Annual report from Utah DCFS illustrates problem of child abuse, neglect
Sep 16, 2024, 8:00 PM | Updated: Sep 17, 2024, 11:06 am
FILE: Police are investigating a child abuse incident that led to the death of a 2-year-old boy and the hospitalization of a 2-year-old girl. (Jeffrey D. Allred /Deseret News)
(Jeffrey D. Allred /Deseret News)
Editor’s note: This story has been edited to correctly identify the Utah Division of Child and Family Services.
SALT LAKE CITY — In a new report, the Utah Division of Child and Family Services said they have responded to thousands of child abuse cases during fiscal year 2024.
In its 2024 Annual Report, DCFS revealed they’ve investigated 48,542 reports of abuse or neglect of a child. The report said that 22,650 of those cases met the criteria needed to open an investigation by Child Protective Services.
After that investigation, the DCFS reported there were 8,792 confirmed victims of child abuse and neglect in Utah during the 2024 fiscal year.
In most cases, the Utah DCFS reported that a parent was responsible for the abuse or neglect. That was the case in every category except sexual abuse.
On Monday, in an effort to provide transparency and accountability, representatives of DCFS presented their findings to Utah lawmakers.
Director Tonya Myrup said that the number of cases doesn’t tell the entire story.
“There are several processes, both internal and external to DCFS, that exist for the purposes of ensuring the child welfare system provides quality outcomes to children and families,” Myrup told lawmakers.
During the meeting, Rep. Kera Birkeland, R-Morgan, said that public awareness of the issue of child abuse cases is equally important when it comes to accountability.
“They want to know that the government, that the legislature, is holding people accountable,” she said. “Was there a failure?”
The division’s presentation to Utah lawmakers also highlighted that 91% of victims who received DCFS intervention did not face repeated maltreatment.
Simone Seikaly contributed to this article.
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