By Chad Greenhalgh
The Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) is accepting donations for the families they help when neglect or abuse occurs in the home. Whenever possible, they work toward keeping children within the walls of their own home and with their own families. At times, however, some situations do arise where, for the safety of the child or children in a home, the child or children must be safely moved to a foster family.
Foster families receive training and must stay certified to house these children in their homes. In these situations when removal from their own home is necessary, the child’s personal belongings must sometimes be gathered quickly and placed in whatever they can conveniently find. In many cases this leads to the child’s belongings being stuffed into a garbage bag, because they don’t have immediate access to a large enough duffle bag or backpack.
Many Caseworkers talk about the traumatizing impact this can have on a child and how it can affect the way they feel about themselves and how the child defines their self worth. Caseworkers at DCFS believe that no child that is placed in Utah foster care should have to carry their belongings out of their home in garbage bags. Donations of new or like-new large, collapsible and easy to store duffle bags and backpacks help to see that this is achieved.
Caseworkers can be prepared with these duffle bags or backpacks since they can be kept in their offices and vehicles and used when a child needs to be moved from a home quickly. DCFS in Carbon County accepts donations at their offices located at 475 W Price River Drive #152 in Price. Along with the new or like-new duffle bags or backpacks, Carbon County is also accepting donations of children’s diapers, wet wipes, new pillows and new blankets at this time.
DCFS in Emery County accepts donations at their offices located at 1060 N Desbee Dove Road in Castle Dale. Along with the new or like-new duffle bags or backpacks, Emery County is currently also accepting donations of children diapers, wet wipes, new blankets and women’s hygiene products (feminine products, shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, etc).
Donations are needed year round and stay within the local community. Your help is greatly appreciated. More info about DCFS can be found at their website https://dcfs.utah.gov/ or by calling your local DCFS office.