independent oversight of group homes serving individuals with complex needs (members with dual diagnoses.) COMIT conducts on‑site monitoring, evaluates adherence to required standards, and investigates Quality of Care Concerns (QOCs) involving members residing in DDD‑funded residential settings.
During its third year, COMIT refined its monitoring tool to improve consistency and enhance its ability to identify notable compliance issues and broader system‑level gaps. The program provided DDD with monthly case‑specific and program‑wide recommendations, produced detailed monthly reports, and participated in regular interagency meetings to address ongoing concerns. COMIT also offered feedback on policy updates intended to strengthen safety, accountability, and service quality across Arizona’s group home network.
The monitoring framework evaluates whether group homes serving members with complex needs are:
- Providing all services outlined in each member’s Person‑Centered Service Plan (PCSP), including medication oversight and habilitation supports.
- Implementing interventions that effectively address the member’s identified needs.
- Reducing behaviors that previously affected the member’s ability to live safely in the community.
- Using physical interventions only as permitted under the member’s Behavior Treatment Plan (BTP) and applicable state law.
- Maintaining complete and accurate documentation of observations and outcomes.
In 2025, COMIT staff conducted in‑person monitoring reviews for 154 members across 63 group homes and service providers. While most reviews occurred in Maricopa and Pima counties, COMIT also completed evaluations in Apache, Coconino, Cochise, Gila, Graham, La Paz, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yavapai, and Yuma counties. The program remains committed to working with DDD to promote consistent, reliable, and effective services for individuals with developmental disabilities statewide.
Monitoring results led to recommendations for enhanced oversight of vendors with recurring compliance concerns, strengthened training expectations, improved accountability for behavior plan implementation, and more thorough evaluation of new vendors’ readiness to support members with complex needs.
COMIT also continued its investigative work. In 2025, the program received 2,510 Quality of Care Concerns, a volume that exceeded current staffing capacity. QOCs selected for investigation were identified through analysis of all received concerns, focusing on vendors with elevated submission rates and cases presenting higher levels of severity. Through prioritization and collaboration with vendors, medical examiners, law enforcement agencies, and city attorney offices, COMIT achieved its highest closure rate to date. The team completed 21 high‑level investigations involving allegations of abuse, neglect, appropriateness of care, member rights violations, safety/risk management, and unexpected deaths. Of these investigations, 12 were substantiated, 6 unsubstantiated, and 3 inconclusive. Across the 21 cases concluded in 2025, investigative reviews resulted in 69 substantiated violations.
COMIT further expanded its partnerships with hospitals, healthcare providers, Adult Protective Services, and many other entities to increase awareness of the program and improve access to essential records. Staff continued outreach to group homes and community organizations to support understanding of COMIT’s role and expectations.
Over the first three years of the Group Home Monitoring Pilot Program, COMIT established a statewide oversight system that strengthened accountability, improved service quality, and increased visibility into the needs of individuals with complex needs. The team completed monitoring reviews for all 491 assigned members, meeting the full scope of its statutory mandate, and used increasingly refined tools and methodologies to identify compliance issues, systemic gaps, and opportunities for improvement across Arizona’s group home network.
The three‑year summary also highlights COMIT’s investigative achievements, including 25 high‑quality investigations that addressed allegations of abuse, neglect, safety concerns, appropriateness of care and death. Through sustained collaboration with DDD, vendors, legislators, and community partners, COMIT helped drive policy updates, enhance training expectations, and strengthen follow‑up processes. These efforts laid the groundwork for COMIT’s transition into a permanent, fully funded program in 2026, positioning Arizona to continue improving safety, stability, and service quality for individuals with complex needs statewide.
DRAZ CEO J.J. Rico stated:
“The goal of the COMIT project is to ensure persons with complex needs can live lives free from abuse and neglect. I am proud of the work completed by the COMIT team and I anticipate improvements in the health and safety of members with complex needs from our work and additional collaborations with DDD and the State.”
Investigations Manager Jessica Lopez stated:
“As we conclude the first three years of the COMIT contract, the progress achieved in 2025 reflects a meaningful shift toward stronger oversight and more consistent support for individuals with complex needs. Our team carried out extensive monitoring reviews, quality-focused investigations, and deepened collaboration with providers and partner agencies across the state. These collective efforts have helped strengthen expectations, elevate service practices, and reinforce accountability throughout Arizona’s group home system. We are grateful for the engagement of group home vendors, DDD, and our community partners, whose commitment has been essential to creating safer and more stable environments for the individuals we serve. As we move into Year 4, we are energized by the opportunities ahead and remain dedicated to further improving the quality, reliability, and impact of DDD group home services.”
Copies of the reports are available on our website: Disability Rights Arizona (DRAZ)
Disability Rights Arizona (DRAZ) is Arizona’s Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System and part of a national network of public interest organizations dedicated to advancing the civil and human rights of individuals with disabilities in both community and institutional settings.
