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

Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment
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South Carolina [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population

1998

1999

2000

Total children under 18 years

959,296

955,930

1,009,641

Race/ethnicity (%)1

 Alaska Native/American Indian

0.2

0.2

0.3

 Asian/Pacific Islander

1.0

1.0

0.9

 Black

36.5

36.1

36.4

 Hispanic

1.7

1.9

2.8

 White

60.6

60.8

58.0

 Two or more races

N/A

N/A

1.5

 Other

N/A

N/A

0.2

% Child population in poverty

20.1

17.5

17.8

% Child population living in metropolitan areas

63.6

67.9

69.4

 

Child Welfare

1998

1999

2000

Child maltreatment victims

8,432

9,580

11,246

Children in foster care on 9/30

4,644

4,645

4,566

Children adopted

465

456

378

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

38,238

39,902

38,844

39.9 per 1,000

41.7 per 1,000

38.5 per 1,000

Child maltreatment victims2

8,432

9,580

11,246

8.8 per 1,000

10.0 per 1,000

11.1 per 1,000

Child fatalities

16

13

20

1.7 per 100,000

1.4 per 100,000

2.0 per 100,000

 

Age of Child Victims (%)

1998

1999

2000

Under 1 year

3.9

8.2

8.1

1-5 years

35.6

26.9

28.2

6-10 years

29.9

31.3

29.9

11-15 years

24.2

24.9

26.2

16+ years

5.7

8.7

6.0

Unknown

0.8

0.0

1.5

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

8,432

9,580

11,246

 

Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%)

1998

1999

2000

Alaska Native/American Indian

0.0

0.3

0.2

Asian/Pacific Islander

0.2

0.6

0.4

Black

47.2

45.9

45.6

Hispanic

0.4

1.5

1.7

White

49.9

52.6

52.3

Two or more races

N/A

N/A

-

Other/Unknown

2.7

0.7

1.5

Total %3

100.4

101.7

101.7

Number

8,432

9,580

11,246

 

Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%)

1998

1999

2000

Emotional abuse

0.9

0.5

0.6

Medical neglect

4.4

4.1

4.0

Neglect

46.5

54.8

53.0

Physical abuse

14.7

13.7

13.6

Sexual abuse

8.4

6.3

5.4

Other

52.1

67.7

70.0

Unknown

-

0.1

8.9

Total %4

126.9

147.2

155.5

Number

8,432

9,580

11,246

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)

5,142

3,191

3,689

4,644

8,333

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

4,631

3,036

3,022

4,645

7,667

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

4,516

3,190

3,140

4,566

7,706

Median Length of Stay (Months)

 

 

 

 

 

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

27.0

N/A

8.1

24.8

N/A

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

24.7

N/A

5.9

20.3

N/A

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

20.4

N/A

5.4

20.7

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

4.2

4.9

4.5

14.8

14.6

15.4

6.3

6.9

6.9

4.9

4.5

5.2

1-5 years

24.6

23.1

22.0

25.7

23.9

25.8

26.8

27.3

28.7

23.0

22.1

21.6

6-10 years

24.5

24.5

23.2

25.2

24.5

26.2

26.1

24.9

24.8

24.5

23.3

22.9

11-15 years

28.4

29.8

32.0

27.5

31.0

27.6

22.3

24.2

23.4

29.7

32.0

31.6

16-18 years

16.7

15.8

16.3

6.2

6.0

5.1

16.0

14.0

13.8

15.7

16.1

16.7

19+ years

1.5

1.9

1.9

0.2

0.0

-

2.1

2.3

2.0

1.9

1.9

1.9

Unknown

0.2

0.0

0.0

0.4

-

0.0

0.4

0.4

0.4

0.3

0.1

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

5,142

4,631

4,516

3,191

3,036

3,190

3,689

3,022

3,140

4,644

4,645

4,566

 

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

0.3

0.2

0.3

0.2

0.3

0.1

0.3

0.1

0.3

0.2

0.3

0.2

Asian/Pacific Islander

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.3

0.4

0.1

0.3

0.4

0.2

0.2

0.2

Black

62.7

62.5

62.4

51.6

55.1

51.7

54.1

55.1

54.2

61.9

62.5

60.6

Hispanic

0.9

0.9

1.0

1.4

1.4

2.7

1.3

1.4

2.2

0.9

1.0

1.4

White

34.9

36.1

36.0

45.2

42.8

44.6

42.8

43.0

42.7

35.7

36.0

37.4

Two or more races

-

-

0.0

-

-

0.4

-

-

0.3

-

-

0.2

Unknown

1.0

0.1

-

1.6

0.1

0.0

1.4

0.1

-

1.1

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

5,142

4,631

4,516

3,191

3,036

3,190

3,689

3,022

3,140

4,644

4,645

4,566

 

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

1,927

2,071

2,014

Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR)

704

620

593

 

Age of Waiting Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

Under 1 year

3.0

3.1

3.5

1-5 years

29.6

30.1

26.9

6-10 years

33.5

31.1

30.6

11-15 years

28.1

31.1

32.2

16+ years

4.6

4.1

6.3

Unknown

1.1

0.5

0.6

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

1,927

2,071

2,014

 

Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

Alaska Native/American Indian

0.3

0.4

0.2

Asian/Pacific Islander

0.2

0.1

0.1

Black

66.4

66.1

63.3

Hispanic

0.6

0.6

0.8

White

31.1

32.8

35.4

Two or more races

-

-

0.1

Unknown

1.3

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

1,927

2,071

2,014

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

1.9

2.2

2.1

1-5 years

40.4

43.9

47.1

6-10 years

39.4

38.2

32.3

11-15 years

16.1

14.0

17.5

16+ years

2.2

1.8

1.1

Unknown

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

465

456

378

 

Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

Alaska Native/American Indian

0.4

-

0.3

Asian/Pacific Islander

-

-

0.3

Black

68.4

61.4

63.5

Hispanic

0.4

0.7

1.3

White

29.0

36.6

34.7

Two or more races

-

-

-

Unknown

1.7

1.3

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

465

456

378

 

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South Carolina [ 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

-

-

-

Children with one or more recurrences

-

-

-

Total %

-

-

-

Number

-

-

-

 

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

-

-

-

Children not maltreated while in foster care

-

-

-

Total %

-

-

-

Number

-

-

-

 

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

3.1 Exits from Foster Care (%)

1998

1999

2000

Adoption

17.1

15.7

13.2

Guardianship

0.4

0.9

0.8

Reunification

73.5

73.2

75.8

Other

9.0

10.2

10.3

Missing data

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

3,689

3,022

3,140

 

Pie Charts describing data from Table 3.1 above.

 

3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

Adoption

32.7

36.8

29.3

Guardianship

-

0.5

0.7

Reunification

48.9

36.8

32.7

Other

18.4

26.0

37.4

Missing data

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

370

389

297

 

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

1998

1999

2000

Adoption

0.6

0.5

0.7

Guardianship

0.2

0.9

0.7

Reunification

74.3

73.7

71.8

Other

24.9

24.8

26.8

Missing data

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

871

742

717

 

3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%)

1998

1999

2000

Children age 12 or younger at entry

35.1

36.1

38.1

Children older than 12 at entry

64.9

63.9

61.9

Missing data

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

285

249

268

 

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

16.7

50.0

11.1

-

-

8.3

20.1

17.0

15.1

23.4

9.8

8.6

Guardianship

-

-

-

-

-

-

0.6

0.9

0.5

-

-

-

Reunification

66.7

-

77.8

100.0

100.0

75.0

69.4

71.5

73.0

74.5

85.4

87.1

Other

16.7

50.0

11.1

-

-

16.7

9.9

10.6

11.4

2.1

4.9

4.3

Missing data

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

28.1

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

12

2

9

3

10

12

1,997

1,666

1,701

47

41

70

 

White

Unable to Determine

Two or More Races

Missing Data

 

1998

1999

2000

1998

1999

2000

1998

1999

2000

1998

1999

2000

Adoption

12.9

14.2

11.0

23.1

50.0

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Guardianship

0.1

0.9

1.2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Reunification

78.8

75.0

78.6

73.1

50.0

-

-

-

100.0

-

-

-

Other

8.1

9.9

9.2

3.8

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Missing data

27.6

36.5

24.7

13.9

46.2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

-

-

-

100.0

-

-

-

Number

1,578

1,299

1,340

52

4

-

-

-

8

-

-

-

 

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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.

74.2

82.7

82.0

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

11.1

10.4

12.3

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

5.8

2.8

2.9

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

3.8

1.5

0.9

48 or more mos.

4.6

2.5

1.8

Missing data

0.6

0.2

0.1

Total (%)

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

2,713

2,212

2,380

 

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

82.2

85.4

85.1

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

9.0

5.6

6.8

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

8.1

8.6

7.9

Missing data

0.6

0.3

0.2

Total (%)

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

3,191

3,036

3,190

 

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.

3.2

2.3

3.1

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

7.0

8.6

11.9

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

17.6

20.8

24.2

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

20.8

26.1

17.9

48 or more mos.

51.3

42.1

42.9

Missing data

0.2

-

-

Total (%)

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

631

475

413

 

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

86.6
78.8
76.8

13.3
19.6
22.0

0.1
1.6
1.1

100.0
100.0
100.0

3,657
3,498
3,658

At least 12 mos., but <24 mos.

1998
1999
2000

63.2
55.8
43.8

36.7
43.5
55.8

0.1
0.6
0.5

100.0
100.0
100.0

1,085
1,236
1,225

At least 24 mos., but <36 mos.

1998
1999
2000

51.9
44.7
38.4

48.0
54.1
61.6

0.1
1.2
-

100.0
100.0
100.0

902
689
821

At least 36 mos., but <48 mos.

1998
1999
2000

50.9
38.1
29.3

49.1
61.7
70.7

-
0.2
-

100.0
100.0
100.0

812
572
464

48 or more mos.

1998
1999
2000

40.5
36.6
26.7

59.5
63.4
73.3

-
-
-

100.0
100.0
100.0

1,844
1,658
1,534

Missing data

1998
1999
2000

100.0
85.7
100.0

-
-
-

-
14.3
-

100.0
100.0
100.0

33
14
4

 

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

28.5

4.9

4.2

Institutions

1.5

17.8

13.5

Other settings

61.5

77.3

82.3

Missing data

8.5

-

0.0

Total (%)

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

2,324

2,137

2,384

 

South Carolina [ State Comment ]

Elizabeth G. Patterson, State Director
South Carolina Department of Social Services
803-898-7360

The following are comments on South Carolina?s data for Child Welfare Outcomes 2000: Annual Report.

• The data in Section D indicate that parental rights have been terminated for only 593 of the 1,014 children waiting to be adopted in FY 2000.
The number of children for whom termination of parental rights was completed was underreported because of a miscommunication to the programmers about which data files to use in pulling this data. We also overstated the number of children with a goal of adoption for the same reason. As of September 30, 2000, there were 1,405 children with a plan of adoption. Of these, 687 children (48.9%) had completed TPR actions.

• No data were provided to calculate outcome measures 1.1 and 2.1.
South Carolina submitted data in Summary Data Component format for Calendar Year 1998, 1999, and 2000. The questions 1.1 and 2.1 are not asked on the SDC survey. Data for question 1.1 is not currently available from the automated system. Data for question 2.1 reveals that on average, less than .5% of children in foster care were found to have been abused or neglected while in foster care during these periods. [36 children abused/neglected in calendar year 1998 out of 8,333 foster children (FFY 1998); 48 children in CY 1999 out of 7,667 foster children. (FFY 1999); and 36 children abused/neglected in CY 2000 out of 7,706 foster children (FFY (2000)]. Programming modifications are being made to capture this information as well as to submit data in the Detailed Case Data Component (DCDC) format.

• The data for outcome measure 7.1 indicate that 17.7 percent of the children entering foster care in FY 2000 who were age 12 or younger were placed in institutions or group homes.
Our data system was coding private foster family homes licensed by child placing agencies as group homes. Corrections to this overlapped the time of this report.

 

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