This measure represents the number of Family Action Meetings (FAMs) that occured in each quarter for all sites using FAM. This includes all situations that qualified for FAM and where families completed the FAM process.

Implementation dates by site:

• Oquirrh 08/01/2021
• Richfield 08/01/2021
• Manti 08/01/2021
• Metro 11/1/02022
• Ogden 11/07/2022
• Midtowne 6/26/2023
• Cedar 7/17/23
• Vernal 8/7/23
• Southtowne 8/10/23
• Tooele 8/11/23
• Salt Lake Valley Region Sex Abuse Team 8/11/23
• St George 11/10/23
• Salem 2/1/24
• Brigham City 2/1/24
• Logan 2/1/24
• Roosevelt 6/27/24
• Bountiful 12/1/2024
• Clearfield 12/1/2024

Safety assessment and safety decisions are complex and more difficult when made in isolation which can lead to unnecessary trauma. DCFS recognized an initiative was needed that would lead to an improved response to children and families at critical junctures by:

• Bringing kinship into the process early and robustly 
• Keeping children home safely whenever possible
• Increasing family voice in the planning process

DCFS partnered with The Kempe Center, a national leader in prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect, to develop the Family Action Meeting (FAM) process. This process was designed for DCFS and the family group to work together to robustly safety plan around identified safety concerns when the family initially becomes involved with the DCFS. Each step is designed to be transparent around safety concerns and based on the framework that inclusion creates safety. DCFS has recently shifted the training responsibility to the training team within the agency, allowing for more training abilities internally.

DCFS has always worked to include both sides of a child's family and their broader support network. FAM has reinforced this value and this measure helps DCFS to see and better understand what is possible when there is a structure that supports connecting with parents and families.

The goal for this measure is to continue to increase the utilization of the FAM process as DCFS rolls it out statewide. The first three FAM sites launched in August 2021 and we now have 18 offices who will have FAM implemented by end of CY2025. The utilization rates have generally trended up since August of 2021, however, there has been a recent decrease in FAM referrals in the last quarter. DCFS is working to meet regularly with all offices' leadership teams where FAM has been fully implemented to discuss barriers to referral rates and increase awareness of FAM's vision and the positive impacts to DCFS and families. DCFS is working closely with legal teams across the state to eliminate biases towards the process. DCFS is working with the DV Program coordinators and DV community partners to explore and develop a process for the use of FAM when families are experiencing domestic violence dynamics. There are nine more offices left in the state before FAM will be fully implemented statewide, however, the FAM team currently doesn't have the capacity to rollout FAM in the remaining offices. This will be a focal point for CY2025's legislative session.