No Way to Treat an Angel: How Utah’s Misreading of a Federal Law Makes Children Less Safe

September 25, 2007 This report, prepared by the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform, asserts that the Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) misunderstood the federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act as requiring additional and extensive background checks for prospective foster parents, including relatives, before a child can be placed with them. However, keeping children out of kinship homes while the checks are being performed is not necessary. The report finds that children are at a substantial disadvantage when placed in shelters or other foster care settings instead of with relatives. The report calls for Utah . . .