Data is reported six weeks after the end of each quarter to allow time for data entry by direct service and support staff.

DCFS aims to serve children in their own homes or with relatives whenever it is safe to do so. If placement with relatives is not possible, the preferred alternative is a family-based environment, such as foster care or proctor care. Settings that are not family-based and have rotating staff are intended only for short-term stabilization and do not offer long-term stability or permanency. The goal is to minimize the number of days children and youth in care spend in these non-family-based settings with rotating staff.

Despite recruitment efforts, there has been a steady decline in the availability of foster and proctor homes that are able and willing to receive placements for teenagers, medically fragile children and youth, and those who may struggle with aggressive or problematic sexual behaviors. This has resulted in a downward trend for the number of days spent in family-based settings, declining from approximately 90% in FY 2020 to 80.64% in FY 2026 Q2. DCFS continues to engage with the Youth Provider Association and Utah Foster Care to address recruitment, reassess contracts, and increase provider rates to address this deficit of homes. DCFS's FY2026 RBA includes tactics for developing and implementing a communication mechanism for contracted foster care training/recruitment/retention providers to notify potential placements as needs arise. In addition, DCFS is working with Utah Foster Care through monthly meetings at the state and region levels and reviewing reports to develop steps to improve identification, recruitment, and support to meet the individual and/or unique needs of children.