Ducey appoints agency insider to direct Dept. of Child Safety

Gov. Doug Ducey reached into the top ranks of the state's child-welfare agency to find the Department of Child Safety's new director.

Mike Faust, the current deputy director of support services, will take over as DCS director next month. Faust replaces Greg McKay, who last month announced his departure to take a post with Childhelp USA.

Faust has been a pivotal figure in imposing discipline in agency operations, resulting in the elimination of a burdensome backlog of idled cases and the focus on reducing the number of children coming into state custody and increasing the rate at which children leave the foster-care system.

Ducey, in a statement, said he tapped Faust because he understands the importance of caring for vulnerable children and has worked to make the agency more responsive to their needs.

Faust joined state government four years ago as part of the Government Transformation Office. That led to an assignment at DCS, where he imposed discipline on operations at the newly formed agency.

DCS was created in 2014. Its first year was marked by turmoil, from staff firings, to case-worker turnover, to an inability to get a handle on the case backlog.

Faust is overseeing the transition of behavioral-health dollars from AHCCCS to DCS, a critical and complicated move. He is also involved in work to comply with the federal Family First Prevention Services Act, which requires states to work toward eliminating the number of kids in group homes.

Prior to joining state government, Faust spent 15 years in the aerospace manufacturing industry.

Faust is currently paid $160,000. Ducey's office did not immediately respond to a query of what his new salary will be. McKay is paid $215,250.