DHHS News

Congressional testimony: Modernizing child welfare

On Sept. 28, 2023, Utah DHHS Executive Director Tracy Gruber testified as part of a panel discussion in front of the House Subcommittee on Work and Welfare, part of larger...
Last updated: September 29, 2023

Utahns encouraged to protect themselves from respiratory illness this fall and winter

COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines are now available Salt Lake City— Vaccines against COVID-19, flu and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) are now available to help Utahns avoid winter respiratory infections....
Last updated: September 12, 2023

Why DCFS doesn’t comment on child abuse and neglect cases

The Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) works with children and families during some of their most vulnerable moments. DCFS respects that each child and family has a right...
Last updated: September 8, 2023

DCFS maintains confidentiality in its casework

The DHHS Division of Child and Family Services has received numerous media inquiries about the arrest of parenting YouTuber Ruby Franke. Due to confidentiality and the privacy of the children...
Last updated: September 1, 2023

Rumor control: No mask mandate plans for Utah

This communication was sent to the Utah Legislature from Utah DHHS Executive Director Tracy Gruber on August 31, 2023. Dear Members of the Legislature, Beginning about two weeks ago, the...
Last updated: August 31, 2023

Don’t forget to take precautions against mosquito bites

Salt Lake City—Given the record-breaking water season in Utah, mosquitoes are abundant this summer. Fortunately, only some of them spread illnesses. More than 200 types of mosquitoes live in the...
Last updated: August 31, 2023

Media contacts

For media inquiries, contact our on-call Public Information Officers (PIO) at:

Joe Dougherty, director of communications

News releases and media statements

Spanish news releases and media statements

We strive to provide all news releases and media statements in Spanish. Our language access team can provide translation services by contacting them at languageaccess.utah.gov.  

Our graphic and writing standards

Our agency name is the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. Use DHHS if an acronym is needed. 

  • DHHS graphic standards—This guide outlines how to use our logo, colors, fonts, and imagery in printed and electronic media. 
  • DHHS logos 
  • DHHS writing style guide—This guide creates clear and consistent language and tone across all written products, both internal and external to our agency.

Media guides and safe messaging

How we talk about suicide, mental health, and traumatic events matters. When we follow safe messaging guidelines, we contribute to a hopeful narrative about triumph over adversity. We communicate that support is available. Safe messaging promotes resiliency, encourages help-seeking, publicizes prevention successes, and encourages actions to help prevent suicide. 

When writing about suicide, mental health, or traumatic events follow safe messaging guidelines. Here are some of our favorite resources.