Research Reports

The Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) partnered with the University of Utah Social Research Institute (SRI) to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to guide strategic planning, resource allocation, and service improvements aimed at preventing child maltreatment and supporting vulnerable families. Conducted from October 2022 through March 2024, this mixed-methods evaluation included a quantitative analysis of DCFS administrative data on over 429,000 children from 2015–2023 and qualitative feedback from 289 Utahns gathered through provider surveys, stakeholder interviews, and community engagement sessions. The findings were synthesized into a strategic planning framework, identifying priority needs, service gaps, and actionable strategies to enhance prevention and intervention.

Under the direction of the Utah Courts and the Division of Child and Family Services, the Social Research Institute evaluated the quality of child welfare court hearings before and after the implementation of a judicial bench card statewide. The goals of this evaluation were to 1) assess indicators of the level of bench card utilization and provide feedback to improve fidelity, 2) analyze parent and youth experience, 3) analyze the impact of the bench card on hearing quality after implementation, and 4) evaluate bench card impact on child outcomes.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance awards funding to federal and state correctional agencies for vital programs and systems reform aimed at improving the reentry process through the Second Chance Act (SCA).

This report summarizes the research efforts related to the Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Arrest and Referral Assessment conducted by the University of Utah’s Utah Criminal Justice Center (UCJC). The report is divided into the following sections.

UCJC contracted with the Department of Public Safety to evaluate the 24/7 Sobriety Program being piloted in Weber County, Utah. Specifically, UCJC is evaluating various aspects of the 24/7 program. This report addresses the following objectives related to the 24/7 evaluation.