![]() |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
||||
| ACF Home | Services | Working with ACF | Policy/Planning | About ACF | ACF News | HHS Home | |||||
Questions?
|
Privacy
|
Site Index
|
Contact Us
|
Download Reader
|
|---|
Context Data | Outcomes Data | Federal Comment
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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 |
| 1.1 Recurrence of Maltreatment Within 6 Months (%) | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 |
| Children without a recurrence | — | — | — | — |
| Children with one or more recurrences | — | — | — | — |
| Total % | — | — | — | — |
| Number | — | — | — | — |
| 2.1 Maltreatment in Foster Care (%) | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 |
| Children maltreated while in foster care | — | — | — | — |
| Children not maltreated while in foster care | — | — | — | — |
| Total % | — | — | — | — |
| Number | — | — | — | — |
| 3.1 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 |

| 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 |
| 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 | — |
| 4.1 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 |

| 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 |

| 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 |

| 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 |

| 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 | — | 8.3 | 5.9 | 4.6 |
| Institutions | — | 6.8 | 7.6 | 4.2 |
| Other settings | — | 84.5 | 86.4 | 91.2 |
| Missing data | — | 0.4 | — | — |
| Total (%) | — | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Number | — | 2,264 | 1,987 | 2,296 |
The following discussion focuses on Tennessee's performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. The Tennessee 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 Tennessee'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
Tennessee's performance on outcome 1 cannot be assessed as part of
the Federal Comment section because the State does not provide data
to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) for
calculating this outcome. To ensure data consistency across States,
only data submitted through NCANDS are presented for this outcome
in the Report to Congress. However, the State provided data for
this outcome for its CFSR using an alternative source. These data
are presented in Tennessee's CFSR Final Report.
Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect
in foster care
Tennessee's attainment of outcome 2 cannot be evaluated as part of
the Federal Comment section because the State does not provide data
to NCANDS for calculating this outcome. In order to ensure data
consistency across States, only data submitted through the NCANDS
system are presented for this outcome in the Report to Congress.
However, the State provided data for this outcome for its CFSR
using an alternative source. These data are provided in Tennessee's
CFSR Final Report.
Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster
care
In FY 2001, 83.9 percent of children exiting foster care were
discharged to permanent homes (which is lower than the national
median of 85.3 percent). Although these data suggest that the State
is not consistently effective in achieving permanency for children
in foster care, the data for outcome 3 also indicate that 85.5
percent of children with a diagnosed disability exiting foster care
were discharged to permanent homes (which is greater than the
national median of 78.4 percent) and 74.7 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). Only 12.7 percent of children exiting
foster care through emancipation were age 12 or younger at the time
of entry (which is lower than the national median of 28.0 percent).
These data suggest that the State has experienced success in
achieving permanency for children with a diagnosed disability and
children who are older than age 12 when they enter foster care.
Also, the State has been effective in ensuring that children who
enter foster care at younger ages do not "grow up" in the system.
Tennessee's performance on all of the indicators for this outcome
exhibited substantial improvement from FY 1999 to FY 2001.
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 62.5, which is
lower than both the national standard of 76.2 percent or more and
the national median of 69.2 percent. However,Tennessee's
performance on this measure improved between FY 1999 and FY 2001
(+6.0 percent change).
Also in FY 2001, the percentage of children re-entering foster care within 12 months of discharge from a prior foster care episode was 11.0, which does not meet the national standard of 8.6 percent or less and is greater than the national median of 10.4 percent. Performance on this measure declined from FY 1999 to FY 2001 (+18.8 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 13.8,
which is lower than both the national standard of 32.0 percent or
more and the national median of 21.0 percent. Tennessee's
performance on this measure declined from FY 1999 to FY 2001 (-15.2
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 61.0,
which is lower than both the national standard of 86.7 percent or
more and the national median of 83.3 percent. According to
information in the CFSR Final Report, the State believes that the
actual number of placement changes may be higher than the number
reported to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting
System, because the State's management information system does not
capture changes in foster care placements for children who remain
with the same private child placement provider agency. That is, a
child could move from one foster home to another, but if both
foster homes were under the supervision of the same foster care
provider agency, this move would not be recorded in the State's
management information system. This suggests that placement
stability is a concern for the State. Tennessee's reported
performance on this measure declined between FY 1999 and FY 2001
(-16.3 percent change).
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 8.8, which is about equal to the
national median of 8.7 percent. Tennessee's performance on this
measure improved considerably from FY 1999 to FY 2001 (-42.0
percent change).
Return to Chapter IV State Data Pages