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Child Welfare Outcomes 2000: Annual Report
Chapter IV - State Data

Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment
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New Jersey [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population

1998

1999

2000

Total children under 18 years

1,990,439

2,003,204

2,087,558

Race/ethnicity (%)1

 Alaska Native/American Indian

0.2

0.2

0.1

 Asian/Pacific Islander

6.0

6.3

5.9

 Black

15.9

15.9

15.6

 Hispanic

15.5

15.8

16.2

 White

62.4

61.8

59.4

 Two or more races

N/A

N/A

2.3

 Other

N/A

N/A

0.3

% Child population in poverty

15.0

10.1

10.9

% Child population living in metropolitan areas

100.0

100.0

100.0

 

Child Welfare

1998

1999

2000

Child maltreatment victims

9,851

9,222

8,727

Children in foster care on 9/30

9,182

9,494

9,794

Children adopted

814

732

837

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

75,988

74,585

69,305

38.2 per 1,000

37.2 per 1,000

33.2 per 1,000

Child maltreatment victims2

9,851

9,222

8,727

4.9 per 1,000

4.6 per 1,000

4.2 per 1,000

Child fatalities

29

29

25

1.5 per 100,000

1.4 per 100,000

1.2 per 100,000

 

Age of Child Victims (%)

1998

1999

2000

Under 1 year

2.5

2.4

15.6

1-5 years

30.1

30.6

26.6

6-10 years

33.8

33.1

29.6

11-15 years

23.1

24.2

22.4

16+ years

7.6

7.3

5.5

Unknown

2.9

2.5

0.3

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

9,851

9,222

8,727

 

Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%)

1998

1999

2000

Alaska Native/American Indian

0.1

0.3

0.3

Asian/Pacific Islander

0.9

0.7

0.8

Black

49.6

47.2

44.1

Hispanic

13.7

15.3

5.5

White

33.5

33.6

36.0

Two or more races

N/A

N/A

-

Other/Unknown

15.9

18.2

13.3

Total %3

113.7

115.3

100.0

Number

9,851

9,222

8,727

 

Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%)

1998

1999

2000

Emotional abuse

2.9

2.8

3.3

Medical neglect

3.4

3.2

14.4

Neglect

63.2

62.7

52.8

Physical abuse

22.5

23.3

24.9

Sexual abuse

8.0

8.0

8.7

Other

-

-

-

Unknown

-

-

0.1

Total %4

100.0

100.0

104.1

Number

9,851

9,222

8,727

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)

8,672

4,747

4,246

9,182

13,419

FY1999 (10/1/98-9/30/99)

8,894

4,768

4,178

9,494

13,662

FY2000 (10/1/99-9/30/00)

9,241

4,654

4,109

9,794

13,895

Median Length of Stay (Months)

 

 

 

 

 

FY1998 (10/1/97-9/30/98)

20.1

N/A

11.7

19.8

N/A

FY1999 (10/1/98-9/30/99)

20.0

N/A

11.7

20.3

N/A

FY2000 (10/1/99-9/30/00)

20.5

N/A

12.6

20.8

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

7.6

7.5

6.7

21.4

20.2

20.9

6.3

6.7

6.0

7.5

6.5

6.3

1-5 years

32.1

32.1

31.2

21.2

20.9

21.0

26.2

27.3

26.0

32.2

31.4

31.3

6-10 years

23.2

23.3

24.5

16.4

18.3

17.6

18.1

17.8

18.1

22.9

24.0

24.1

11-15 years

23.2

23.8

24.0

28.2

27.8

27.6

23.0

22.7

22.7

24.1

24.4

25.3

16-18 years

13.2

12.7

12.9

12.6

12.7

12.7

24.2

23.0

24.2

12.9

13.1

12.6

19+ years

0.6

0.6

0.7

0.2

0.1

0.1

2.0

2.1

2.6

0.4

0.7

0.5

Unknown

0.0

0.1

0.0

-

0.0

-

0.2

0.4

0.3

0.1

0.0

0.0

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

8,672

8,894

9,241

4,747

4,768

4,654

4,246

4,178

4,109

9,182

9,494

9,794

 

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

0.4

0.5

0.4

0.4

0.3

0.5

0.1

0.5

0.5

0.5

0.4

0.4

Asian/Pacific Islander

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.4

0.2

0.2

0.4

0.3

0.4

0.2

0.2

0.1

Black

65.3

64.9

63.2

55.8

55.6

53.3

57.5

56.7

53.2

64.1

63.8

62.7

Hispanic

10.1

9.3

8.3

8.5

7.8

7.6

9.8

9.5

9.0

9.4

8.4

7.6

White

21.5

21.6

22.4

27.7

28.5

28.0

27.4

26.8

28.5

21.9

22.8

22.5

Two or more races

-

-

1.3

-

0.0

1.3

-

-

1.5

-

0.0

1.2

Unknown

2.5

3.5

4.3

7.1

7.6

9.1

4.7

6.2

7.0

3.9

4.4

5.4

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

8,672

8,894

9,241

4,747

4,768

4,654

4,246

4,178

4,109

9,182

9,494

9,794

 

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

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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

3,908

4,427

5,032

Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR)

2,900

3,655

4,129

 

Age of Waiting Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

Under 1 year

4.6

3.7

3.9

1-5 years

42.2

41.4

39.9

6-10 years

28.3

29.8

29.7

11-15 years

18.3

18.3

20.3

16+ years

5.8

5.8

5.0

Unknown

0.7

1.1

1.2

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

3,908

4,427

5,032

 

Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

Alaska Native/American Indian

0.3

0.5

0.5

Asian/Pacific Islander

0.2

0.2

0.2

Black

69.9

70.6

68.7

Hispanic

8.9

8.0

7.4

White

18.3

18.0

17.9

Two or more races

-

0.0

1.6

Unknown

2.4

2.8

3.8

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

3,908

4,427

5,032

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

1.5

1.0

0.7

1-5 years

55.0

58.5

57.6

6-10 years

32.6

29.5

29.7

11-15 years

10.4

10.4

10.3

16+ years

0.5

0.7

1.7

Unknown

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

814

732

837

 

Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

Alaska Native/American Indian

0.1

0.4

0.5

Asian/Pacific Islander

-

0.3

-

Black

69.4

65.3

65.7

Hispanic

9.0

9.0

6.7

White

20.6

22.3

22.1

Two or more races

-

0.3

3.0

Unknown

0.9

2.5

2.0

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

814

732

837

 

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New Jersey [ 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

93.4

94.8

94.2

Children with one or more recurrences

6.6

5.2

5.8

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

6,633

4,514

4,335

 

Bar chart describing Percentage of Children With One or More Recurrences of Maltreatment within 6 months data from Table 1.1 above.

 

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

1.2

1.0

1.3

Children not maltreated while in foster care

98.8

99.0

98.7

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

12,617

12,825

12,932

 

Bar chart describing Percentage of Children Maltreated While in Foster Care data from Table 2.1 above.

 

3. Increase Permanency for Children in Foster Care
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)

3.1 Exits from Foster Care (%)

1998

1999

2000

Adoption

16.0

14.9

16.3

Guardianship

-

-

-

Reunification

70.7

73.1

71.3

Other

13.2

11.9

12.4

Missing data

0.0

0.1

0.0

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

4,246

4,178

4,109

 

Pie Charts describing data from Table 3.1 above.

 

3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

Adoption

34.7

31.0

30.9

Guardianship

-

-

-

Reunification

50.4

56.5

52.4

Other

14.9

12.5

16.8

Missing data

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

845

768

758

 

3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%)

1998

1999

2000

Adoption

0.2

-

0.4

Guardianship

-

-

-

Reunification

71.7

73.3

73.1

Other

28.0

26.4

26.6

Missing data

0.1

0.3

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

1,426

1,388

1,408

 

3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%)

1998

1999

2000

Children age 12 or younger at entry

31.1

30.1

30.0

Children older than 12 at entry

68.9

69.3

70.0

Missing data

-

0.6

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

334

309

307

 

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

-

13.6

10.5

-

7.1

-

19.1

17.2

19.2

12.9

12.9

11.4

Guardianship

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Reunification

60.0

77.3

84.2

63.2

64.3

93.3

68.5

70.4

68.3

68.4

71.4

74.3

Other

40.0

9.1

5.3

36.8

28.6

6.7

12.4

12.3

12.5

18.7

15.7

14.3

Missing data

-

-

-

-

-

-

0.0

0.2

0.0

-

-

-

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

5

22

19

19

14

15

2,440

2,371

2,186

418

395

370

 

White

Unable to Determine

Two or More Races

Missing Data

 

1998

1999

2000

1998

1999

2000

1998

1999

2000

1998

1999

2000

Adoption

13.3

12.8

14.8

2.0

5.8

4.5

-

-

32.3

-

-

-

Guardianship

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Reunification

73.4

76.2

72.2

88.9

87.2

87.1

-

-

59.7

-

-

-

Other

13.3

10.9

13.0

9.0

7.0

8.4

-

-

8.1

-

-

-

Missing data

-

0.1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

-

-

100.0

-

-

-

Number

1,165

1,119

1,170

199

257

287

-

-

62

-

-

-

 

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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.

61.8

61.7

60.3

At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.

17.0

18.6

18.9

At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.

8.1

8.1

7.4

At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.

4.0

3.5

3.6

48 or more mos.

6.8

6.8

7.7

Missing data

2.3

1.2

2.1

Total (%)

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

3,004

3,053

2,929

 

Bar chart describing reunification percentages data in Table 4.1 above.

 

4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%)

1998

1999

2000

Children entering care for the first time

77.6

77.2

77.1

Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode

11.1

12.7

11.3

Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode

9.6

8.8

9.9

Missing data

1.8

1.3

1.7

Total (%)

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

4,747

4,768

4,654

 

Bar chart describing re-entries into Foster Care within 12 months from data in Table 4.2 above.

 

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.

5.4

3.5

3.3

At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.

10.5

11.6

11.0

At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.

17.5

19.0

19.0

At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.

23.0

24.5

22.1

48 or more mos.

42.4

39.1

43.0

Missing data

1.2

2.3

1.6

Total (%)

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

679

621

670

 

Bar Chart describing Percentage of Adoptions Occurring in Less Than 24 or greater than 48 Months of Entry data from Table 5.1 above

 

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
1999
2000

86.5
86.1
85.6

12.4
12.1
12.5

1.1
1.8
1.9

100.0
100.0
100.0

5,300
5,403
5,286

At least 12 mos., but <24 mos.

1998
1999
2000

67.5
69.7
67.3

30.1
28.3
29.6

2.5
2.0
3.1

100.0
100.0
100.0

2,628
2,636
2,739

At least 24 mos., but <36 mos.

1998
1999
2000

59.5
60.6
59.8

38.1
36.6
37.5

2.4
2.8
2.7

100.0
100.0
100.0

1,692
1,809
1,759

At least 36 mos., but <48 mos.

1998
1999
2000

53.3
53.4
54.6

42.5
43.6
42.2

4.1
3.0
3.2

100.0
100.0
100.0

1,329
1,213
1,328

48 or more mos.

1998
1999
2000

44.4
42.5
39.6

53.7
55.0
58.1

1.9
2.5
2.4

100.0
100.0
100.0

2,388
2,538
2,713

Missing data

1998
1999
2000

91.5
93.7
97.1

-
1.6
-

8.5
4.8
2.9

100.0
100.0
100.0

82
63
70

 

Bar chart describing foster care placements over time percentages data from Table 6.1 above.

 

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

7.0

4.9

4.1

Institutions

7.7

7.4

7.2

Other settings

84.4

86.9

88.3

Missing data

0.9

0.8

0.5

Total (%)

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

3,082

3,082

3,018

 

New Jersey [ State Comment ]

Charles Venti, Director
Division of Youth and Family Services
New Jersey Department of Human Services
609-292-6920

The reason for the difference between the Children Adopted count (Context Data E.) in the adoption file and the total in Time to Adoption (Outcome Data 5.1) is that the number in Time to Adoption is based on some case managers' selection of a reason other than 'adoption' for placement closing. We believe that the Children Adopted count more accurately reflects the total number of adoptions in New Jersey.

 

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