Child Protective Services

If you suspect child abuse or neglect is occurring please call our 24/7 hotline at 1-855-323-3237 or contact your local law enforcement agency.

Utah law requires any person who has reason to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse, neglect, or dependency to immediately notify the nearest office of Child and Family Services, a peace officer, or a law enforcement agency. Abuse, neglect, or dependency of a child can be physical, emotional, or sexual.

DCFS Protective Role Regarding Child Abuse & Neglect with Families

At Child and Family Services (DCFS) our focus is child safety, and working to strengthen parents and caregivers who are otherwise unable to meet their own child’s needs. Our work is focused on effective interventions regarding safety issues related to child abuse and neglect.

After a report of child abuse or neglect is accepted for DCFS assessment, an assigned caseworker will first determine whether a community referral could address concerns in the home, or if ongoing in-home services are needed to support the family and allow the child to remain safely in the home. If it is recommended that a child be brought temporarily into state care due to safety concerns in the home, DCFS will work with the parents toward reunification when appropriate, and connect them to services to assist them in building their capacity to safely care for their child.

DCFS Protective Role Regarding Child Abuse & Neglect Outside the Home

Sometimes threats of abuse/neglect come from outside the home. When parents are both willing and able to protect and advocate for their own children, they do not need a child welfare intervention. As a result, DCFS will not open a case and instead will refer to law enforcement if all of the following apply:

The child/youth appears to currently be safe, and
Has parents/caregivers who are willing and able to keep them safe, and
The alleged perpetrator does not have unsafe access to the child/youth.

We recognize the importance of both supporting parents and caregivers whose child has experienced trauma from child abuse, and broader community safety regarding those who may pose a threat to other children. As a result, when law enforcement opens an investigation, the following may occur:

The law enforcement agency will provide their final report to DCFS for review to determine if a perpetrator is responsible for abuse/neglect and will be added to our child abuse and neglect registry.
If a perpetrator is found to be responsible for abuse/neglect and entered in the registry, the parent or guardian will receive a notification letter from DCFS, including contact information for a caseworker if they have questions or need assistance finding support or resources.

Abuse is defined as non-accidental harm or threatened harm of a child or sexual exploitation or sexual abuse. See Utah Code 78A-6-105.

Neglect is defined as an action or inaction that causes abandonment of a child, except a safe relinquishment of a newborn child as provided in Utah Code 62A-4a-802; lack of proper parental care by reason of the fault or habits of the parent, guardian, or custodian; failure or refusal of a parent, guardian, or custodian to provide proper or necessary subsistence, education, or medical care, or any other care necessary for the child’s health, safety, morals, or well-being; a child at risk of being neglected or abused because another child in the same home is neglected or abused. [See: Utah Code 78A-6-105.]

Find more information on types of abuse and neglect in our DCFS Practice Guidelines.

Child sexual abuse in Utah is defined as:

An act or attempted act of sexual intercourse, sodomy, incest, or molestation directed toward a child (Utah Code Ann. 78A-6-105).
Subjecting a child to participate in or threatening to subject a child to participate in a sexual relationship, regardless of whether that sexual relationship is part of a legal or cultural marriage.
Forcing a child under 18 years of age into marriage or cohabitation with an adult in an intimate relationship.
Engaging in any conduct with a child that would constitute an offense as defined under the Utah Criminal Code 76-5-4, 76-7-101.5, 76-7-102, 76-9-702, regardless of whether the person who engages in the conduct is actually charged with, or convicted of the offense.

Consent laws in Utah:

A child who is 13 years of age or younger cannot give consent to any sexual activity. (Utah Code Ann. 76-5-402)
Sexual contact is considered sexual abuse of a minor if done by a person who is four or more years older than a minor who is 14 or 15 years of age (Utah Code Ann. 76-5-401).

It is also unlawful sexual contact if it is by a person who is seven or more years older than a minor who is 16 or 17 years old, and who knew or reasonably should have known the age of the minor. (Utah Code Ann. 76-5-401.2)

Children, particularly younger children, may engage in inappropriate interactions without understanding the hurtful impact it has on others. Sometimes child curiosity or play can evolve into something adults recognize as no longer safe, and they may need protection and/or help to manage or correct their behavior. This behavior is most often seen as abuse when it occurs without consent, without equality due to age, physicality or mental capacity, or as a result of physical or emotional coercion.

Further resources and information:

211Utah connects individuals in need to services available to them such as housing, health clinics, food resources, legal aid and more.
Prevent Child Abuse Utah (PCAU) is the state chapter of the national organization Prevent Child Abuse America. PCAU holds local events and provides training and program opportunities to schools, parents and communities to help prevent child abuse.
Utah Association of Family Support Centers provide services at 18 locations across Utah that include counseling, crisis/respite nurseries and crisis shelters, education and more.
Utah Children’s Justice Centers provide 25 safe, child-focused locations throughout Utah where children up to age 18 can be interviewed and receive coordinated services during the child abuse investigative process.
SAFEUT App provides confidential counseling services and access to a crisis line via chat or phone. Counseling topics include mental health issues, suicide prevention, loss or grief, bullying and cyberbulling and more.
Utah Rape and Sexual Assault Crisis and Information Line (1.888.421.1100) is the statewide 24/7 toll-free hotline providing information and assistance.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources, and more. 1.800.273.8255
Stop It Now! Is an international organization based in Massachusetts that focuses on the prevention of child sexual abuse. They offer a toll-free helpline (1.888.PREVENT) and a number of resources and training tools.
Darkness to Light is a national organization based in South Carolina and “committed to diminish the incidence and impact of child sexual abuse” according to their website. They provide training, educational resources and research.
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is a national organization that operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.4673), as well as the Department of Defense Safe Helpline, and provides research, programs and resources to assist in the prevention of sexual assault, and to support survivors. RAINN also has a mobile app available.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) offers training, support and resources related to children and traumatic experiences including physical and sexual abuse.
Childhelp (1.800.4ACHILD) provides 24/7 assistance in 170 languages to adults, children and youth with information and questions regarding child abuse. All calls are anonymous and confidential.