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

Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment
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Utah [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population

1998

1999

2000

Total children under 18 years

701,300

707,366

718,698

Race/ethnicity (%)1

 Alaska Native/American Indian

1.5

1.5

1.4

 Asian/Pacific Islander

2.6

2.7

2.1

 Black

0.7

0.7

0.8

 Hispanic

8.3

8.7

10.9

 White

87.0

86.4

82.4

 Two or more races

N/A

N/A

2.3

 Other

N/A

N/A

0.1

% Child population in poverty

12.2

7.1

11.5

% Child population living in metropolitan areas

83.5

80.0

75.9

 

Child Welfare

1998

1999

2000

Child maltreatment victims

7,990

8,660

8,729

Children in foster care on 9/30

2,468

2,273

1,805

Children adopted

334

369

303

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

27,222

26,847

25,102

38.8 per 1,000

38.0 per 1,000

34.9 per 1,000

Child maltreatment victims2

7,990

8,660

8,729

11.4 per 1,000

12.2 per 1,000

12.1 per 1,000

Child fatalities

12

7

12

1.7 per 100,000

1.0 per 100,000

1.7 per 100,000

 

Age of Child Victims (%)

1998

1999

2000

Under 1 year

3.7

4.1

7.9

1-5 years

29.2

30.8

31.7

6-10 years

31.4

30.0

29.7

11-15 years

26.7

25.5

24.5

16+ years

8.9

9.6

6.0

Unknown

-

-

0.2

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

7,990

8,660

8,729

 

Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%)

1998

1999

2000

Alaska Native/American Indian

3.0

2.0

1.2

Asian/Pacific Islander

1.8

1.2

1.0

Black

2.4

1.9

1.6

Hispanic

12.7

12.9

13.1

White

71.5

49.7

38.7

Two or more races

N/A

N/A

-

Other/Unknown

21.4

45.3

44.4

Total %3

112.7

112.9

100.0

Number

7,990

8,660

8,729

 

Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%)

1998

1999

2000

Emotional abuse

40.3

41.4

40.8

Medical neglect

1.4

1.2

1.0

Neglect

33.0

28.8

29.3

Physical abuse

18.8

16.6

15.8

Sexual abuse

23.2

21.8

19.6

Other

11.6

10.1

9.5

Unknown

-

0.0

0.0

Total %4

128.3

119.9

116.0

Number

7,990

8,660

8,729

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)

2,228

2,196

1,956

2,468

4,424

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

2,222

2,383

2,332

2,273

4,605

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

1,921

2,148

2,264

1,805

4,069

Median Length of Stay (Months)

 

 

 

 

 

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

11.7

N/A

5.5

12.5

N/A

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

12.7

N/A

5.5

11.2

N/A

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

12.0

N/A

5.8

10.4

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

2.9

3.6

4.4

10.3

12.8

12.8

6.4

7.9

8.1

3.7

4.8

5.1

1-5 years

19.9

19.1

16.6

28.9

26.6

32.8

28.7

29.0

30.3

20.1

17.9

20.0

6-10 years

23.0

22.6

19.6

23.2

22.7

23.1

23.2

23.3

21.4

22.6

19.6

20.5

11-15 years

34.1

34.1

36.6

29.5

29.2

23.1

24.8

23.3

21.0

33.4

35.9

35.2

16-18 years

19.8

20.1

22.2

8.1

8.6

8.1

16.2

15.4

17.8

19.6

21.2

18.6

19+ years

0.3

0.5

0.5

0.0

-

-

0.6

0.9

1.3

0.6

0.6

0.6

Unknown

0.0

-

-

-

-

0.1

0.1

0.0

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

2,228

2,222

1,921

2,196

2,383

2,148

1,956

2,332

2,264

2,468

2,273

1,805

 

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

6.2

4.2

5.2

4.3

5.1

2.8

6.2

3.1

2.4

4.5

6.3

5.9

Asian/Pacific Islander

0.6

0.7

0.7

1.1

0.8

1.0

1.0

0.8

0.7

0.7

0.7

1.0

Black

4.0

3.6

3.0

3.8

4.8

1.9

4.3

4.3

1.1

3.6

4.1

4.2

Hispanic

13.6

14.2

13.8

15.9

16.2

18.6

15.7

15.5

16.1

14.0

15.0

16.6

White

73.0

72.7

49.3

69.7

62.6

33.3

68.5

67.5

29.5

73.6

67.5

55.1

Two or more races

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Unknown

2.6

4.5

28.0

5.1

10.4

42.4

4.2

8.8

50.3

3.6

6.3

17.2

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

2,228

2,222

1,921

2,196

2,383

2,148

1,956

2,332

2,264

2,468

2,273

1,805

 

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

658

325

371

Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR)

647

245

310

 

Age of Waiting Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

Under 1 year

6.8

4.3

9.4

1-5 years

35.0

27.4

29.4

6-10 years

36.3

32.0

32.1

11-15 years

18.5

30.5

25.9

16+ years

2.1

4.6

3.2

Unknown

1.2

1.2

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

658

325

371

 

Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

Alaska Native/American Indian

1.2

1.5

4.9

Asian/Pacific Islander

0.8

1.5

0.8

Black

4.3

4.9

4.3

Hispanic

17.5

19.4

22.6

White

72.8

67.1

57.7

Two or more races

-

-

-

Unknown

3.5

5.5

9.7

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

658

325

371

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

4.8

7.6

7.6

1-5 years

47.9

43.1

50.8

6-10 years

34.1

36.9

29.7

11-15 years

12.9

12.2

10.6

16+ years

0.3

0.3

1.3

Unknown

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

334

369

303

 

Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

Alaska Native/American Indian

1.8

0.5

1.7

Asian/Pacific Islander

0.9

-

1.3

Black

4.2

2.4

3.3

Hispanic

16.2

20.3

18.5

White

62.6

33.9

4.5

Two or more races

-

-

-

Unknown

14.4

51.8

20.8

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

334

369

303

 

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Utah [ 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

91.7

91.6

92.9

Children with one or more recurrences

8.3

8.4

7.1

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

3,967

4,062

4,241

 

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

1.1

0.5

0.5

Children not maltreated while in foster care

98.9

99.5

99.5

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

3,885

4,069

3,495

 

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

14.3

15.7

13.4

Guardianship

22.2

27.7

9.5

Reunification

54.1

47.6

63.7

Other

8.8

8.6

11.3

Missing data

0.7

0.4

2.1

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

1,956

2,332

2,264

 

Pie Charts describing data from Table 3.1 above.

 

3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

Adoption

14.4

21.1

23.2

Guardianship

16.4

18.9

8.3

Reunification

52.5

44.5

53.2

Other

16.7

15.5

14.0

Missing data

-

-

1.3

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

299

375

457

 

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

1998

1999

2000

Adoption

0.2

0.3

0.8

Guardianship

13.8

15.3

6.5

Reunification

59.8

57.1

57.4

Other

25.7

26.6

33.7

Missing data

0.5

0.7

1.6

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

552

608

618

 

3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%)

1998

1999

2000

Children age 12 or younger at entry

12.8

14.0

10.5

Children older than 12 at entry

87.2

86.0

89.5

Missing data

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

109

121

172

 

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

4.1

4.1

9.3

15.0

-

25.0

16.7

12.0

25.0

14.6

20.5

15.1

Guardianship

25.6

38.4

7.4

10.0

27.8

12.5

27.4

31.0

-

18.2

29.1

7.4

Reunification

62.8

49.3

66.7

65.0

66.7

37.5

46.4

51.0

58.3

61.7

46.3

68.2

Other

6.6

6.8

16.7

10.0

5.6

25.0

9.5

5.0

16.7

5.5

3.9

7.9

Missing data

0.8

1.4

-

-

-

-

-

1.0

-

-

0.3

1.4

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

121

73

54

20

18

16

84

100

24

308

361

365

 

White

Unable to Determine

Two or More Races

Missing Data

 

1998

1999

2000

1998

1999

2000

1998

1999

2000

1998

1999

2000

Adoption

15.4

16.3

21.0

7.2

9.7

8.3

-

-

-

-

-

-

Guardianship

23.0

26.0

3.3

16.9

33.0

14.1

-

-

-

-

-

-

Reunification

50.8

46.8

52.8

71.1

51.5

69.0

-

-

-

-

-

-

Other

10.0

10.4

22.0

3.6

5.3

5.4

-

-

-

-

-

-

Missing data

0.8

0.4

0.9

1.2

0.5

3.2

-

-

-

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

-

-

-

-

-

-

Number

1,340

1,574

667

83

206

1,138

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

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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.

76.6

73.9

82.9

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

15.6

16.9

11.6

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

3.4

4.7

2.4

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

1.0

1.2

1.8

48 or more mos.

1.2

1.5

0.8

Missing data

2.2

1.9

0.5

Total (%)

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

1,058

1,109

1,442

 

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

69.6

75.9

73.9

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

17.3

14.3

13.0

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

8.6

7.8

6.7

Missing data

4.5

2.1

6.4

Total (%)

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

2,196

2,383

2,148

 

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.

12.9

15.6

27.3

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

36.2

42.3

39.1

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

33.0

25.4

23.7

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

12.2

9.3

5.9

48 or more mos.

5.7

7.4

3.9

Missing data

-

-

-

Total (%)

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

279

366

304

 

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

43.7
58.9
74.0

56.3
41.1
26.0

-
-
-

100.0
100.0
100.0

2,449
2,674
2,575

At least 12 mos., but <24 mos.

1998
1999
2000

22.5
24.7
31.3

77.5
75.3
68.7

-
-
-

100.0
100.0
100.0

1,003
904
684

At least 24 mos., but <36 mos.

1998
1999
2000

24.4
28.9
16.5

75.6
71.1
83.5

-
-
-

100.0
100.0
100.0

446
494
327

At least 36 mos., but <48 mos.

1998
1999
2000

33.6
28.6
14.6

66.4
71.4
85.4

-
-
-

100.0
100.0
100.0

229
199
219

48 or more mos.

1998
1999
2000

31.6
33.2
16.0

68.4
66.8
84.0

-
-
-

100.0
100.0
100.0

247
280
256

Missing data

1998
1999
2000

82.0
90.7
100.0

18.0
9.3
-

-
-
-

100.0
100.0
100.0

50
54
8

 

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

19.6

25.0

1.2

Institutions

0.3

0.4

1.9

Other settings

80.0

74.4

97.0

Missing data

0.1

0.1

-

Total (%)

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

1,318

1,600

1,295

 

Utah [ State Comment ]

Richard Anderson, Director
Division of Child & Family Services
Utah Department of Human Services
801-538-4100

Utah?s comments on State data for the Child Welfare Outcomes 2000: Annual Report are the following:

Regarding foster care exits:
Utah has closure reason of discharge to relative/guardian. Prior to 2000, this category was mapped to guardianship. Upon determining that most of these cases were relatives, Utah changed the mapping to reunification. Consequently 1998-1999 guardianship closures are inflated. This correction is reflected in 2000.

Regarding placement changes:
Placement changes data are inflated. Utah used to count every coding change, which included actual movement and changes in service levels. For example, if a child was with a foster parent but the care level increased from basic to specialized foster care it would have shown as a placement change even though the child was with the same provider. The programming for this was fixed to only show actual movement of children to different providers. This fix is reflected in part in 2000, and will be fully seen in 2001. Utah also includes all placements, no matter how short.

Regarding placement settings:
It was determined that many placement settings were incorrectly mapped to group homes. This error has been remedied and is reflected in the 2000 report.

Regarding ethnicity of victims, children in foster care and adopted:
Errors were found with edits in the system and a glitch, which caused ethnicity to be set to unknown. These errors have been fixed and will be reflected in the 2001-2002 data.

Regarding maltreatment type:
In October 1997 Utah started tracking domestic violence related abuse as an allegation subcategory of emotional abuse. In 1998, it became one of the most substantiated allegations investigated, resulting in an increase in the percentage of emotional abuse from 2.9 percent in 1997 to 40.3 percent in 1998.

Utah completes an annual outcome measure report with data from our SACWIS system that includes these measures as well as many others in the areas of safety, permanency, and well being. This report is available on our web site at www.dhs.state.ut.us.

 

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