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Marlayna Despres
Foster Care in Utah
4,739 603
Kids receiving Kids adopted
Foster Care in Utah through Foster Care
last year last year in Utah
Becoming a foster parent
• Be a US citizen or legal resident
• Must pass a background check
• Must be financially stable without assistance from the state
• Medically fit to care for a foster child
• Home in good condition
• Must complete continuing education (“In-service Training”) requirements
(16h per year)
• Level III families that care for children with special behavioral challenges, have
additional requirements
What we know about the health of children
entering the foster care system in Utah
• Study published in 2008 by Julie Steele, MN, FNP and Karen Buchi, MD
• All children entering the foster care system from Jan 2001 – Dec 2004
• 6, 177 children
• Intake health assessment within 30 days of entering the system
• Entered into the State Automated Child Welfare Information System for Utah (SAFE database)
• The first state-wide cohort study of foster children
Medical Health of Children Entering Foster Care
54% of children entering the Utah foster care system had one or
more chronic medical condition.
• Overweight/obese: 35% (18% had BMI >95%ile)
• Referral for specialty care: 30%
• Dental conditions: 22%