Child Welfare Outcomes 2000:
Annual Report
Chapter IV - State Data
Context Data | Outcomes Data | Federal
Comment
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Minnesota [ Context Data ]
A. Key Context Statistics
|
General Population |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Total children under 18 years |
1,259,447 |
1,271,850 |
1,286,894 |
|
Race/ethnicity (%)1 |
|||
|
Alaska Native/American Indian |
1.8 |
1.8 |
1.5 |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
4.1 |
4.3 |
4.2 |
|
Black |
4.1 |
4.3 |
4.9 |
|
Hispanic |
2.8 |
3.0 |
4.3 |
|
White |
87.1 |
86.6 |
82.0 |
|
Two or more races |
N/A |
N/A |
2.9 |
|
Other |
N/A |
N/A |
0.2 |
|
% Child population in poverty |
17.8 |
7.9 |
8.5 |
|
% Child population living in metropolitan areas |
73.5 |
73.8 |
71.1 |
|
Child Welfare |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Child maltreatment victims |
10,572 |
11,113 |
11,824 |
|
Children in foster care on 9/30 |
8,521 |
8,996 |
8,530 |
|
Children adopted |
429 |
633 |
614 |
1) The 2000 Census of the United States includes two new race catagories: (1) Persons of two or more races and (2) Other. Back
B. Child Maltreatment Data (NCANDS)
|
|
Number |
Rate |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Maltreatment Information Overview |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
1998 |
1998 |
2000 |
|||||
|
Children subject of an investigated report alleging child maltreatment |
24,844 |
24,855 |
24,840 |
19.7 per 1,000 |
19.5 per 1,000 |
19.3 per 1,000 |
|||||
|
Child maltreatment victims2 |
10,572 |
11,113 |
11,824 |
8.4 per 1,000 |
8.7 per 1,000 |
9.2 per 1,000 |
|||||
|
Child fatalities |
3 |
28 |
21 |
0.2 per 100,000 |
2.2 per 100,000 |
1.6 per 100,000 |
|||||
|
Age of Child Victims (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Under 1 year |
5.6 |
6.2 |
8.4 |
|
1-5 years |
30.8 |
31.3 |
30.2 |
|
6-10 years |
35.2 |
35.1 |
34.1 |
|
11-15 years |
23.5 |
22.0 |
22.1 |
|
16+ years |
4.9 |
4.7 |
4.5 |
|
Unknown |
0.1 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
10,572 |
11,113 |
11,824 |
|
Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Alaska Native/American Indian |
7.5 |
10.1 |
7.1 |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
2.8 |
4.0 |
3.7 |
|
Black |
25.9 |
28.1 |
25.1 |
|
Hispanic |
6.7 |
7.4 |
7.2 |
|
White |
62.6 |
62.6 |
48.9 |
|
Two or more races |
N/A |
N/A |
4.9 |
|
Other/Unknown |
1.2 |
1.9 |
3.0 |
|
Total %3 |
106.7 |
114.1 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
10,572 |
11,113 |
11,824 |
|
Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Emotional abuse |
0.9 |
1.0 |
0.8 |
|
Medical neglect |
3.5 |
4.6 |
0.2 |
|
Neglect |
69.4 |
77.4 |
73.6 |
|
Physical abuse |
26.1 |
24.8 |
21.9 |
|
Sexual abuse |
8.1 |
7.3 |
7.4 |
|
Other |
- |
- |
- |
|
Unknown |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total %4 |
108.1 |
115.0 |
104.0 |
|
Number |
10,572 |
11,113 |
11,824 |
2) Children with more than one
report of substantiated or indicated maltreatment may be counted
more than once. Back
3) Percentages may total more than
100 percent because Hispanics may be counted both by Hispanic
ethnicity and by race. Back
4) Percentages may total more than
100 percent because children could have been victims of more than
one type of maltreatment. Back
C. Children in Foster Care
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)
|
Number of Children |
In Care on 10/1 |
Entered Care |
Exited Care |
In Care on 9/30 |
Total Served |
|
FY1998 (10/1/97-9/30/98) |
7,118 |
9,574 |
8,171 |
8,521 |
16,692 |
|
FY1999 (10/1/98-9/30/99) |
8,012 |
10,724 |
9,743 |
8,996 |
18,736 |
|
FY2000 (10/1/99-9/30/00) |
7,664 |
10,803 |
9,939 |
8,530 |
18,467 |
|
Median Length of Stay (Months) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
FY1998 (10/1/97-9/30/98) |
16.9 |
N/A |
2.1 |
12.7 |
N/A |
|
FY1999 (10/1/98-9/30/99) |
13.7 |
N/A |
2.3 |
12.5 |
N/A |
|
FY2000 (10/1/99-9/30/00) |
14.8 |
N/A |
2.0 |
12.7 |
N/A |
|
Age of Children in Foster Care (%) |
In Care on 10/1/97 |
In Care on 10/1/98 |
In Care on 10/1/99 |
Entered Care During FY 1998 |
Entered Care During FY 1999 |
Entered Care During FY 2000 |
Exited Care During FY 1998 |
Exited Care During FY 1999 |
Exited Care During FY 2000 |
In Care on 9/30/98 |
In Care on 9/30/99 |
In Care on 9/30/00 |
|
Under 1 year |
2.3 |
2.6 |
2.8 |
5.3 |
5.8 |
5.6 |
2.9 |
2.9 |
2.9 |
2.6 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
|
1-5 years |
17.2 |
15.6 |
16.3 |
15.7 |
14.6 |
14.3 |
15.8 |
14.5 |
15.3 |
15.3 |
15.6 |
15.3 |
|
6-10 years |
23.7 |
21.5 |
21.4 |
15.2 |
14.8 |
15.0 |
16.2 |
15.0 |
15.0 |
20.9 |
19.8 |
19.1 |
|
11-15 years |
35.8 |
36.9 |
35.1 |
41.3 |
39.7 |
39.6 |
34.3 |
34.2 |
33.8 |
37.6 |
35.8 |
36.4 |
|
16-18 years |
20.2 |
22.5 |
23.5 |
22.1 |
24.7 |
25.2 |
29.3 |
32.1 |
31.5 |
22.7 |
24.8 |
25.2 |
|
19+ years |
0.7 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
1.4 |
0.8 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
|
Unknown |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
7,118 |
8,012 |
7,664 |
9,574 |
10,724 |
10,803 |
8,171 |
9,743 |
9,939 |
8,521 |
8,996 |
8,530 |
|
Race/Ethnicity of Children in Foster Care (%)5 |
In Care on 10/1/97 |
In Care on 10/1/98 |
In Care on 10/1/99 |
Entered Care During FY 1998 |
Entered Care During FY 1999 |
Entered Care During FY 2000 |
Exited Care During FY 1998 |
Exited Care During FY 1999 |
Exited Care During FY 2000 |
In Care on 9/30/98 |
In Care on 9/30/99 |
In Care on 9/30/00 |
|
Alaska Native/American Indian |
11.8 |
11.9 |
11.3 |
8.2 |
8.0 |
8.4 |
7.8 |
8.4 |
8.5 |
11.6 |
11.1 |
10.8 |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
1.2 |
1.2 |
1.4 |
2.2 |
2.7 |
3.1 |
2.2 |
2.6 |
3.1 |
1.3 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
|
Black |
20.5 |
20.2 |
22.5 |
19.1 |
19.1 |
19.4 |
19.0 |
18.3 |
20.0 |
20.3 |
20.9 |
21.5 |
|
Hispanic |
4.5 |
4.8 |
5.4 |
5.1 |
5.2 |
5.4 |
4.8 |
4.8 |
5.1 |
4.8 |
5.2 |
5.8 |
|
White |
54.0 |
54.1 |
52.0 |
57.6 |
58.4 |
56.8 |
57.9 |
58.8 |
56.9 |
54.2 |
54.2 |
52.5 |
|
Two or more races |
7.2 |
7.0 |
6.9 |
5.6 |
5.0 |
4.8 |
5.6 |
5.3 |
4.7 |
7.0 |
6.4 |
6.8 |
|
Unknown |
0.9 |
0.8 |
0.5 |
2.3 |
1.6 |
2.0 |
2.7 |
1.8 |
1.6 |
0.8 |
0.7 |
1.1 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
7,118 |
8,012 |
7,664 |
9,574 |
10,724 |
10,803 |
8,171 |
9,743 |
9,939 |
8,521 |
8,996 |
8,530 |
5) In this and subsequent race/ethnicity tables, data for two or more races may be provided for 1998 and 1999 because of States' resubmissions. However, data for 1998 and 1999 may not capture all children of two or more races and therefore may not be comparable to the 2000 data pertaining to two or more races. Back
D. Children Waiting to Be Adopted
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)6
|
Overview |
9/30/98 |
9/30/99 |
9/30/00 |
|
Children waiting to be adopted |
2,215 |
2,147 |
1,839 |
|
Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) |
1,850 |
1,763 |
1,480 |
|
Age of Waiting Children (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Under 1 year |
4.4 |
3.6 |
3.2 |
|
1-5 years |
28.9 |
28.8 |
25.8 |
|
6-10 years |
37.2 |
34.5 |
31.9 |
|
11-15 years |
22.2 |
24.4 |
28.4 |
|
16+ years |
5.6 |
6.7 |
7.6 |
|
Unknown |
1.8 |
2.0 |
3.1 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
2,215 |
2,147 |
1,839 |
|
Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Alaska Native/American Indian |
8.9 |
8.4 |
8.4 |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.4 |
|
Black |
31.2 |
31.0 |
31.2 |
|
Hispanic |
6.3 |
6.4 |
6.3 |
|
White |
42.5 |
44.4 |
43.6 |
|
Two or more races |
10.2 |
9.1 |
10.0 |
|
Unknown |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
2,215 |
2,147 |
1,839 |
6) Waiting children are children who have a goal of adoption and/or whose parentsÂ’ rights have been terminated. Children 16 years and older with TPR, but with a goal of emancipation, have been excluded from the waiting children and TPR populations. Back
E. Children Adopted
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)
|
Age of Adopted Children (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Under 1 year |
1.2 |
1.6 |
1.6 |
|
1-5 years |
36.4 |
40.4 |
40.9 |
|
6-10 years |
45.9 |
41.5 |
39.4 |
|
11-15 years |
14.9 |
15.6 |
17.8 |
|
16+ years |
1.6 |
0.8 |
0.3 |
|
Unknown |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
429 |
633 |
614 |
|
Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Alaska Native/American Indian |
8.6 |
- |
- |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
1.6 |
- |
- |
|
Black |
42.2 |
33.0 |
29.0 |
|
Hispanic |
5.6 |
3.5 |
4.1 |
|
White |
42.0 |
46.4 |
47.9 |
|
Two or more races |
- |
11.8 |
11.1 |
|
Unknown |
- |
5.2 |
8.0 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
429 |
633 |
614 |
Minnesota [ Outcomes Data ]
1. Reduce Recurrence of Child Abuse and/or Neglect
(NCANDS)
|
1.1 Recurrence of Maltreatment Within 6 Months (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Children without a recurrence |
- |
- |
95.4 |
|
Children with one or more recurrences |
- |
- |
4.6 |
|
Total % |
- |
- |
100.0 |
|
Number |
- |
- |
6,334 |
2. Reduce the Incidence of Child Abuse and/or Neglect in Foster
Care
(NCANDS, AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database Jan —Sept)
|
2.1 Maltreatment in Foster Care (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Children maltreated while in foster care |
- |
- |
0.2 |
|
Children not maltreated while in foster care |
- |
- |
99.8 |
|
Total % |
- |
- |
100.0 |
|
Number |
- |
- |
16,382 |
3. Increase Permanency for Children in Foster Care
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)
|
3.1 Exits from Foster Care (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Adoption |
4.8 |
5.6 |
5.9 |
|
Guardianship |
0.6 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
|
Reunification |
75.1 |
76.6 |
82.8 |
|
Other |
17.5 |
15.9 |
10.5 |
|
Missing data |
1.9 |
1.4 |
0.1 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
8,171 |
9,743 |
9,939 |
|
3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Adoption |
5.1 |
9.0 |
12.7 |
|
Guardianship |
0.6 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
|
Reunification |
67.4 |
68.4 |
71.6 |
|
Other |
22.0 |
19.1 |
14.9 |
|
Missing data |
4.8 |
2.9 |
0.1 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
1,735 |
2,510 |
2,591 |
|
3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Adoption |
0.2 |
0.0 |
- |
|
Guardianship |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
|
Reunification |
75.5 |
77.8 |
85.2 |
|
Other |
22.3 |
20.6 |
14.6 |
|
Missing data |
1.7 |
1.3 |
0.0 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
4,432 |
5,573 |
5,597 |
|
3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Children age 12 or younger at entry |
22.3 |
21.9 |
21.4 |
|
Children older than 12 at entry |
77.7 |
78.1 |
78.4 |
|
Missing data |
- |
- |
0.2 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
291 |
347 |
527 |
|
3.5 Exits by Race/Ethnicity (%) |
Alaska Native/A.I. |
Asian/P.I. |
Black |
Hispanic |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
|
Adoption |
4.7 |
6.0 |
4.7 |
1.1 |
0.8 |
1.0 |
7.7 |
10.2 |
8.5 |
4.6 |
7.1 |
7.1 |
|
|
Guardianship |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.5 |
- |
- |
- |
0.6 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
0.5 |
0.4 |
1.0 |
|
|
Reunification |
74.6 |
76.3 |
81.3 |
71.4 |
80.0 |
91.7 |
70.1 |
70.2 |
80.3 |
80.4 |
75.0 |
83.3 |
|
|
Other |
18.6 |
15.8 |
13.4 |
23.1 |
16.1 |
7.1 |
18.2 |
16.9 |
10.4 |
14.2 |
16.7 |
8.6 |
|
|
Missing data |
1.7 |
1.8 |
0.1 |
4.4 |
3.1 |
0.3 |
3.5 |
2.2 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.9 |
- |
|
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
|
Number |
635 |
818 |
845 |
182 |
255 |
312 |
1,556 |
1,781 |
1,987 |
393 |
468 |
510 |
|
|
|
White |
Unable to Determine |
Two or More Races |
Missing Data |
|||||||||
|
|
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
|
Adoption |
3.4 |
3.5 |
4.8 |
2.3 |
1.1 |
0.6 |
12.1 |
14.7 |
14.1 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Guardianship |
0.7 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.5 |
- |
0.6 |
0.4 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Reunification |
76.4 |
78.8 |
84.0 |
87.6 |
86.8 |
89.4 |
71.7 |
70.7 |
73.1 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Other |
17.9 |
15.9 |
10.5 |
8.8 |
11.5 |
8.7 |
14.5 |
13.1 |
11.5 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Missing data |
1.6 |
1.1 |
0.1 |
0.9 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
1.3 |
0.2 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Number |
4,732 |
5,729 |
5,655 |
217 |
174 |
161 |
456 |
518 |
469 |
- |
- |
- |
|
4. Reduce Time to Reunification Without Increasing
Re-entry
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)
|
4.1 Time to Reunification (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Less than 12 mos. |
80.7 |
80.3 |
84.9 |
|
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. |
9.7 |
10.5 |
8.2 |
|
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. |
2.4 |
2.7 |
1.8 |
|
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. |
1.3 |
1.3 |
0.7 |
|
48 or more mos. |
1.6 |
1.4 |
1.0 |
|
Missing data |
4.3 |
3.9 |
3.4 |
|
Total (%) |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
6,140 |
7,461 |
8,232 |
|
4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Children entering care for the first time |
65.2 |
62.9 |
61.2 |
|
Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode |
21.8 |
22.7 |
27.7 |
|
Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode |
8.4 |
8.6 |
8.6 |
|
Missing data |
4.6 |
5.8 |
2.6 |
|
Total (%) |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
9,574 |
10,724 |
10,803 |
5. Reduce Time in Foster Care to Adoption
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)
|
5.1 Time to Adoption (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Less than 12 mos. |
10.5 |
11.4 |
7.4 |
|
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. |
12.8 |
16.1 |
22.9 |
|
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. |
13.8 |
18.9 |
23.9 |
|
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. |
14.3 |
17.6 |
17.3 |
|
48 or more mos. |
48.7 |
35.5 |
28.5 |
|
Missing data |
- |
0.5 |
- |
|
Total (%) |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
392 |
546 |
585 |
6. Increase Placement Stability
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)
|
6.1 Number of Placements by Time in Care (%) |
Year |
Children With 2 or Fewer Placements |
Children With 3 or More Placements |
Missing Data |
Total % |
Number |
|
Less than 12 mos. |
1998 |
82.7 |
17.3 |
- |
100.0 |
10,232 |
|
At least 12 mos., but <24 mos. |
1998 |
51.5 |
48.5 |
- |
100.0 |
2,239 |
|
At least 24 mos., but <36 mos. |
1998 |
41.6 |
58.4 |
- |
100.0 |
1,161 |
|
At least 36 mos., but <48 mos. |
1998 |
36.6 |
63.4 |
- |
100.0 |
749 |
|
48 or more mos. |
1998 |
42.0 |
58.0 |
- |
100.0 |
1,957 |
|
Missing data |
1998 |
100.0 |
- |
- |
100.0 |
354 |
7. Reduce Placements of Young Children in Group
Homes or Institutions
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)
|
7.1 Most Recent Placement Settings of Children Who Entered Care During the Fiscal Year and Were Age 12 or Younger at the Time of This Placement (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Group homes |
1.7 |
2.4 |
4.6 |
|
Institutions |
25.5 |
24.0 |
22.4 |
|
Other settings |
50.9 |
60.3 |
73.0 |
|
Missing data |
21.9 |
13.3 |
0.1 |
|
Total (%) |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
4,206 |
4,532 |
4,600 |
Minnesota [ Federal Comment ]
The following discussion focuses on Minnesota?s performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. Information from the State?s Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) Final Report is used to provide a context for interpreting the State?s performance. In using CFSR information to interpret the data, it is important to note that the Minnesota CFSR was conducted in 2001 and the national data used for the review to assess performance regarding national standards was from 1999. However, the discussion of State performance relevant to the national standards in the Federal Comment section focuses on data from 2000, as provided in the State Data Pages. In addition, because data reported in the State Data Pages do not address child well-being issues, the last section of this discussion provides information from the CFSR Final Report relevant to the State?s performance in meeting children?s educational and physical and mental health needs.
Outcome 1. Reduce recurrence of child abuse and/or
neglect
In calendar year (CY) 2000, the rate of maltreatment recurrence
within 6 months was 4.6 percent, which is lower than both the
national standard of 6.1 percent and the national median of 7.9
percent. This statistic is somewhat difficult to interpret because
the State has recently implemented an Alternative Response approach
that deflects child maltreatment reports from the traditional
response of investigation and substantiation.
Outcome 2. Reduce incidence of maltreatment in foster
care
In CY 2000, the incidence of maltreatment in foster care was 0.2
percent, which is lower than both the national standard of 0.57
percent and the national median of 0.47 percent. Information from
the CFSR Final Report suggests that the State's performance on this
measure may be attributed in part to the following: (1) creation of
foster parent support groups; (2) extensive training for foster
parents; and (3) foster home licensing standards that are applied
uniformly to relative as well as non-relative homes.
Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster
care
In fiscal year (FY) 2000, 89.4 percent of children existing foster
care were discharged to permanent placements (which is higher than
the national median of 84.7 percent), 85.0 percent of disabled
children leaving foster care were discharged to permanent homes
(which is higher than the national median of 79.5 percent), 85.4
percent of children who were older than age 12 when they entered
foster care exited to permanent homes (which approaches the highest
reported rate of 87.5), and 21.4 percent of children exiting foster
care through emancipation were age 12 or younger at the time of
entry into foster care (which is lower than the national median of
24.2 percent). These data suggest that the State is effective in
attaining permanency for children in foster care. Information from
the CFSR Final Report suggests that Minnesota?s performance
on this outcome may be attributed in part to a special program
implemented to promote attainment of permanency for children who
are 8 years old or younger.
Outcome 4. Reduce time to reunification without increasing
re-entry
In FY 2000, the percentage of all reunification's occurring within
12 months of children?s entry into foster care was 84.9,
which is higher than the national standard of 76.2 percent and the
national median of 68.0 percent. Information from the CFSR suggests
that performance on this measure may be attributed to the wide
array of available services, and the ability to individualize
services to meet a family?s unique needs.
Minnesota?s high performance with regard to reunification within 12 months must be balanced by the finding that in FY 2000, the percentage of children re-entering foster care within 12 months of discharge from a prior foster care episode was 27.7, which exceeds the national standard of 8.6 percent and was the highest rate reported nationally. However, according to information provided in the CFSR Final Report, the State believes that the reported re-entry rate may be distorted because the State information system counts short-term emergency placements as foster care entries and respite care as a foster care placement.
Outcome 5. Reduce time in foster care to adoption
In FY 2000, the percentage of all finalized adoptions occurring
within 24 months of the child?s entry into foster care was
30.3, which does not meet the national standard of 32.0 percent,
but is higher than the national median of 19.7 percent. Information
from the CFSR Final Report identifies the following as potential
barriers to achieving finalized adoptions in a timely manner: (1)
inconsistent use of concurrent planning, especially for older
children, and (2) the differential payment rates for foster care
and adoption assistance.
Outcome 6. Increase placement stability
In FY 2000, the percentage of children who experienced no more
than 2 placements during their first 12 months in foster care was
85.4, which does not meet the national standard of 86.7 percent but
is greater than the national median of 84.3 percent. Information
from the CFSR Final Report identifies the following as potential
barriers to achieving placement stability: (1) the use of emergency
shelters and temporary foster homes as initial placements for
children entering foster care, (2) an agency policy of not placing
children with relatives until relatives are fully licensed, and (3)
a lack of sufficient services to prevent disruptions in foster
placements.
Outcome 7. Reduce placements of young children in group homes
and institutions
In FY 2000, the percentage of children age 12 or younger placed in
a group home or institution was 27.0 percent, which is higher than
the national median of 9.0 percent. Information from the CFSR Final
Report suggests that the State?s performance on this outcome
may be related to the following: (1) the use of emergency shelters
as the initial placement for many children entering care, even
young children; and (2) a chronic shortage of foster and adoptive
homes for children with behavioral problems.
Child well-being outcomes
With regard to child well-being, the CFSR Final Report indicates
that Minnesota is not consistently effective in meeting
children?s educational and physical and mental health needs.
The Final Report identifies the following as potential barriers to
meeting these needs: (1) multiple school changes for children in
foster care; (2) failure in many cases to make educational needs a
priority; (3) lack of dentists willing to accept Medicaid; (4)
inconsistency in conducting initial health assessments for children
entering foster care; and (5) a lack of initial mental health
assessments to ensure that mental health needs are identified.
