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South Carolina
Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment | Federal Comment
South Carolina [ Context Data ]
A. Key Context Statistics
|
General Population |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Total children under 18 years |
959,296 |
955,930 |
1,009,641 |
988,687 |
|
Race/ethnicity (%)1 |
||||
|
Alaska Native/American Indian |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
|
Asian |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
0.9 |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
1.0 |
1.0 |
0.9 |
N/A |
|
Black |
36.5 |
36.1 |
36.4 |
36.1 |
|
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
0.0 |
|
Hispanic |
1.7 |
1.9 |
2.8 |
3.0 |
|
White |
60.6 |
60.8 |
58.0 |
58.3 |
|
Two or more races |
N/A |
N/A |
1.5 |
1.4 |
|
Other |
N/A |
N/A |
0.2 |
N/A |
|
% Child population in poverty |
20.1 |
17.5 |
17.8 |
23.0 |
|
% Child population living in metropolitan areas |
63.6 |
67.9 |
69.4 |
79.1 |
|
Child Welfare |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Child maltreatment victims |
8,432 |
9,580 |
11,246 |
11,119 |
|
Children in foster care on 9/30 |
4,644 |
4,645 |
4,566 |
4,774 |
|
Children adopted |
465 |
456 |
378 |
384 |
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 |
38,238 |
39,902 |
38,844 |
36,836 |
39.9 per 1,000 |
41.7 per 1,000 |
38.5 per 1,000 |
36.2 per 1,000 |
|
Child maltreatment victims2 |
8,432 |
9,580 |
11,246 |
11,119 |
8.8 per 1,000 |
10.0 per 1,000 |
11.1 per 1,000 |
11.0 per 1,000 |
|
Child fatalities |
16 |
13 |
20 |
16 |
1.7 per 100,000 |
1.4 per 100,000 |
2.0 per 100,000 |
1.6 per 100,000 |
|
Age of Child Victims (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Under 1 year |
3.9 |
8.2 |
8.1 |
10.7 |
|
1-5 years |
35.6 |
26.9 |
28.2 |
28.3 |
|
6-10 years |
29.9 |
31.3 |
29.9 |
29.1 |
|
11-15 years |
24.2 |
24.9 |
26.2 |
26.2 |
|
16+ years |
5.7 |
8.7 |
6.0 |
5.2 |
|
Unknown |
0.8 |
0.0 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
101.1 |
|
Number |
8,432 |
9,580 |
11,246 |
11,119 |
|
Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Alaska Native/American Indian |
0.0 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
0.2 |
0.6 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
|
Black |
47.2 |
45.9 |
45.6 |
43.9 |
|
Hispanic |
0.4 |
1.5 |
1.7 |
2.3 |
|
White |
49.9 |
52.6 |
52.3 |
50.7 |
|
Two or more races |
- |
- |
- |
1.9 |
|
Other/Unknown |
2.7 |
0.7 |
1.5 |
0.6 |
|
Total %3 |
100.4 |
101.7 |
101.7 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
8,432 |
9,580 |
11,246 |
11,119 |
|
Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Emotional abuse |
0.9 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
2.9 |
|
Medical neglect |
4.4 |
4.1 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
|
Neglect |
46.5 |
54.8 |
53.0 |
68.1 |
|
Physical abuse |
14.7 |
13.7 |
13.6 |
33.4 |
|
Sexual abuse |
8.4 |
6.3 |
5.4 |
8.1 |
|
Other |
52.1 |
67.7 |
70.0 |
0.2 |
|
Unknown |
- |
0.1 |
8.9 |
- |
|
Total %4 |
126.9 |
147.2 |
155.5 |
116.6 |
|
Number |
8,432 |
9,580 |
11,246 |
11,119 |
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 |
|
FY2001 (10/1/00-9/30/01) |
4,476 |
3,405 |
3,107 |
4,774 |
7,881 |
|
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 |
|
FY2001 (10/1/00-9/30/01) |
21.2 |
N/A |
4.6 |
19.2 |
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 |
4.2 |
4.9 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
14.8 |
14.6 |
15.4 |
13.9 |
6.3 |
6.9 |
6.9 |
7.1 |
4.9 |
4.5 |
5.2 |
4.7 |
|
1-5 years |
24.6 |
23.1 |
22.0 |
21.6 |
25.7 |
23.9 |
25.8 |
26.1 |
26.8 |
27.3 |
28.7 |
28.8 |
23.0 |
22.1 |
21.6 |
22.4 |
|
6-10 years |
24.5 |
24.5 |
23.2 |
23.1 |
25.2 |
24.5 |
26.2 |
24.4 |
26.1 |
24.9 |
24.8 |
25.1 |
24.5 |
23.3 |
22.9 |
20.8 |
|
11-15 years |
28.4 |
29.8 |
32.0 |
31.7 |
27.5 |
31.0 |
27.6 |
28.9 |
22.3 |
24.2 |
23.4 |
23.5 |
29.7 |
32.0 |
31.6 |
32.1 |
|
16-18 years |
16.7 |
15.8 |
16.3 |
16.8 |
6.2 |
6.0 |
5.1 |
6.6 |
16.0 |
14.0 |
13.8 |
13.6 |
15.7 |
16.1 |
16.7 |
18.1 |
|
19+ years |
1.5 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
1.8 |
0.2 |
- |
- |
0.0 |
2.1 |
2.3 |
2.0 |
1.6 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
|
Unknown |
0.2 |
- |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.4 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
0.0 |
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 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
5,142 |
4,475 |
4,491 |
4,476 |
3,191 |
2,923 |
3,172 |
3,405 |
3,689 |
2,853 |
3,137 |
3,107 |
4,644 |
4,545 |
4,525 |
4,774 |
s
|
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 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
|
Asian |
- |
- |
0.2 |
0.2 |
- |
- |
0.4 |
0.2 |
- |
- |
0.4 |
0.3 |
- |
- |
0.2 |
0.2 |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
0.2 |
0.2 |
- |
- |
0.1 |
0.3 |
- |
- |
0.1 |
0.4 |
- |
- |
0.2 |
0.2 |
- |
- |
|
Black |
62.7 |
62.5 |
62.4 |
61.2 |
51.6 |
55.1 |
51.7 |
52.7 |
54.1 |
55.1 |
54.2 |
53.6 |
61.9 |
62.5 |
60.6 |
60.1 |
|
Hawaiian Native/Other Pacific Islander |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
0.1 |
0.1 |
- |
- |
0.1 |
0.1 |
- |
- |
- |
0.0 |
|
Hispanic |
0.9 |
1.0 |
1.1 |
1.4 |
1.4 |
1.5 |
2.7 |
2.9 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
2.2 |
2.9 |
1.0 |
1.1 |
1.4 |
1.5 |
|
White |
34.9 |
35.6 |
35.6 |
36.8 |
45.2 |
42.8 |
44.2 |
43.1 |
42.8 |
42.8 |
42.6 |
42.5 |
35.7 |
35.8 |
36.9 |
37.5 |
|
Two or more races |
- |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
- |
0.0 |
0.6 |
0.5 |
- |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
- |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.5 |
|
Unknown |
1.0 |
0.0 |
- |
- |
1.6 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
1.4 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
1.1 |
- |
- |
- |
|
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 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
5,142 |
4,475 |
4,491 |
4,476 |
3,191 |
3,923 |
3,172 |
3,405 |
3,689 |
2,853 |
3,137 |
3,107 |
4,644 |
4,545 |
4,525 |
4,774 |
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 |
1,927 |
2,071 |
2,014 |
2,157 |
|
Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) |
704 |
620 |
593 |
753 |
|
Age of Waiting Children (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Under 1 year |
3.0 |
2.9 |
3.0 |
2.8 |
|
1-5 years |
29.6 |
29.8 |
27.1 |
28.4 |
|
6-10 years |
33.5 |
30.5 |
29.8 |
26.7 |
|
11-15 years |
28.1 |
32.1 |
32.9 |
34.0 |
|
16+ years |
4.6 |
4.2 |
6.6 |
7.1 |
|
Unknown |
1.1 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
1.0 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
1,927 |
2,199 |
2,201 |
2,157 |
|
Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Alaska Native/American Indian |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
|
Asian |
- |
- |
0.1 |
0.1 |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
0.2 |
0.1 |
- |
- |
|
Black |
66.4 |
65.1 |
63.1 |
63.0 |
|
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Hispanic |
0.6 |
0.9 |
0.1 |
1.3 |
|
White |
31.1 |
33.4 |
35.3 |
35.0 |
|
Two or more races |
- |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
|
Unknown |
1.3 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
1,927 |
2,199 |
2,201 |
2,157 |
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 |
1.9 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
2.9 |
|
1-5 years |
40.4 |
43.9 |
47.1 |
43.2 |
|
6-10 years |
39.4 |
38.2 |
32.3 |
32.0 |
|
11-15 years |
16.1 |
14.0 |
17.5 |
17.7 |
|
16+ years |
2.2 |
1.8 |
1.1 |
4.2 |
|
Unknown |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
465 |
456 |
378 |
384 |
|
Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Alaska Native/American Indian |
0.4 |
- |
0.3 |
0.5 |
|
Asian |
- |
- |
0.3 |
- |
|
Asian/Pacific Islander |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Black |
68.4 |
61.4 |
63.5 |
58.3 |
|
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Hispanic |
0.4 |
0.7 |
1.3 |
1.8 |
|
White |
29.0 |
36.6 |
34.7 |
39.1 |
|
Two or more races |
- |
- |
- |
0.3 |
|
Unknown |
1.7 |
1.3 |
- |
- |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
465 |
456 |
378 |
384 |
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 |
2001 |
|
Children without a recurrence |
- |
- |
- |
96.6 |
|
Children with one or more recurrences |
- |
- |
- |
3.4 |
|
Total % |
- |
- |
- |
100.0 |
|
Number |
- |
- |
- |
6,028 |
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 |
- |
- |
- |
0.51 |
|
Children not maltreated while in foster care |
- |
- |
- |
99.49 |
|
Total % |
- |
- |
- |
100.0 |
|
Number |
- |
- |
- |
7,194 |
3. Increase Permanency for Children in Foster Care
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)
|
3.1 Exits from Foster Care (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Adoption |
17.1 |
16.1 |
13.2 |
13.1 |
|
Guardianship |
0.4 |
0.9 |
0.8 |
1.0 |
|
Reunification |
73.5 |
72.4 |
75.5 |
73.9 |
|
Other |
9.0 |
10.6 |
10.4 |
8.9 |
|
Missing data |
- |
0.0 |
0.1 |
3.1 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
3,689 |
2,853 |
3,137 |
3,107 |
|
3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Adoption |
32.7 |
36.1 |
28.3 |
29.5 |
|
Guardianship |
- |
0.5 |
1.0 |
- |
|
Reunification |
48.9 |
36.9 |
33.2 |
36.2 |
|
Other |
18.4 |
26.5 |
37.5 |
32.9 |
|
Missing data |
- |
- |
- |
1.4 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
370 |
377 |
304 |
210 |
|
3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Adoption |
0.6 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
|
Guardianship |
0.2 |
1.0 |
0.7 |
1.4 |
|
Reunification |
74.3 |
72.6 |
71.4 |
70.6 |
|
Other |
24.9 |
25.9 |
27.1 |
23.7 |
|
Missing data |
- |
- |
0.1 |
3.4 |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
871 |
700 |
720 |
725 |
|
3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Children age 12 or younger at entry |
35.1 |
35.1 |
37.6 |
35.0 |
|
Children older than 12 at entry |
64.9 |
64.9 |
62.4 |
65.0 |
|
Missing data |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total % |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
285 |
242 |
271 |
214 |
|
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 |
16.7 |
50.0 |
11.1 |
22.2 |
- |
- |
9.1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
20.1 |
17.6 |
15.2 |
14.5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Guardianship |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
11.1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
0.6 |
0.9 |
0.5 |
1.0 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Reunification |
66.7 |
- |
77.8 |
77.8 |
- |
- |
72.7 |
77.8 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
- |
- |
69.4 |
70.4 |
72.8 |
72.3 |
- |
- |
100.0 |
66.7 |
|
Other |
16.7 |
50.0 |
11.1 |
- |
- |
- |
18.2 |
11.1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
9.9 |
11.2 |
11.5 |
9.4 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Missing data |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2.9 |
- |
- |
- |
33.3 |
|
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 |
12 |
2 |
9 |
9 |
- |
- |
11 |
9 |
3 |
10 |
- |
- |
1,997 |
1,576 |
1,702 |
1,666 |
- |
- |
2 |
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 |
23.4 |
7.9 |
8.7 |
9.0 |
12.9 |
14.5 |
11.0 |
11.8 |
23.1 |
66.7 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Guardianship |
- |
- |
- |
- |
0.1 |
0.9 |
1.2 |
1.1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Reunification |
74.5 |
86.8 |
87.0 |
86.5 |
78.8 |
74.5 |
78.3 |
75.0 |
73.1 |
33.3 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
- |
100.0 |
100.0 |
87.5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Other |
2.1 |
5.3 |
4.3 |
3.4 |
8.1 |
10.0 |
9.4 |
8.9 |
3.8 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Missing data |
- |
- |
- |
1.1 |
- |
0.1 |
0.1 |
3.3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
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 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Number |
47 |
38 |
69 |
89 |
1,578 |
1,220 |
1,335 |
1,322 |
52 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
- |
4 |
8 |
8 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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. |
74.2 |
82.4 |
81.8 |
82.1 |
|
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. |
11.1 |
10.1 |
12.4 |
12.2 |
|
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. |
5.8 |
3.1 |
2.8 |
3.1 |
|
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. |
3.8 |
1.7 |
0.9 |
1.1 |
|
48 or more mos. |
4.6 |
2.5 |
1.9 |
1.2 |
|
Missing data |
0.6 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
|
Total (%) |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
2,713 |
2,066 |
2,370 |
2,296 |
|
4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
Children entering care for the first time |
82.2 |
85.0 |
85.0 |
84.3 |
|
Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode |
9.0 |
5.6 |
6.9 |
6.5 |
|
Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode |
8.1 |
8.7 |
7.9 |
8.0 |
|
Missing data |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.2 |
1.1 |
|
Total (%) |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
3,191 |
2,923 |
3,172 |
3,405 |
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. |
3.2 |
2.2 |
3.4 |
3.4 |
|
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. |
7.0 |
9.1 |
12.6 |
10.5 |
|
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. |
17.6 |
20.0 |
23.4 |
23.8 |
|
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. |
20.8 |
25.2 |
18.1 |
23.3 |
|
48 or more mos. |
51.3 |
43.5 |
42.5 |
38.5 |
|
Missing data |
0.2 |
- |
- |
0.5 |
|
Total (%) |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
631 |
460 |
414 |
408 |
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 |
86.6 |
13.3 |
0.1 |
100.0 |
3,657 |
|
At least 12 mos., but <24 mos. |
1998 |
63.2 |
36.7 |
0.1 |
100.0 |
1,085 |
|
At least 24 mos., but <36 mos. |
1998 |
51.9 |
48.0 |
0.1 |
100.0 |
902 |
|
At least 36 mos., but <48 mos. |
1998 |
50.9 |
49.1 |
- |
100.0 |
812 |
|
48 or more mos. |
1998 |
40.5 |
59.5 |
- |
100.0 |
1,844 |
|
Missing data |
1998 |
100.0 |
- |
- |
100.0 |
33 |
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 |
28.5 |
3.6 |
3.9 |
3.4 |
|
Institutions |
1.5 |
18.3 |
13.4 |
17.0 |
|
Other settings |
61.5 |
78.1 |
82.6 |
79.5 |
|
Missing data |
8.5 |
- |
0.1 |
0.1 |
|
Total (%) |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Number |
2,324 |
2,045 |
2,346 |
2,512 |
South Carolina [ State Comment ]
South Carolina's comments on the State's data presented in Child Welfare Outcomes 2001: Report to Congress are the following:
With regard to Section B: Child Maltreatment; while the number of reports accepted for investigation is declining, the percentage of identified victims of maltreatment is increasing. We believe that this is a positive outcome, reflecting (1) an emphasis, beginning in 2000, on the use of safety and risk indicators as the standard in all aspects of CPS program design, staff training, and program operation, and (2) cross agency training on reporting and coordinated service delivery.
In 2001, the number of children whose deaths were determined to be the result of maltreatment by their caregivers as defined by the state child protection statute was 23. The 16 deaths listed are those in which DSS conducted an investigation. The other 7 deaths represent situations in which the matter was handled solely by law enforcement because there were no other children in the home. The increase in identified child maltreatment deaths largely represents continued improved case identification by the medical, law enforcement and social service communities, especially as the result of the efforts by the State and county-based child fatality oversight groups.
Reviewing the Maltreatment Type of Child Victims data, the difference between the 2000 and 2001 data reflects a change in state statute, which redefined Threat of Harm situations (included in Other in 1998, 1999, and 2000) by their primary type of maltreatment. As a result the "Other" category was dramatically decreased, while other maltreatment types increased.
With regard to Section D. Children Waiting to be adopted (AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database),AFCARS mapping was revised (02/2003) to select the most recent plan of care for reporting; previously the most recent plan of care was not reported. For future submissions, the revision should reduce the number of children with a Permanency Goal of adoption and increase the percentage with TPR complete.
South Carolina [ Federal Comment ]
The following discussion focuses on South Carolina's performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. The South Carolina Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) was completed in fiscal year (FY) 2003, and compliance with the national standards was based on data from 2001. 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 South Carolina's performance on the Report to Congress Outcomes is provided below.
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, the rate of maltreatment recurrence in
less than 6 months was 3.4 percent, which meets the national
standard of 6.1 percent or less and was lower than the national
median of 8.0 percent. Change in performance on this measure from
1999 to 2001 cannot be evaluated because the State did not provide
data for 1999 or 2000 to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data
System (NCANDS) for calculating this measure. CFSR Final Report
information suggests that the State's performance on this measure
may be attributed to: (1) timely response to reports of
maltreatment, and (2) timely implementation of safety plans.
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 0.51
percent, which meets the national standard of 0.57 percent or less,
but is slightly higher than the national median of 0.47 percent.
Change in performance on this measure from 1999 to 2001 cannot be
evaluated because the State did not provide 1999 or 2000 data to
NCANDS for calculating this measure. Information from the CFSR
Final Report suggests that performance on this measure may be
attributed in part to agency efforts to work with foster parents on
safety issues and to encourage foster parents to use respite care
if they need support.
Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster
care
In FY 2001, 88.0 percent of children leaving foster care were
discharged to permanent homes (which is higher than the national
median of 85.3 percent), and 72.8 percent of children exiting
foster care who were older than age 12 at the time of entry into
foster care were discharged to permanent homes (which is higher
than the national median of 72.3 percent). However, only 65.7
percent of children with a diagnosed disability who exited foster
care were discharged to permanent homes (which is lower than the
national median of 78.4 percent). Performance related to the
percent of disabled children who exited foster care to permanent
homes declined from FY 1999 to FY 2001 (-10.6 percent change).
These findings suggest that the State generally is effective in
achieving permanency for children in foster care, but it is less
consistently effective in achieving permanency for children with a
diagnosed disability.
Also in FY 2001, 35.0 percent of the children emancipated from foster care were age 12 or younger when they entered foster care, which is higher than the national median of 28.0 percent. Performance on this measure did not change substantively from FY 1999 to FY 2001.
Information from the CFSR Final Report identifies the following as potential barriers to permanency for children exiting foster care: (1) the agency's and court's reluctance to pursue adoption for older children (children age 14 and older) when reunification fails; (2) lack of consistent concurrent planning; and (3) inconsistency with regard to filing for termination of parental rights (TPR) when a child has been in foster care for 15 of the most recent 22 months.
Outcome 4. Reduce time to reunification without increasing
re-entry
In FY 2001, the percentage of all reunifications occurring within
12 months of a child's entry into foster care was 82.1, which
exceeds both the national standard of 76.2 percent or more and the
national median of 69.2 percent. Performance on this measure did
not change substantively from FY 1999 to FY 2001. Information from
the CFSR Final Report identifies strong assessments and treatment
planning as contributing to the State's performance on this
measure.
In FY 2001, the percentage of children re-entering foster care within 12 months of discharge from a prior foster care episode was 6.5, which meets the national standard of 8.6 percent or less and is less than the national median of 10.4 percent. Performance on this measure declined from FY 1999 to FY 2001 (+16.7 percent change). Information from the CFSR Final Report identifies the following practices as contributing to the State's performance on this measure: (1) completion of comprehensive assessments prior to reunification, and (2) provision of post-reunification services and monitoring.
Outcome 5. Reduce time in foster care to adoption
In FY 2001, the percent of all adoptions finalized within 24
months of a child's entry into foster care was 13.0, which is less
than both the national median of 21.0 percent and the national
standard of 32.0 percent or more. However, performance on this
measure improved from FY 1999 to FY 2001 (+23.6 percent change).
Information in the CFSR Final Report identifies the following as
potential barriers to timely adoptions: (1) extensive delays in
agency filing for TPR; (2) court-related delays due to overcrowded
dockets and the granting of continuances for TPR hearings; and (3)
the reluctance of many judges to terminate parental rights for fear
of creating legal orphans.
Outcome 6. Increase placement stability
In FY 2001, the percentage of children who were in foster care for
less than 12 months and experienced no more than 2 placements was
76.0, which does not meet the national standard of 86.7 percent or
more and is less than the national median of 83.3 percent.
Performance on this measure did not exhibit a substantive change
from FY 1999 to FY 2001. Information from the CFSR identifies the
following as potential barriers to achieving placement stability:
(1) lack of placement resources, resulting in inadequate matching
of children and foster care placements; and (2) lack of consistent
services for foster parents and relative caregivers.
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 20.4, which is considerably higher
than the national median of 8.7 percent. Performance on this
measure improved from FY 1999 to FY 2001 (-6.9 percent change).
Information in the CFSR Final Report notes that shelter care is
frequently used as an initial placement regardless of the age of
the child.
