 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
|
||||
| ACF Home | Services | Working with ACF | Policy/Planning | About ACF | ACF News | HHS Home | |||||
Questions?
|
Privacy
|
Site Index
|
Contact Us
|
Download Reader™
|
Print
|
|---|
Pennsylvania
Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment | Federal Comment
Pennsylvania [ Context Data ]
A. Key Context Statistics
|
General Population |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Total children under 18 years |
2,859,828 |
2,852,520 |
2,922,221 |
2,880,499 |
|
Race/ethnicity (%)1 |
||||
|
Alaska Native/American Indian |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
|
Asian |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
2.0 |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
2.0 |
2.1 |
1.9 |
N/A |
|
Black |
12.1 |
12.2 |
12.7 |
13.0 |
|
Hawaiian Native/Other Pacific Islander |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
0.0 |
|
Hispanic |
4.1 |
4.3 |
5.1 |
5.2 |
|
White |
81.6 |
81.3 |
78.2 |
78.1 |
|
Two or more races |
N/A |
N/A |
1.8 |
1.6 |
|
Other |
N/A |
N/A |
0.2 |
N/A |
|
% Child population in poverty |
17.9 |
12.8 |
10.6 |
14.0 |
|
% Child population living in metropolitan areas |
84.8 |
90.0 |
84.8 |
84.1 |
|
Child Welfare |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Child maltreatment victims |
5,392 |
5,076 |
5,002 |
4,784 |
|
Children in foster care on 9/30 |
23,070 |
22,690 |
21,631 |
21,237 |
|
Children adopted |
1,516 |
1,454 |
1,712 |
1,564 |
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 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Children subject of an investigated report alleging child maltreatment |
22,589 |
22,437 |
22,694 |
23,012 |
7.9 per 1,000 |
7.9 per 1,000 |
7.8 per 1,000 |
7.9 per 1,000 |
|
Child maltreatment victims2 |
5,392 |
5,076 |
5,002 |
4,784 |
1.9 per 1,000 |
1.8 per 1,000 |
1.7 per 1,000 |
1.6 per 1,000 |
|
Child fatalities |
52 |
50 |
38 |
47 |
1.8 per 100,000 |
1.8 per 100,000 |
1.3 per 100,000 |
1.6 per 100,000 |
|
Age of Child Victims (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Under 1 year |
3.1 |
0.6 |
5.6 |
5.4 |
|
1-5 years |
22.5 |
21.0 |
21.5 |
21.1 |
|
6-10 years |
30.5 |
28.3 |
29.4 |
29.5 |
|
11-15 years |
32.1 |
32.5 |
32.8 |
33.5 |
|
16+ years |
11.8 |
17.6 |
10.5 |
10.5 |
|
Unknown |
- |
- |
0.2 |
- |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
5,392 |
5,076 |
5,002 |
4,784 |
|
Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Alaska Native/American Indian |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Black |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Hispanic |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
White |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Two or more races |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Other/Unknown |
- |
- |
- |
100.0 |
|
Total %3 |
- |
- |
- |
100.0 |
|
Number |
- |
- |
- |
4,784 |
|
Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Emotional abuse |
1.9 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
2.1 |
|
Medical neglect |
2.8 |
2.4 |
2.9 |
2.8 |
|
Neglect |
3.8 |
3.8 |
3.6 |
3.5 |
|
Physical abuse |
41.1 |
62.1 |
37.6 |
37.9 |
|
Sexual abuse |
46.4 |
80.4 |
49.9 |
48.6 |
|
Other |
5.8 |
1.8 |
6.3 |
6.4 |
|
Unknown |
- |
- |
0.0 |
1.0 |
|
Total %4 |
101.8 |
152.5 |
102.5 |
102.2 |
|
Number |
5,392 |
5,076 |
5,002 |
4,784 |
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) |
20,983 |
13,019 |
10,933 |
23,070 |
34,002 |
|
FY1999 (10/1/98-9/30/99) |
21,809 |
13,299 |
12,419 |
22,690 |
35,108 |
|
FY2000 (10/1/99-9/30/00) |
21,322 |
12,235 |
11,926 |
21,631 |
33,557 |
|
FY2001 (10/1/00-9/30/01) |
20,544 |
12,420 |
11,730 |
21,237 |
32,964 |
|
Median Length of Stay (Months) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
FY1998 (10/1/97-9/30/98) |
23.6 |
N/A |
10.4 |
19.6 |
N/A |
|
FY1999 (10/1/98-9/30/99) |
20.5 |
N/A |
10.3 |
19.2 |
N/A |
|
FY2000 (10/1/99-9/30/00) |
20.3 |
N/A |
10.5 |
19.9 |
N/A |
|
FY2001 (10/1/00-9/30/01) |
20.8 |
N/A |
9.9 |
20.1 |
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 |
Exited 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 |
3.5 |
3.4 |
3.4 |
3.0 |
11.4 |
10.7 |
10.6 |
10.1 |
3.4 |
3.1 |
3.4 |
3.4 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
3.2 |
3.1 |
|
1-5 years |
22.8 |
21.1 |
21.0 |
20.4 |
18.8 |
18.8 |
18.5 |
16.7 |
20.0 |
18.9 |
18.6 |
18.5 |
21.3 |
20.5 |
20.5 |
19.4 |
|
6-10 years |
25.0 |
23.9 |
24.2 |
23.6 |
16.2 |
16.8 |
17.0 |
15.8 |
17.6 |
16.7 |
17.5 |
16.8 |
23.3 |
23.4 |
23.3 |
21.5 |
|
11-15 years |
30.0 |
30.7 |
31.6 |
33.1 |
34.4 |
34.6 |
36.2 |
38.3 |
27.3 |
26.9 |
27.7 |
29.5 |
30.3 |
31.3 |
33.1 |
34.1 |
|
16-18 years |
17.5 |
19.5 |
18.3 |
18.4 |
19.1 |
18.9 |
17.6 |
19.0 |
29.2 |
31.6 |
30.1 |
29.0 |
19.5 |
19.3 |
18.4 |
20.1 |
|
19+ years |
1.2 |
1.4 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
2.5 |
2.6 |
2.5 |
2.6 |
1.4 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
1.7 |
|
Unknown |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
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 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
20,983 |
21,809 |
21,322 |
20,544 |
13,019 |
13,299 |
12,235 |
12,420 |
10,933 |
12,419 |
11,926 |
11,730 |
23,070 |
22,690 |
21,631 |
21,237 |
|
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 |
Exited 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 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
|
Asian |
- |
- |
0.5 |
0.4 |
- |
- |
0.3 |
0.6 |
- |
- |
0.5 |
0.6 |
- |
- |
0.4 |
0.4 |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
0.4 |
0.5 |
- |
- |
0.7 |
0.7 |
- |
- |
0.5 |
0.7 |
- |
- |
0.6 |
0.5 |
- |
- |
|
Black |
54.5 |
52.4 |
53.3 |
52.4 |
41.4 |
40.9 |
40.2 |
38.8 |
43.8 |
42.6 |
42.9 |
41.3 |
52.2 |
51.0 |
51.6 |
50.6 |
|
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Hispanic |
9.7 |
10.7 |
8.5 |
8.9 |
11.0 |
11.1 |
9.2 |
9.5 |
9.6 |
10.5 |
8.2 |
9.2 |
10.5 |
11.0 |
9.1 |
9.2 |
|
White |
34.8 |
36.0 |
37.3 |
37.7 |
46.3 |
46.9 |
49.4 |
50.2 |
45.5 |
45.6 |
47.7 |
48.2 |
36.2 |
37.1 |
38.4 |
39.2 |
|
Two or more races |
- |
- |
- |
0.0 |
- |
- |
0.1 |
0.2 |
- |
- |
0.0 |
0.1 |
- |
- |
0.0 |
0.1 |
|
Unknown |
0.4 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.7 |
0.6 |
0.5 |
0.4 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
|
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 |
20,983 |
21,809 |
21,322 |
20,544 |
13,019 |
13,299 |
12,235 |
12,420 |
10,933 |
12,419 |
11,926 |
11,730 |
23,070 |
22,690 |
21,631 |
21,237 |
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 |
4,768 |
4,891 |
5,210 |
4,808 |
|
Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) |
739 |
846 |
1,008 |
942 |
|
Age of Waiting Children (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Under 1 year |
2.6 |
2.1 |
1.6 |
1.5 |
|
1-5 years |
35.9 |
32.1 |
30.6 |
30.3 |
|
6-10 years |
37.2 |
37.5 |
36.7 |
35.1 |
|
11-15 years |
20.7 |
24.1 |
26.4 |
27.7 |
|
16+ years |
3.3 |
3.6 |
4.0 |
4.8 |
|
Unknown |
0.4 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
4,768 |
4,891 |
5,210 |
4,808 |
|
Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Alaska Native/American Indian |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
|
Asian |
- |
- |
0.5 |
0.4 |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
0.4 |
0.5 |
- |
- |
|
Black |
58.2 |
54.3 |
57.2 |
55.7 |
|
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Hispanic |
11.1 |
12.4 |
9.5 |
10.3 |
|
White |
29.7 |
32.4 |
32.3 |
33.0 |
|
Two or more races |
- |
- |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Unknown |
0.5 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
4,768 |
4,891 |
5,210 |
4,808 |
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 |
0.8 |
1.0 |
0.6 |
0.9 |
|
1-5 years |
44.2 |
43.6 |
40.3 |
43.0 |
|
6-10 years |
38.9 |
38.2 |
38.5 |
33.4 |
|
11-15 years |
14.2 |
14.9 |
18.0 |
19.4 |
|
16+ years |
2.0 |
2.3 |
2.5 |
3.3 |
|
Unknown |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
1,516 |
1,454 |
1,712 |
1,564 |
|
Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Alaska Native/American Indian |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
|
Asian |
- |
- |
0.2 |
0.6 |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
0.2 |
0.1 |
- |
- |
|
Black |
62.1 |
57.4 |
55.6 |
45.7 |
|
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Hispanic |
4.6 |
4.7 |
6.5 |
9.1 |
|
White |
30.3 |
36.5 |
37.0 |
44.1 |
|
Two or more races |
- |
- |
- |
0.2 |
|
Unknown |
2.7 |
1.2 |
0.6 |
0.2 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
1,516 |
1,454 |
1,712 |
1,564 |
Pennsylvania [ 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 |
97.2 |
97.5 |
96.5 |
97.2 |
|
Children with one or more recurrences |
2.8 |
2.5 |
3.5 |
2.8 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
2,755 |
2,522 |
2,606 |
2,421 |
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 |
- |
- |
0.2 |
0.24 |
|
Children not maltreated while in foster care |
- |
- |
99.70 |
99.76 |
|
Total % |
- |
- |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
- |
- |
30,739 |
30,568 |
3. Increase Permanency for Children in Foster Care
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)
|
3.1 Exits from Foster Care (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Adoption |
12.1 |
12.4 |
13.9 |
14.9 |
|
Guardianship |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.1 |
1.3 |
|
Reunification |
70.9 |
71.2 |
70.8 |
67.8 |
|
Other |
15.4 |
15.0 |
14.0 |
15.8 |
|
Missing data |
0.6 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
10,933 |
12,419 |
11,926 |
11,730 |
|
3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Adoption |
14.9 |
16.7 |
19.4 |
20.5 |
|
Guardianship |
1.3 |
1.3 |
1.8 |
1.6 |
|
Reunification |
64.8 |
60.3 |
58.7 |
54.8 |
|
Other |
18.9 |
21.6 |
20.0 |
23.0 |
|
Missing data |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
2,035 |
2,526 |
2,396 |
2,317 |
|
3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Adoption |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
|
Guardianship |
1.1 |
1.0 |
0.9 |
1.3 |
|
Reunification |
75.9 |
77.0 |
77.6 |
74.1 |
|
Other |
21.8 |
21.3 |
20.6 |
23.9 |
|
Missing data |
1.0 |
0.5 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
4,688 |
5,761 |
5,295 |
5,251 |
|
3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Children age 12 or younger at entry |
33.8 |
30.6 |
31.5 |
32.9 |
|
Children older than 12 at entry |
66.1 |
68.9 |
68.5 |
67.1 |
|
Missing data |
0.2 |
0.4 |
- |
- |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
634 |
702 |
688 |
680 |
|
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 |
9.1 |
- |
12.5 |
18.2 |
- |
- |
6.6 |
15.1 |
7.8 |
3.3 |
- |
- |
16.0 |
16.4 |
17.1 |
17.3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Guardianship |
- |
- |
12.5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
4.1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
0.9 |
1.1 |
1.4 |
1.7 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Reunification |
81.8 |
87.5 |
75.0 |
63.6 |
- |
- |
68.9 |
60.3 |
62.7 |
71.7 |
- |
- |
63.8 |
64.2 |
64.6 |
60.7 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Other |
9.1 |
12.5 |
- |
18.2 |
- |
- |
24.6 |
20.5 |
27.5 |
25.0 |
- |
- |
18.3 |
17.9 |
16.7 |
20.3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Missing data |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2.0 |
- |
- |
- |
1.0 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
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 |
11 |
16 |
8 |
11 |
- |
- |
61 |
73 |
51 |
92 |
- |
- |
4,793 |
5,296 |
5,116 |
4,839 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
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 |
12.4 |
10.0 |
13.8 |
13.9 |
8.4 |
9.5 |
11.1 |
13.2 |
5.3 |
13.3 |
14.5 |
6.0 |
- |
- |
- |
20.0 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Guardianship |
1.0 |
1.2 |
1.0 |
0.9 |
1.0 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
1.1 |
1.8 |
2.2 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Reunification |
64.3 |
68.9 |
68.3 |
64.0 |
79.2 |
78.2 |
76.8 |
74.4 |
82.5 |
77.8 |
73.7 |
85.1 |
- |
- |
100.0 |
80.0 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Other |
21.1 |
19.5 |
16.7 |
20.2 |
11.3 |
11.2 |
11.1 |
11.3 |
10.5 |
6.7 |
10.5 |
9.0 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Missing data |
1.1 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
0.9 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
- |
- |
1.3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
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 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Number |
1,050 |
1,302 |
978 |
1,076 |
4,971 |
5,668 |
5,686 |
5,649 |
57 |
45 |
76 |
67 |
- |
- |
1 |
15 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
4. Reduce Time to Reunification Without Increasing
Re-entry
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)
|
4.1 Time to Reunification (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Less than 12 mos. |
66.3 |
67.1 |
67.7 |
69.3 |
|
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. |
16.5 |
19.7 |
18.9 |
17.8 |
|
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. |
7.0 |
5.6 |
5.4 |
5.3 |
|
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. |
3.8 |
2.5 |
2.8 |
2.8 |
|
48 or more mos. |
6.0 |
4.7 |
4.9 |
4.4 |
|
Missing data |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
|
Total (%) |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
7,754 |
8,844 |
8,443 |
7,950 |
|
4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Children entering care for the first time |
77.7 |
74.6 |
71.8 |
70.7 |
|
Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode |
15.5 |
18.0 |
19.3 |
20.3 |
|
Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode |
5.4 |
7.2 |
8.7 |
8.9 |
|
Missing data |
1.4 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
|
Total (%) |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
13,019 |
13,299 |
12,235 |
12,420 |
5. Reduce Time in Foster Care to Adoption
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)
|
5.1 Time to Adoption (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Less than 12 mos. |
2.0 |
2.3 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
|
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. |
10.3 |
15.2 |
14.3 |
16.8 |
|
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. |
18.4 |
21.1 |
24.8 |
24.0 |
|
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. |
21.1 |
18.1 |
19.6 |
17.6 |
|
48 or more mos. |
48.3 |
43.4 |
39.2 |
39.5 |
|
Missing data |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total (%) |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
1,324 |
1,543 |
1,655 |
1,750 |
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 |
85.6 |
13.5 |
0.9 |
100.0 |
14,556 |
|
At least 12 mos., but <24 mos. |
1998 |
66.1 |
33.7 |
0.2 |
100.0 |
5,725 |
|
At least 24 mos., but <36 mos. |
1998 |
55.2 |
44.8 |
- |
100.0 |
3,646 |
|
At least 36 mos., but <48 mos. |
1998 |
48.8 |
51.2 |
- |
100.0 |
2,655 |
|
48 or more mos. |
1998 |
37.5 |
62.4 |
0.0 |
100.0 |
7,342 |
|
Missing data |
1998 |
89.7 |
5.1 |
5.1 |
100.0 |
78 |
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 |
2001 |
|
Group homes |
4.4 |
4.3 |
3.8 |
4.1 |
|
Institutions |
9.5 |
8.5 |
8.9 |
8.4 |
|
Other settings |
86.1 |
87.2 |
87.3 |
87.5 |
|
Missing data |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total (%) |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
6,856 |
6,987 |
6,549 |
6,204 |
Pennsylvania [ State Comment ]
Pennsylvania's comments on State data presented in Child Welfare Outcomes 2001: Report to Congress are the following:
Data on the race/ethnicity of child maltreatment victims are not available because Pennsylvania's Child Protective Services Law prohibits the collection of this information.
AFCARS data indicate that as of 9/30/01, parental rights had been terminated for only 942 of the 4,808 children waiting to be adopted. We believe the AFCARS foster care data does not provide an accurate account of the number of children waiting to be adopted who have had termination of parental rights (TPR).
A separate report that is produced from the Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption Network System indicates that for the quarter ending 9/30/01 there were 4,079 children with a goal of adoption and of those, 2,344 had a TPR completed, 1,542 had a TPR pending, and 119 had a TPR appeal.
A delay in entering the TPR dates into AFCARS by county child welfare agencies may be contributing to the discrepancies between the two sets of data. The state continues to work to improve the quality of the AFCARS data in this area.
Pennsylvania has identified outcome measure 4.2 Foster Care Re-entry as an area needing improvement and has addressed it in our Program Improvement Plan.
Pennsylvania [ Federal Comment ]
The following discussion focuses on Pennsylvania's performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. The Pennsylvania Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) was completed in fiscal year (FY) 2002, and compliance with the national standards was based on data from 2000. The final report for that review is available from Reports and Results of the Child and Family Service Reviews (CFSRs) . A discussion of the implications of CFSR findings for Pennsylvania's performance on the Report to Congress Outcomes is provided in Child Welfare Outcomes 2000.
The State's performance is assessed by examining the percent change in the data for each outcome measure from 1999 to 2001. The percent change was calculated using data carried out to the second decimal point. However, with the exception of outcome measure 2.1, the data presented in the Report to Congress are rounded to one decimal for ease of reading the tables (measure 2.1 must be presented as two decimals because the national standard is less than one percent).
Outcome 1. Reduce recurrence of child abuse and/or
neglect
In calendar year (CY) 2001, Pennsylvania's rate of maltreatment
recurrence within 6 months was 2.8 percent, which is lower than
both the national standard of 6.1 percent or less and the national
median of 8.0 percent. However, it is important to note that most
reports of child neglect, including environmental concerns and lack
of supervision, are not considered "child maltreatment" in
Pennsylvania and therefore are not reported to the National Child
Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS). The State is unique in this
approach to reports involving child neglect. Pennsylvania's
reported performance related to maltreatment recurrence declined
from 1999 to 2001 (+12.0 percent change).
Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect
in foster care
In CY 2001, the incidence of maltreatment in foster care was 0.2
percent, which is lower than both the national standard of 0.57
percent and the national median of 0.47 percent. Change in
performance on this measure from 1999 to 2001 cannot be evaluated
because Pennsylvania did not report 1999 data to NCANDS for this
measure.
Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster
care
In FY 2001, 84.0 percent of children exiting foster care were
discharged to permanent homes (which is lower than the national
median of 85.3 percent); 76.9 percent of children with a diagnosed
disability exiting foster care were discharged to permanent homes
(which is lower than the national median of 78.4 percent); and 32.9
percent of children exiting foster care through emancipation were
age 12 or younger at the time of entry (which is higher than the
national median of 28.0 percent). However, 76.0 percent of children
exiting foster care who were older than age 12 at entry into foster
care were discharged to permanent homes (which is higher than the
national median of 72.3). Pennsylvania's performance on these
indicators suggests that although the State is somewhat successful
in finding permanent homes for children who entered foster care
after age 12, it is not consistently effective in ensuring that
children who enter foster care at relatively young ages do not
"grow up" in the system.
There were no substantive changes in Pennsylvania's performance related to the attainment of permanency for children in foster care. Performance related to the percentage of children exiting foster care through emancipation who were age 12 or younger at the time of entry declined from FY 1999 to FY 2001 (+7.6 percent change).
Outcome 4. Reduce time to reunification without increasing
re-entry
In FY 2001, the percentage of all reported reunifications
occurring within 12 months of a child's entry into foster care was
69.3, which is lower than both the national standard of 76.2
percent or more and about equal to the national median of 69.2
percent. However, according to the CFSR Final Report, the court
does not permit transfer of custody until a child has been
physically reunified with the family for 6 months. Therefore, many
children may be physically reunified within 12 months, but this
would not be reported to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and
Reporting System (AFCARS) because the State maintains care and
supervision responsibility. Pennsylvania's performance on this
measure did not change substantively from FY 1999 to FY 2001.
Also in FY 2001, the percentage of children re-entering foster care within 12 months of discharge from a prior foster care episode was 20.3, which is higher than the national standard of 8.6 percent or less and almost twice the national median of 10.4 percent. Pennsylvania's performance on this measure declined from FY 1999 to FY 2001 (+12.6 percent change).
Outcome 5. Reduce time in foster care to adoption
In FY 2001, the percentage of all finalized adoptions occurring
within 24 months of a child's entry into foster care was 18.9,
which is lower than both the national standard of 32.0 percent or
more and the national median of 21.0 percent. However,
Pennsylvania's performance on this measure improved from FY 1999 to
FY 2001 (+8.2 percent change).
Outcome 6. Increase placement stability
In FY 2001, the percentage of children who experienced no more
than 2 placements during their first 12 months in foster care was
85.2, which is lower than the national standard of 86.7 percent or
more, but greater than the national median of 83.3. There was no
substantive change in performance on this measure from FY 1999 to
FY 2001.
Outcome 7. Reduce placements of young children in group homes
and institutions
In FY 2001, the percentage of children age 12 or younger placed in
a group home or institution was 12.5, which is higher than the
national median of 8.7 percent. There was no substantive change in
performance on this measure from FY 1999 to FY 2001.
Return to Chapter IV State Data Pages
