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Arkansas

Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment | Federal Comment

Arkansas [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population

1998

1999

2000

2001

Total children under 18 years

653,721

660,224

680,369

680,618

Race/ethnicity (%)1

 Alaska Native/American Indian

0.6

0.6

0.7

0.7

 Asian

N/A

N/A

N/A

0.8

 Asian/Pacific Islander

0.8

0.8

0.8

N/A

 Black

21.2

21.1

20.6

20.7

Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander

N/A

N/A

N/A

0.1

 Hispanic

3.0

3.2

4.7

4.9

 White

74.5

74.3

71.3

71.1

 Two or more races

N/A

N/A

1.7

1.7

 Other

N/A

N/A

0.1

N/A

% Child population in poverty

27.4

18.5

25.5

28.3

% Child population living in metropolitan areas

49.1

45.4

50.5

48.1

 

Child Welfare

1998

1999

2000

2001

Child maltreatment victims

8,578

7,564

7,479

6,927

Children in foster care on 9/30

3,138

2,919

3,045

2,959

Children adopted

258

318

325

362

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

2001

1998

1998

2000

2001

Children subject of an investigated report alleging child maltreatment

29,572

23,970

23,335

25,655

45.2 per 1,000

36.3 per 1,000

34.3 per 1,000

37.6 per 1,000

Child maltreatment victims2

8,578

7,564

7,479

6,927

13.1 per 1,000

11.5 per 1,000

11.0 per 1,000

10.1 per 1,000

Child fatalities

5

9

12

22

0.8 per 100,000

1.4 per 100,000

1.8 per 100,000

3.2 per 100,000

 

Age of Child Victims (%)

1998

1999

2000

2001

Under 1 year

3.2

2.8

5.9

5.0

1-5 years

28.0

27.4

27.4

27.8

6-10 years

31.3

29.8

29.3

27.3

11-15 years

26.5

29.0

30.0

31.5

16+ years

8.9

10.3

6.9

7.8

Unknown

2.0

0.7

0.5

0.6

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

8,578

7,564

7,479

6,927

 

Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%)

1998

1999

2000

2001

Alaska Native/American Indian

0.5

0.2

0.1

0.2

Asian/Pacific Islander

0.1

0.1

0.3

0.2

Black

27.2

19.1

22.4

21.5

Hispanic

2.3

2.3

2.2

3.7

White

67.0

56.6

72.5

68.4

Two or more races

N/A

N/A

-

3.8

Other/Unknown

5.2

23.9

2.6

2.2

Total %3

102.3

102.3

100.0

100.0

Number

8,578

7,564

7,479

6,927

 

Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%)

1998

1999

2000

2001

Emotional abuse

1.0

0.6

0.6

0.9

Medical neglect

4.5

4.8

3.4

3.4

Neglect

67.2

68.9

52.7

47.2

Physical abuse

27.5

27.2

22.3

26.5

Sexual abuse

27.2

37.0

27.9

30.6

Other

-

-

1.2

0.4

Unknown

-

-

-

-

Total %4

127.4

138.5

108.0

109.0

Number

8,578

7,564

7,479

6,927

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)

2,490

2,737

2,094

3,138

5,227

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

2,589

2,489

2,160

2,919

5,078

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

3,182

3,542

3,679

3,045

6,724

FY2001 (10/1/00-9/30/01)

2,856

3,347

3,244

2,959

6,203

Median Length of Stay (Months)

 

 

 

 

 

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

11.3

N/A

3.8

12.2

N/A

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

15.2

N/A

5.5

12.5

N/A

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

12.3

N/A

4.6

12.6

N/A

FY2001 (10/1/00-9/30/01)

12.6

N/A

3.0

11.8

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

In Care on 10/1/00

Entered Care During FY 1998

Entered Care During FY 1999

Entered Care During FY 2000

Entered Care During FY 2001

Exited Care During FY 1998

Exited Care During FY 1999

Exited Care During FY 2000

Entered Care During FY 2001

In Care on 9/30/98

In Care on 9/30/99

In Care on 9/30/00

In Care on 9/30/01

Under 1 year

4.6

3.8

3.6

4.8

9.6

9.3

9.7

9.6

5.1

4.0

4.8

5.2

4.2

3.8

4.7

4.3

1-5 years

23.0

23.0

23.3

23.2

24.4

25.8

26.2

27.9

27.6

26.9

26.4

29.0

22.5

23.4

23.0

23.5

6-10 years

21.5

23.9

21.7

21.5

23.9

23.2

23.8

23.3

20.7

23.8

23.7

23.6

23.6

22.4

21.6

21.0

11-15 years

30.1

29.4

30.4

29.6

23.1

31.5

29.3

29.0

25.1

24.3

26.6

24.4

30.5

31.1

29.9

31.0

16-18 years

19.8

18.6

19.6

19.6

9.9

10.2

11.0

10.2

20.4

19.3

17.3

16.6

17.8

18.1

19.4

18.8

19+ years

0.7

1.2

1.3

1.3

-

0.0

-

-

0.8

1.6

1.1

0.9

1.1

1.0

1.3

1.4

Unknown

0.3

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

-

-

-

0.3

0.1

0.2

0.2

0.3

0.2

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

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

2,490

2,589

3,182

2,856

2,737

2,489

3,542

3,347

2,094

2,160

3,679

3,244

3,138

2,919

3,045

2,959

 

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

In Care on 10/1/00

Entered Care During FY 1998

Entered Care During FY 1999

Entered Care During FY 2000

Entered Care During FY 2001

Exited Care During FY 1998

Exited Care During FY 1999

Exited Care During FY 2000

Entered Care During FY 2001

In Care on 9/30/98

In Care on 9/30/99

In Care on 9/30/00

In Care on 9/30/01

Alaska Native/American Indian

0.6

0.3

0.4

0.0

0.4

0.4

0.1

0.4

0.8

0.5

0.4

0.2

0.4

0.3

0.1

0.3

Asian

-

-

0.2

0.2

-

-

0.4

0.2

-

-

0.3

0.2

-

-

0.3

0.1

Asian/Pacific Islander

0.2

0.2

-

-

0.2

0.3

-

-

0.3

0.3

-

-

0.1

0.2

-

-

Black

41.7

41.6

40.5

38.2

31.7

31.9

30.7

26.4

29.6

29.9

32.1

29.0

40.9

42.1

39.4

34.9

Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander

-

-

0.0

-

-

-

-

0.1

-

-

-

0.1

-

-

0.0

-

Hispanic

1.3

1.6

2.1

1.9

2.2

2.6

2.2

3.2

2.2

2.3

2.4

3.1

1.5

1.9

1.9

2.0

White

55.6

55.2

54.9

56.0

61.8

61.5

62.5

63.5

63.9

64.4

61.4

61.6

55.5

53.8

55.8

58.3

Two or more races

-

0.1

0.7

2.6

-

0.3

1.8

5.0

-

0.1

1.7

4.3

-

0.3

0.7

3.4

Unknown

0.6

0.9

1.2

1.2

3.7

2.9

2.3

1.3

3.2

2.5

1.7

1.5

1.6

1.5

1.9

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

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

2,490

2,589

3,182

2,856

2,737

2,489

3,542

3,347

2,094

2,160

3,679

3,244

3,138

2,919

3,045

2,959

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

9/30/01

Children waiting to be adopted

335

867

817

810

Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR)

37

287

63

250

 

Age of Waiting Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

2001

Under 1 year

4.5

4.6

3.7

3.2

1-5 years

30.4

36.1

30.7

30.3

6-10 years

33.1

31.4

33.3

32.5

11-15 years

30.1

26.0

28.9

31.0

16+ years

1.8

1.8

3.4

2.6

Unknown

-

0.1

-

0.5

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

335

867

817

810

 

Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

2001

Alaska Native/American Indian

-

0.1

-

0.2

Asian

-

-

0.1

-

Asian/Pacific Islander

-

0.1

-

-

Black

42.7

41.6

41.4

37.8

Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander

-

-

-

-

Hispanic

0.3

1.8

2.1

1.7

White

55.2

54.8

54.1

55.6

Two or more races

-

0.2

0.6

3.6

Unknown

1.8

1.3

1.7

1.1

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

335

867

817

810

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

2001

Under 1 year

3.1

3.5

3.4

1.7

1-5 years

38.4

41.2

39.4

40.9

6-10 years

38.8

30.8

27.1

32.9

11-15 years

17.1

20.4

24.6

19.3

16+ years

2.7

4.1

5.5

5.2

Unknown

-

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

258

318

325

362

 

Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

2001

Alaska Native/American Indian

1.2

0.3

0.6

-

Asian

-

-

-

0.3

Asian/Pacific Islander

0.4

0.3

-

-

Black

22.1

40.3

36.6

32.9

Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander

-

-

-

-

Hispanic

2.3

1.6

4.0

2.8

White

73.6

53.1

57.2

61.9

Two or more races

-

-

0.9

1.7

Unknown

0.4

4.4

0.6

0.6

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

258

318

325

362

Back to Top

Arkansas [ Outcomes Data ]

1. Reduce Recurrence of Child Abuse and/or Neglect
(NCANDS)

1.1 Recurrence of Maltreatment Within 6 Months (%)

1998

1999

2000

2001

Children without a recurrence

-

95.5

94.4

94.1

Children with one or more recurrences

-

4.5

5.6

5.9

Total %

-

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

-

3,662

3,887

3,793

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

2001

Children maltreated while in foster care

-

0.29

0.17

0.26

Children not maltreated while in foster care

-

99.71

99.83

99.74

Total %

-

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

-

4,530

5,991

5,428

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

2001

Adoption

1.8

11.4

10.7

10.9

Guardianship

-

-

-

1.0

Reunification

61.9

49.0

59.7

71.5

Other

7.5

4.4

5.3

6.2

Missing data

28.7

35.1

24.4

10.4

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

2,094

2,160

3,679

3,244

Pie Charts describing data from Table 3.1 above.

3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%)

1998

1999

2000

2001

Adoption

4.2

16.5

15.8

21.7

Guardianship

-

-

-

0.7

Reunification

63.9

44.6

51.1

54.8

Other

9.6

4.7

8.9

13.6

Missing data

22.3

34.2

24.1

9.1

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

166

278

783

538

 

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

1998

1999

2000

2001

Adoption

0.1

1.3

2.0

1.8

Guardianship

-

-

-

1.7

Reunification

45.5

40.1

54.4

66.8

Other

18.3

11.9

14.3

15.0

Missing data

36.1

46.7

29.2

14.7

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

743

673

1,136

946

 

3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%)

1998

1999

2000

2001

Children age 12 or younger at entry

10.2

9.4

14.5

19.9

Children older than 12 at entry

89.8

90.6

85.5

80.1

Missing data

-

-

-

-

Total %

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number

49

32

172

166

 

3.5 Exits by Race/Ethnicity (%)

Alaska Native/A.I.

Asian

Asian/Pacific Islander

Black

Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander

 

1998

1999

2000

2001

1998

1999

2000

2001

1998

1999

2000

2001

1998

1999

2000

2001

1998

1999

2000

2001

Adoption

18.8

9.1

6.7

-

-

-

-

-

-

14.3

-

-

1.5

15.7

10.9

13.8

-

-

-

-

Guardianship

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1.4

-

-

-

-

Reunification

62.5

36.4

40.0

60.0

-

-

72.7

100.0

100.0

28.6

-

-

61.5

48.4

61.5

65.9

-

-

-

33.3

Other

6.2

9.1

6.7

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

5.3

3.7

5.0

6.3

-

-

-

-

Missing data

12.5

45.5

46.7

40.0

-

-

27.3

-

-

57.1

-

-

31.8

32.2

22.5

12.6

-

-

-

66.7

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

-

-

-

100.0

Number

16

11

15

5

-

-

11

8

7

7

-

-

620

645

1,180

941

-

-

-

3

 

Hispanic

White

Unable to Determine

Two or More Races

Missing Data

 

1998

1999

2000

2001

1998

1999

2000

2001

1998

1999

2000

2001

1998

1999

2000

2001

1998

1999

2000

2001

Adoption

-

4.0

13.5

9.9

1.9

9.8

10.9

10.3

-

15.4

4.8

14.9

-

-

1.6

1.4

-

-

-

-

Guardianship

-

-

-

2.0

-

-

-

1.0

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Reunification

63.0

66.0

55.1

78.2

61.6

48.8

58.7

72.5

80.6

34.6

64.5

70.2

-

100.0

66.1

89.9

54.8

66.7

-

-

Other

4.3

2.0

3.4

5.9

8.9

4.9

5.8

6.4

5.6

3.8

3.2

6.4

-

-

-

2.9

3.2

3.7

-

-

Missing data

32.6

28.0

28.1

4.0

27.6

36.5

24.7

9.8

13.9

46.2

27.4

8.5

-

-

32.3

5.8

41.9

29.6

-

100.0

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

-

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

-

100.0

Number

46

50