Child Welfare Outcomes 2000:
Annual Report
Chapter IV - State Data
Context Data | Outcomes Data | State
Comment
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Washington [ Context Data ]
A. Key Context Statistics
|
General Population |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Total children under 18 years |
1,472,490 |
1,486,340 |
1,513,843 |
|
Race/ethnicity (%)1 |
|||
|
Alaska Native/American Indian |
2.0 |
2.0 |
1.8 |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
6.5 |
6.8 |
5.5 |
|
Black |
3.8 |
3.9 |
3.7 |
|
Hispanic |
9.7 |
10.1 |
11.7 |
|
White |
77.9 |
77.2 |
71.5 |
|
Two or more races |
N/A |
N/A |
5.5 |
|
Other |
N/A |
N/A |
0.3 |
|
% Child population in poverty |
15.0 |
10.7 |
15.0 |
|
% Child population living in metropolitan areas |
76.5 |
77.0 |
83.0 |
|
Child Welfare |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Child maltreatment victims |
12,926 |
8,039 |
7,095 |
|
Children in foster care on 9/30 |
8,872 |
8,688 |
8,945 |
|
Children adopted |
878 |
1,047 |
1,141 |
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 |
47,281 |
53,060 |
38,070 |
32.1 per 1,000 |
35.7 per 1,000 |
25.1 per 1,000 |
|||||
|
Child maltreatment victims2 |
12,926 |
8,039 |
7,095 |
8.8 per 1,000 |
5.4 per 1,000 |
4.7 per 1,000 |
|||||
|
Child fatalities |
8 |
6 |
7 |
0.5 per 100,000 |
0.4 per 100,000 |
0.5 per 100,000 |
|||||
|
Age of Child Victims (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Under 1 year |
12.7 |
12.0 |
11.6 |
|
1-5 years |
31.2 |
32.4 |
32.5 |
|
6-10 years |
32.0 |
30.5 |
31.6 |
|
11-15 years |
20.5 |
20.6 |
19.8 |
|
16+ years |
3.7 |
4.1 |
3.0 |
|
Unknown |
0.0 |
0.4 |
1.6 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
12,926 |
8,039 |
7,095 |
|
Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Alaska Native/American Indian |
7.0 |
9.1 |
6.6 |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
2.4 |
2.6 |
2.5 |
|
Black |
9.5 |
10.5 |
8.8 |
|
Hispanic |
8.3 |
12.8 |
12.9 |
|
White |
71.3 |
75.0 |
66.5 |
|
Two or more races |
N/A |
N/A |
- |
|
Other/Unknown |
9.8 |
8.5 |
2.7 |
|
Total %3 |
108.3 |
118.4 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
12,926 |
8,039 |
7,095 |
|
Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Emotional abuse |
9.8 |
10.9 |
6.4 |
|
Medical neglect |
4.9 |
6.6 |
3.7 |
|
Neglect |
65.4 |
70.8 |
71.0 |
|
Physical abuse |
29.9 |
27.1 |
21.7 |
|
Sexual abuse |
11.2 |
9.0 |
7.0 |
|
Other |
1.3 |
2.3 |
0.3 |
|
Unknown |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total %4 |
122.4 |
126.8 |
110.1 |
|
Number |
12,926 |
8,039 |
7,095 |
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) |
8,454 |
7,541 |
7,123 |
8,872 |
15,995 |
|
FY1999 (10/1/98-9/30/99) |
8,695 |
7,369 |
7,376 |
8,688 |
16,064 |
|
FY2000 (10/1/99-9/30/00) |
8,484 |
7,590 |
7,129 |
8,945 |
16,074 |
|
Median Length of Stay (Months) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
FY1998 (10/1/97-9/30/98) |
18.9 |
N/A |
2.9 |
16.8 |
N/A |
|
FY1999 (10/1/98-9/30/99) |
17.0 |
N/A |
5.1 |
16.5 |
N/A |
|
FY2000 (10/1/99-9/30/00) |
16.8 |
N/A |
3.6 |
15.9 |
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 |
5.4 |
5.5 |
6.2 |
12.5 |
14.3 |
14.5 |
5.0 |
5.3 |
5.6 |
5.6 |
6.3 |
6.7 |
|
1-5 years |
32.7 |
32.1 |
32.0 |
24.1 |
24.8 |
24.4 |
24.8 |
26.7 |
26.5 |
32.2 |
31.8 |
31.9 |
|
6-10 years |
26.0 |
26.8 |
26.9 |
20.7 |
20.3 |
20.4 |
21.4 |
21.4 |
22.9 |
26.6 |
26.5 |
24.7 |
|
11-15 years |
23.2 |
23.9 |
24.4 |
32.1 |
30.1 |
29.9 |
30.7 |
28.9 |
28.5 |
24.1 |
24.7 |
25.4 |
|
16-18 years |
11.6 |
11.1 |
10.2 |
10.5 |
10.4 |
10.7 |
16.8 |
16.8 |
16.0 |
11.0 |
10.4 |
10.9 |
|
19+ years |
0.7 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
1.1 |
0.6 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
|
Unknown |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
|
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 |
8,454 |
8,695 |
8,484 |
7,541 |
7,369 |
7,590 |
7,123 |
7,376 |
7,129 |
8,872 |
8,688 |
8,945 |
|
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 |
8.2 |
8.8 |
8.8 |
9.0 |
8.7 |
7.3 |
8.4 |
8.6 |
7.4 |
8.8 |
8.9 |
8.7 |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
1.4 |
1.3 |
1.1 |
1.6 |
1.5 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
1.3 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
|
Black |
15.7 |
14.8 |
14.0 |
11.0 |
9.4 |
8.7 |
11.9 |
10.5 |
10.2 |
14.8 |
13.9 |
12.6 |
|
Hispanic |
9.4 |
10.3 |
11.8 |
11.0 |
12.8 |
12.0 |
9.9 |
11.0 |
12.2 |
10.3 |
11.8 |
11.6 |
|
White |
59.3 |
58.7 |
57.7 |
60.9 |
60.8 |
62.0 |
61.5 |
62.2 |
61.4 |
58.8 |
57.6 |
58.4 |
|
Two or more races |
5.4 |
5.5 |
6.0 |
5.3 |
5.5 |
5.7 |
5.3 |
4.8 |
4.9 |
5.4 |
6.1 |
6.6 |
|
Unknown |
0.6 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
1.1 |
1.3 |
2.5 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
2.1 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
1.0 |
|
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 |
8,454 |
8,695 |
8,484 |
7,541 |
7,369 |
7,590 |
7,123 |
7,376 |
7,129 |
8,872 |
8,688 |
8,945 |
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 |
4,131 |
3,720 |
2,669 |
|
Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) |
3,911 |
3,368 |
2,216 |
|
Age of Waiting Children (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Under 1 year |
8.3 |
7.3 |
3.7 |
|
1-5 years |
45.6 |
44.6 |
41.4 |
|
6-10 years |
31.4 |
31.1 |
31.7 |
|
11-15 years |
12.1 |
14.4 |
19.7 |
|
16+ years |
2.3 |
2.4 |
3.3 |
|
Unknown |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
4,131 |
3,720 |
2,669 |
|
Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Alaska Native/American Indian |
5.1 |
4.9 |
4.9 |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
0.8 |
0.9 |
0.8 |
|
Black |
16.6 |
16.9 |
17.9 |
|
Hispanic |
11.1 |
11.6 |
11.4 |
|
White |
59.5 |
58.8 |
57.7 |
|
Two or more races |
6.2 |
6.3 |
6.6 |
|
Unknown |
0.6 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
4,131 |
3,720 |
2,669 |
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 |
1.3 |
1.6 |
1.3 |
|
1-5 years |
56.2 |
57.6 |
55.9 |
|
6-10 years |
33.8 |
31.6 |
32.3 |
|
11-15 years |
8.1 |
8.2 |
9.3 |
|
16+ years |
0.7 |
1.0 |
1.2 |
|
Unknown |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
878 |
1,047 |
1,141 |
|
Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Alaska Native/American Indian |
3.3 |
2.1 |
3.9 |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
1.0 |
0.3 |
0.8 |
|
Black |
13.7 |
5.4 |
13.2 |
|
Hispanic |
9.0 |
10.8 |
12.2 |
|
White |
66.6 |
36.5 |
63.6 |
|
Two or more races |
5.6 |
3.2 |
5.9 |
|
Unknown |
0.8 |
41.7 |
0.4 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
878 |
1,047 |
1,141 |
Washington [ 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 |
- |
89.6 |
88.1 |
|
Children with one or more recurrences |
- |
10.4 |
11.9 |
|
Total % |
- |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
- |
3,378 |
3,075 |
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 |
- |
0.3 |
1.0 |
|
Children not maltreated while in foster care |
- |
99.7 |
99.0 |
|
Total % |
- |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
- |
15,499 |
14,375 |
3. Increase Permanency for Children in Foster Care
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)
|
3.1 Exits from Foster Care (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Adoption |
12.1 |
13.7 |
15.2 |
|
Guardianship |
7.9 |
7.6 |
7.9 |
|
Reunification |
69.8 |
65.4 |
66.3 |
|
Other |
10.2 |
13.0 |
10.4 |
|
Missing data |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
7,123 |
7,376 |
7,129 |
|
3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Adoption |
- |
- |
- |
|
Guardianship |
- |
- |
- |
|
Reunification |
- |
- |
- |
|
Other |
- |
- |
- |
|
Missing data |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total % |
- |
- |
- |
|
Number |
- |
- |
- |
|
3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Adoption |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
|
Guardianship |
2.2 |
3.3 |
2.2 |
|
Reunification |
82.9 |
76.4 |
81.6 |
|
Other |
14.9 |
19.9 |
15.7 |
|
Missing data |
- |
0.2 |
0.2 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
2,475 |
2,372 |
2,246 |
|
3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Children age 12 or younger at entry |
31.6 |
29.4 |
30.3 |
|
Children older than 12 at entry |
68.4 |
70.4 |
69.4 |
|
Missing data |
- |
0.2 |
0.3 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
4.5 |
405 |
333 |
|
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 |
4.9 |
7.1 |
7.6 |
8.0 |
3.0 |
7.0 |
14.2 |
14.5 |
19.6 |
11.5 |
13.5 |
15.9 |
|
|
Guardianship |
9.7 |
9.0 |
11.2 |
8.0 |
10.5 |
3.9 |
14.6 |
16.6 |
12.8 |
7.9 |
6.6 |
5.5 |
|
|
Reunification |
62.9 |
51.3 |
43.9 |
76.0 |
69.9 |
79.1 |
62.7 |
56.7 |
58.5 |
73.6 |
69.0 |
71.2 |
|
|
Other |
22.5 |
32.5 |
37.3 |
8.0 |
16.5 |
8.5 |
8.5 |
12.0 |
9.1 |
7.0 |
10.8 |
7.4 |
|
|
Missing data |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1.6 |
- |
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 |
596 |
633 |
526 |
125 |
133 |
129 |
847 |
772 |
728 |
705 |
815 |
868 |
|
|
|
White |
Unable to Determine |
Two or More Races |
Missing Data |
|||||||||
|
|
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
|
Adoption |
13.0 |
14.9 |
15.7 |
6.8 |
8.2 |
2.6 |
12.9 |
13.9 |
18.2 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Guardianship |
6.4 |
6.3 |
7.3 |
8.0 |
2.4 |
2.6 |
7.1 |
5.7 |
10.5 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Reunification |
71.0 |
67.5 |
68.9 |
78.4 |
77.6 |
85.0 |
71.2 |
69.9 |
58.7 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Other |
9.7 |
11.1 |
8.0 |
6.8 |
11.8 |
9.8 |
8.7 |
10.2 |
12.5 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Missing data |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
0.3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Number |
4,383 |
4,586 |
4,374 |
88 |
85 |
153 |
379 |
352 |
351 |
- |
- |
- |
|
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. |
80.6 |
79.8 |
83.5 |
|
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. |
7.2 |
9.6 |
8.4 |
|
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. |
3.5 |
3.3 |
2.4 |
|
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. |
1.4 |
1.5 |
1.0 |
|
48 or more mos. |
2.0 |
1.8 |
1.1 |
|
Missing data |
5.3 |
4.0 |
3.5 |
|
Total (%) |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
4,969 |
4,826 |
4,727 |
|
4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Children entering care for the first time |
68.3 |
67.9 |
69.6 |
|
Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode |
17.3 |
15.6 |
12.4 |
|
Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode |
10.4 |
9.6 |
9.3 |
|
Missing data |
3.9 |
7.0 |
8.7 |
|
Total (%) |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
7,541 |
7,369 |
7,590 |
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. |
1.6 |
2.2 |
1.9 |
|
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. |
17.3 |
22.0 |
17.8 |
|
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. |
23.9 |
28.4 |
32.8 |
|
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. |
25.2 |
24.6 |
22.7 |
|
48 or more mos. |
31.9 |
22.8 |
24.7 |
|
Missing data |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total (%) |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
865 |
1,012 |
1,084 |
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 |
79.6 |
19.7 |
0.7 |
100.0 |
7,691 |
|
At least 12 mos., but <24 mos. |
1998 |
53.6 |
46.2 |
0.2 |
100.0 |
2,840 |
|
At least 24 mos., but <36 mos. |
1998 |
45.4 |
54.6 |
0.1 |
100.0 |
1,791 |
|
At least 36 mos., but <48 mos. |
1998 |
34.1 |
65.8 |
0.1 |
100.0 |
1,249 |
|
48 or more mos. |
1998 |
31.7 |
68.0 |
0.3 |
100.0 |
2,038 |
|
Missing data |
1998 |
91.2 |
7.8 |
1.0 |
100.0 |
386 |
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 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
|
Institutions |
1.7 |
1.3 |
1.1 |
|
Other settings |
96.8 |
97.0 |
97.4 |
|
Missing data |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
|
Total (%) |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
3,795 |
3,890 |
4,531 |
Washington [ State Comment ]
Rosalyn Oreskovich, Assistant Secretary
Children?s Administration
Washington Department of Social and Health Services
360-902-7820
Washington State continues to focus efforts on achieving permanency for children in out-of- home care in the shortest time possible. More children were adopted and a higher percentage of children were reunified within twelve months of placement than ever before. The number of legally-free children waiting for a permanent home has decreased significantly since 1998, a remarkable accomplishment, since over 1,000 new children become legally-free each year.
Washington State has developed many tools during the past year to improve the safety of children, including a safety assessment, safety plan, and reunification assessment and plan. In spite of this primary emphasis on child safety, our recurrence rate remains high, in part because the federal measure is impacted by the overall founded rate, but does not include it as a calculation variable. Since we began sending Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act required notification letters to all perpetrators of founded abuse in FFY 1999, the founded rate has dropped by over 50 percent. Our founded cases now represent our most severe. Our documentation of multiple victims and multiple findings on each referral may also produce an inflated recurrence rate when compared to systems that do not record data this way.
The Governor and legislature of Washington State are committed to managing by outcomes, and we have been tracking performance on select outcomes for several years. We support the federal effort to evaluate state's performance in comparison to national standards, but some unique characteristics of Washington's child welfare system make this comparison difficult. Because the scope of this report does not permit clarification of laws and policies that may influence the data, some of the results presented may be misleading. We support the federal government's efforts to explore state differences which may impact the comparability of the data. This work will assist us in improving child welfare services for all children and their families.
