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Home > Statistics & Research > Child Welfare Outcomes 2001 > Chapter Four > Tennessee

 

Tennessee

Context Data | Outcomes Data | Federal Comment

Tennessee [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population 1998 1999 2000 2001
Total children under 18 years 1,331,402 1,340,930 1,398,521 1,397,933
Race/ethnicity (%)1
   Alaska Native/American Indian 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
   Asian N/A N/A N/A 1.1
   Asian/Pacific Islander 1.2 1.2 1.0 N/A
   Black 21.4 21.4 21.1 21.2
   Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A N/A N/A 0.1
   Hispanic 1.6 1.7 2.8 2.9
   White 75.6 75.4 73.0 73.0
   Two or more races N/A N/A 1.6 1.5
   Other N/A N/A 0.2 N/A
% Child population in poverty 20.3 17.4 19.7 20.4
% Child population living in metropolitan areas 76.2 73.4 69.0 71.0
Child Welfare 1998 1999 2000 2001
Child maltreatment victims 9,930 10,611 16,572 9571
Children in foster care on 9/30 — 10,796 10,144 9,679
Children adopted 337 382 431 646

1 The 2000 Census of the United States includes two new race categories: (1) Persons of two or more races and (2) Other. Back

B. Child Maltreatment Data (NCANDS)

blank cell Number Rate
Maltreatment Information Overview 1998 1999 2000 2001 1998 1999 2000 2001
Children subject of an investigated report alleging child maltreatment 32,286 33,629 51,917 50,870 24.2 per 1,000 25.1 per 1,000 37.1 per 1,000 36.2 per 1,000
Child maltreatment victims2 9,930 10,611 16,572 9,571 7.5 per 1,000 7.9 per 1,000 11.8 per 1,000 6.8 per 1,000
Child fatalities 12 16 3 13 0.9 per 100,000 1.2 per 100,000 0.2 per 100,000 0.9 per 100,000
Age of Child Victims (%) 1998 1999 2000 2001
Under 1 year 9.6 9.1 9.9 10.8
1-5 years 31.7 30.5 30.9 31.1
6-10 years 31.2 31.1 29.4 28.7
11-15 years 22.1 23.8 24.0 24.2
16+ years 5.2 5.2 5.7 5.1
Unknown 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1
Total % 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Number 9,930 10,611 16,572 9,571
Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) 1998 1999 2000 2001
Alaska Native/American Indian 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.2
Asian/Pacific Islander 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.7
Black 31.1 31.6 30.4 29.8
Hispanic 0.8 1.5 1.0 1.9
White 63.5 62.5 64.2 57.0
Two or more races — — — —
Other/Unknown 4.9 5.6 4.0 16.8
Total %3 102.3 102.3 100.0 100.0
Number 9,930 10,611 16,572 9,571
Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) 1998 1999 2000 2001
Emotional 1.8 1.2 2.3 1.1
Medical neglect 3.1 3.1 3.3 2.8
Neglect 43.0 43.5 42.9 39.5
Physical abuse 19.6 20.0 20.0 16.4
Sexual abuse 22.4 21.0 21.0 24.4
Other 10.1 11.2 10.5 20.0
Unknown — — — —
Total %4 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Number 9,930 10,611 16,572 9,571

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) — — — — —
FY1999 (10/1/98-9/30/99) 8,296 5,968 3,481 10,796 14,264
FY2000 (10/1/99-9/30/00) 9,034 5,480 4,370 10,144 14,514
FY2001 (10/1/00-9/30/01) 9,101 5,667 5,089 9,679 14,768
Median Length of Stay (Months)          
FY1998 (10/1/97-9/30/98) — N/A — — N/A
FY1999 (10/1/98-9/30/99) 17.5 N/A 12.3 13.6 N/A
FY2000 (10/1/99-9/30/00) 17.9 N/A 11.8 16.8 N/A
FY2001 (10/1/00-9/30/01) 17.4 N/A 12.0 15.6 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 — 2.7 2.7 2.6 — 9.0 7.8 8.6 — 2.6 2.3 3.2 — 3.2 2.5 2.8
1-5 years — 18.5 17.4 18.3 — 13.1 13.9 14.8 — 15.5 13.3 16.2 — 16.6 17.3 17.1
6-10 years — 18.9 18.9 18.9 — 12.6 12.5 12.2 — 11.9 12.2 13.1 — 17.6 17.4 17.6
11-15 years — 30.8 30.8 32.0 — 35.3 36.6 34.7 — 19.1 21.2 21.9 — 29.8 30.9 31.5
16-18 years — 28.3 29.2 28.3 — 30.0 29.2 29.7 — 48.5 48.0 44.1 — 31.8 31.1 31.0
19+ years — 0.7 0.9 — — — 0.0 — — 0.4 0.3 — — 1.0 0.1 —
Unknown — 0.1 0.1 — — 0.0 — — — 0.4 0.3 — — 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 — 8,296 9,034 9,101 — 5,968 5,480 5,667 — 3,481 4,370 5,089 — 10,796 10,144 9,679
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 — 0.2 0.2 0.1 — 0.3 0.3 0.2 — 0.3 0.3 0.2 — 0.2 0.2 0.2
Asian — — 0.4 0.4 — — 0.4 0.2 — — 0.4 0.4 — — 0.4 0.3
Asian/Pacific Islander — 0.3 — — — 0.5 — — — 0.4 — — — 0.4 — —
Black — 38.2 40.0 38.1 — 35.2 30.4 28.1 — 29.9 31.5 30.9 — 39.2 38.4 36.0
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander — — — — — — 0.0 0.0 — — 0.0 0.0 — — — —
Hispanic — 1.4 1.6 1.9 — 1.6 2.4 2.9 — 1.2 2.2 2.8 — 1.5 1.8 2.0
White — 59.5 56.7 57.5 — 61.5 64.5 65.3 — 67.5 64.8 63.6 — 58.0 57.4 58.8
Two or more races — — 1.2 1.8 — — 1.0 2.0 — — 0.3 1.7 — — 1.4 1.9
Unknown — 0.5 0.1 0.3 — 1.0 0.9 1.1 — 0.7 0.5 0.4 — 0.7 0.4 0.7
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
Number — 8,296 9,034 9,101 — 5,968 5,480 5,667 — 3,481 4,370 5,089 — 10,796 10,144 9,679

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 — 1,666 2,044 2,289
Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) — 992 397 480
Age of Waiting Children (%) 1998 1999 2000 2001
Under 1 year — 2.1 1.5 1.8
1-5 years — 24.0 27.4 26.5
6-10 years — 34.1 35.9 33.1
11-15 years — 30.0 29.4 33.2
16+ years — 8.1 4.9 5.2
Unknown — 1.7 0.9 0.2
Total % — 100.0 100.0 100.0
Number — 1,666 2,044 2,289
Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) 1998 1999 2000 2001
Alaska Native/American Indian — 0.2 0.2 0.1
Asian — — 0.2 0.4
Asian/Pacific Islander — 0.2 — —
Black — 48.3 45.7 43.4
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander — — — —
Hispanic — 1.9 1.9 1.8
White — 49.1 49.7 51.6
Two or more races — — 2.3 2.4
Unknown — 0.4 0.0 0.3
Total % — 100.0 100.0 100.0
Number — 1,666 2,044 2,289

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 1.5 1.0 0.5 1.1
1-5 years 46.9 44.5 35.3 35.3
6-10 years 32.3 34.0 40.6 37.5
11-15 years 16.3 17.0 20.4 21.5
16+ years 3.0 3.4 3.2 4.6
Unknown — — — —
Total % 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Number 337 382 431 646
Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) 1998 1999 2000 2001
Alaska Native/American Indian 0.3 0.8 — 0.2
Asian — — — —
Asian/Pacific Islander — — — —
Black 44.8 37.4 38.3 31.0
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander — — — —
Hispanic 3.6 2.4 3.0 4.5
White 51.0 59.2 56.1 57.0
Two or more races — — 1.4 7.3
Unknown 0.3 0.3 1.2 0.2
Total % 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Number 337 382 431 646

Back to Top

Tennessee [ 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 — — — —
Children with one or more recurrences — — — —
Total % — — — —
Number — — — —

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 — — — —
Children not maltreated while in foster care — — — —
Total % — — — —
Number — — — —

3. Increase Permanency for Children in Foster Care
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database)

3.1 Exits from Foster Care (%) 1998 1999 2000 2001
Adoption — 7.8 8.1 12.7
Guardianship — 0.7 0.2 0.1
Reunification — 64.1 72.1 71.1
Other — 15.7 16.0 14.1
Missing data — 11.7 3.6 2.0
Total % — 100.0 100.0 100.0
Number — 3,481 4,370 5,089

Pie Charts describing data from Table 3.1 above.

3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) 1998 1999 2000 2001
Adoption — 18.2 24.4 43.4
Guardianship — 0.7 — 0.3
Reunification — 44.2 52.0 41.8
Other — 22.6 20.0 13.5
Missing data — 14.2 3.6 1.0
Total % — 100.0 100.0 100.0
Number — 274 225 392
3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) 1998 1999 2000 2001
Adoption — 0.1 0.0 0.2
Guardianship — 0.4 0.1 0.1
Reunification — 64.4 73.6 74.4
Other — 22.3 22.0 22.3
Missing data — 12.8 4.2 3.0
Total % — 100.0 100.0 100.0
Number — 2,045 2,599 2,793
3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) 1998 1999 2000 2001
Children age 12 or younger at entry — 14.5 17.8 12.7
Children older than 12 at entry — 84.9 82.2 87.3
Missing data — 0.6 — —
Total % — 100.0 100.0 100.0
Number — 496 596 581
3.5 Exits by Race/Ethnicity (%)
blank cell 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 — — — — — — — 4.8 — — — — — 7.5 7.8 13.9 — — — —
Guardianship — 11.1 — — — — — — — — — — — 1.3 0.1 — — — — —
Reunification — 77.8 72.7 87.5 — — 75.0 66.7 — 71.4 — — — 65.9 70.1 68.2 — — — 100.0
Other — 11.1 18.2 — — — 18.8 28.6 — 28.6 — — — 15.7 17.6 15.8 — — — —
Missing data — — 9.1 12.5 — — 6.3 — — — — — — 9.6 4.4 2.0 — — 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
Number — 9 11 8 — — 16 21 — 14 — — — 1,041 1,378 1,571 — — 1 2
blank cell 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 — 11.9 10.4 15.4 — 7.9 8.2 11.7 — 4.3 — 13.6 — — 21.4 22.4 — — — —
Guardianship — — — — — 0.4 0.2 0.2 — — — — — — — — — — — —
Reunification — 61.9 69.8 69.9 — 63.1 73.0 72.5 — 83.3 85.0 72.7 — — 71.4 69.4 — — 100.0 —
Other — 14.3 11.5 12.6 — 15.8 15.6 13.5 — 4.2 — 9.1 — — 7.1 7.1 — — — —
Missing data — 11.9 8.3 2.1 — 12.7 2.9 2.0 — 8.3 15.0 4.5 — — — 1.2 — 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 —
Number — 42 96 143 — 2,350 2,833 3,237 — 24 20 22 — — 14 85 — 1 1 —

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. — 59.0 61.3 62.5
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. — 24.8 23.4 23.4
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. — 8.2 6.9 7.7
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. — 3.3 3.5 3.1
48 or more mos. — 4.3 4.0 3.0
Missing data — 0.5 0.9 0.3
Total (%) — 100.0 100.0 100.0
Number — 2,233 3,150 3,617

Bar chart describing reunification percentages data in Table 4.1 above.

4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) 1998 1999 2000 2001
Children entering care for the first time — 84.2 83.1 81.9
Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode — 9.3 10.1 11.0
Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode — 6.2 6.8 7.0
Missing data — 0.4 — —
Total (%) — 100.0 100.0 100.0
Number — 5,968 5,480 5,667

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 2001
Less than 12 mos. — 3.0 3.1 1.7
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. — 13.3 7.4 12.1
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. — 17.4 17.3 13.7
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. — 13.3 19.5 16.3
48 or more mos. — 52.6 52.4 56.1
Missing data — 0.4 0.3 0.2
Total (%) — 100.0 100.0 100.0
Number — 270 353 644

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
2001		 —
72.9
61.1
61.0		 —
25.2
32.4
36.8		 —
1.9
6.5
2.2		 —
100.0
100.0
100.0		 —
6,734
6,334
6,726
At least 12 mos., but <24 mos. 1998
1999
2000
2001		 —
52.2
47.4
40.0		 —
47.3
49.6
58.8		 —
0.5
3.0
0.8		 —
100.0
100.0
100.0		 —
2,876
2,950
2,981
At least 24 mos., but <36 mos. 1998
1999
2000
2001		 —
51.0
53.5
43.4		 —
48.8
44.0
55.8		 —
0.2
2.5
0.8		 —
100.0
100.0
100.0		 —
1,448
1,635
1,606
At least 36 mos., but <48 mos. 1998
1999
2000
2001		 —
48.5
54.4
50.7		 —
51.2
43.5
49.2		 —
0.3
2.0
0.1		 —
100.0
100.0
100.0		 —
934
981
1,050
48 or more mos. 1998
1999
2000
2001		 —
50.0
56.2
52.1		 —
49.6
41.0
47.4		 —
0.4
2.8
0.6		 —
100.0
100.0
100.0		 —
2,245
2,556
2,383
Missing data 1998
1999
2000
2001		 —
81.5
34.5
50.0		 —
14.8
—
4.6		 —
3.7
65.5
45.5		 —
100.0
100.0
100.0		 —
27
58
22