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Home > Statistics & Research > Child Welfare Outcomes 2002 > Chapter Six > Arizona

Arizona

Context Data | Outcomes Data | Federal Comment

Arizona [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population (Census Bureau) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total children under 18 years 1,334,564 1,417,451 1,437,420 1,476,856 Race/ethnicity (%)1, 2         Alaska Native/American Indian 6.9 6.6 6.6 6.5 Asian N/A 1.6 1.6 1.7 Asian/Pacific Islander 2.1 N/A N/A N/A Black 3.4 3.4 3.6 3.5 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A N/A 0.1 0.1 Hispanic 32.6 36.1 36.7 37.4 White 55.1 49.6 49.3 48.7 Two or more races N/A 2.5 2 2.1 Other N/A 0.2 0 0 % Child population in poverty 16 21.8 22.3 19.1 Child Welfare Summary 1999 2000 2002 2002 Child maltreatment victims3 9,205 7,460 5,389 5,114 Children in foster care on 9/30 7,034 6,475 6,050 6,211 Children adopted 761 853 938 793

1The convention for the data tables is the following: N/A in the data table means that the category was not applicable for the specific year. A dash (-) means that there is "no value" or the category is a true zero (that is, no children were reported as being in that category). A zero (0) means that there is a value for the category, but the value is less than 0.1 percent.Back

2The multiple and overlapping race categories in this and subsequent race tables are due to changes in the Census Bureau categories beginning in 2000. Because the reporting of these categories is a relatively new process for States, changes in percentages over time may be due to data quality issues.Back

3A child victim is a child who is the subject of a substantiated or indicated maltreatment report. Children with more than one report of substantiated or indicated maltreatment may be counted more than once.Back

B. Child Maltreatment Data (NCANDS)

Number Rate Maltreatment Information Overview 1999 2000 2001 2002 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children subject of an investigated report alleging child maltreatment 52,611 51,811 54,166 52,288 39.4 per 1,000 36.5 per 1,000 37.7 per 1,000 35.4 per 1,000 Child maltreatment victims 9,205 7,460 5,389 5,114 6.9 per 1,000 5.3 per 1,000 3.8 per 1,000 3.5 per 1,000 Child fatalities 8 7 13 21 0.6 per 100,000 0.5 per 100,000 0.9 per 100,000 1.4 per 100,000

Age of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 15.7 17.6 18.8 12 1-5 years 29.4 27.7 28.4 31.7 6-10 years 27.7 26.1 26.1 26.8 11-15 years 22.4 23 22.1 24 16+ years 4.8 5.4 4.6 5.3 Unknown / Missing data 0 0.2 0 0.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 9,205 7,460 5,389 5,114 Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 5.7 3.5 3.3 3.7 Asian/Pacific Islander 1 0.2 0.4 0.7 Black 9.2 7.9 8.3 7.1 Hispanic 31 33.9 33.4 36 White 78.3 45.9 47.2 45.8 Two or more races 0.3 3.6 3.7 3.1 Total %4 131 100 100 100 Number 9,205 7,460 5,389 5,114 Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Emotional Abuse 1.2 1.5 0.7 0.9 Medical Neglect 0 -- -- -- Neglect 58.4 71.4 71.6 70.4 Physical Abuse 24.8 24.5 25.3 24.9 Sexual Abuse 5.6 7.5 6.1 7.7 Unknown / Missing data 0 0 -- -- Other 10 -- -- -- Total %5 100 104.9 103.7 103.9 Number 9,205 7,460 5,389 5,114

4Percentages may total more than 100 percent because Hispanics may be counted both by Hispanic ethnicity and by race.Back

5Percentages 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 FY1999 (10/1/98 - 9/30/99) 7,515 4,372 4,853 7,034 11,887 FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 6,887 4,644 5,056 6,475 11,531 FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 6,264 4,515 4,729 6,050 10,779 FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 5,905 5,069 4,763 6,211 10,974 Median Length of Stay (Months)   FY1999 (10/1/98 - 9/30/99) 17.2 N/A 10.4 18.9 N/A FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 19.1 N/A 9.4 18 N/A FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 18.3 N/A 9.6 15.8 N/A FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 16.2 N/A 7.4 13.7 N/A Age of Children in Foster Care (%) In Care On: 10/1/98 In Care On: 10/1/99 In Care On: 10/1/00 In Care On: 10/1/01 Entered Care During FY: 1999 Entered Care During FY: 2000 Entered Care During FY: 2001 Entered Care During FY: 2002 Exited Care During FY: 1999 Exited Care During FY: 2000 Exited Care During FY:2001 Exited Care During FY: 2002 In Care On: 9/30/99 In Care On: 9/30/00 In Care On: 9/30/01 In Care On: 9/30/02 Under 1 Year 3.7 4.2 4.6 5.1 12.8 14.1 13 13.3 4 5.2 4.3 4.8 4.2 4.8 5.2 5.8 1-5 years 27.6 27 26.2 25.8 28 26.7 27.5 28.6 28.5 29 29.6 29.7 26.9 25.9 25.9 27 6-10 years 26.7 25.3 23.1 21.7 22.2 22 21.1 20.6 24.5 24.2 22.6 22.7 25.2 22.9 21.6 20.2 11-15 years 28.1 28.7 30.7 30.2 26.6 27.1 27.9 26.3 22.7 23.3 25.3 24.2 29 30.8 30.5 27.8 16-18 years 13.6 14.3 15 16.5 10.4 10.2 10.5 11.2 19.2 17.3 17.7 17.8 14.1 15.2 16.2 18 19+ years 0.3 0.6 0.3 0.7 0 -- -- 0.1 1 1 0.5 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.7 1.3 Unknown / Missing data -- -- -- -- 0 0.1 -- 0 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 7,515 6,887 6,264 5,905 4,372 4,644 4,515 5,069 4,853 5,056 4,729 4,763 7,034 6,475 6,050 6,211 Race/Ethnicity of Children in Foster Care (%) In Care On: 10/1/98 In Care On: 10/1/99 In Care On: 10/1/00 In Care On: 10/1/01 Entered Care During FY: 1999 Entered Care During FY: 2000 Entered Care During FY: 2001 Entered Care During FY: 2002 Exited Care During FY: 1999 Exited Care During FY: 2000 Exited Care During FY:2001 Exited Care During FY: 2002 In Care On: 9/30/99 In Care On: 9/30/00 In Care On: 9/30/01 In Care On: 9/30/02 Alaska Native/American Indian 2.9 2.8 2.4 2.3 3.6 3.4 4.1 4 3.8 3.8 4.1 4.1 2.8 2.5 2.3 2.3 Asian N/A 0 0 0 N/A 0 0.2 0.2 N/A 0.1 0 0.3 N/A 0 0 0 Asian/Pacific Islander 0 N/A N/A N/A 0.2 N/A N/A N/A 0.2 N/A N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A N/A Black 12.8 12.5 12.5 10.8 8.5 9.1 7.5 7.8 9.5 9.5 9.9 9.2 12.4 12.4 10.8 9.7 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- N/A -- 0.1 0 N/A -- 0.1 0 N/A -- -- 0 Hispanic 27.9 31.2 33.3 33.8 33.4 32.5 32.5 35.1 28.1 30.5 32 34.8 31.2 32.7 33.8 34.1 White 52 48.5 46.1 46.8 48.4 48.4 48.4 45.8 53.4 50.5 47.2 44.6 48.7 46.9 46.9 47.7 Two or more races N/A 4.7 5.1 4.8 N/A 4 4.3 3.2 N/A 4.2 4.8 3.9 N/A 4.7 4.8 4.2 Unknown / Missing data 0.6 0.2 0.5 1.4 1.4 2.5 2.8 3.8 2 1.5 1.7 3.2 0.2 0.9 1.3 1.9 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 7,515 6,887 6,264 5,905 4,372 4,644 4,515 5,069 4,853 5,056 4,729 4,763 7,034 6,475 6,050 6,211

D. Children Waiting to be Adopted (AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database:  Fiscal Year Data)6

Overview 9/30/99 9/30/00 9/30/01 9/30/02 Children waiting to be adopted 3,051 2,370 2,553 2,150 Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) 2,633 1,817 2,237 1,613 Age of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 6.1 4.3 7.8 6.4 1-5 years 40.6 38.9 39.6 39.3 6-10 years 34.6 32.7 30.1 28.7 11-15 years 18.3 22.9 21.8 24.4 16+ years 0.4 1.2 0.7 1.1 Unknown / Missing data 0 -- -- 0.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 3,051 2,370 2,553 2,150 Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 2.3 2 1.3 1 Asian N/A 0 0 0 Asian/Pacific Islander 0 N/A N/A N/A Black 11.4 10.6 9 7.7 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 33.1 37 36.3 36 White 48.1 44.9 46.8 48.4 Two or more races N/A 5.1 5.5 5.3 Unknown / Missing data 5 0.5 1 1.5 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 3,051 2,370 2,553 2,150

6Waiting children are children who have a goal of adoption and/or whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR). 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 Adoption Database)

Age of Adopted Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 0.5 0.7 0.9 2.1 1-5 years 44.8 44.5 49.1 48.7 6-10 years 39 36.9 30.3 31.7 11-15 years 14.5 16.6 17.5 16 16+ years 1.2 1.2 2.2 1.5 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 761 853 938 793 Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 1.1 2.5 1.5 1.4 Asian N/A -- -- -- Asian/Pacific Islander 0.3 N/A N/A N/A Black 12.7 10.6 9.9 8.6 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 28.1 25.8 38.3 40.6 White 55.8 56.4 43.7 42.7 Two or more races N/A 4.8 6.4 6.3 Unknown / Missing data 0.1 -- 0.2 0.4 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 761 853 938 793

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Arizona [ Outcomes Data ]

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

1.1 Recurrence of Maltreatment Within 6 Months (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children without a recurrence 95.2 93.9 96 96.5 Children with one or more recurrences 4.8 6.1 4 3.5 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 3,064 3,558 2,461 2,353

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 (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children maltreated while in foster care 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.2 Children not maltreated while in foster care 99.9 99.7 99.8 99.8 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 9,419 10,450 9,647 9,785

3. Increase Permanency for Children in Foster Care (AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database:  Fiscal Year Data)

3.1 Exits from Foster Care (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 17.9 18.4 18.7 16.9 Guardianship 0.5 0.5 5.7 12.9 Reunification 72.3 71.8 66.1 56.5 Other 9.3 9.3 9.5 13.7 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 4,853 5,056 4,729 4,763 Percent Exits from Foster Care 1999 2000 2001 2002   3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 8.6 19.5 24 28 Guardianship -- -- 7 13.6 Reunification 81.4 72.7 57.3 37.4 Other 10 7.8 11.8 21 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 70 128 805 1,198 3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 1.3 0.7 0.9 0.6 Guardianship 0.6 0.5 3.7 7.2 Reunification 70.7 71.3 70.9 63.6 Other 27.4 27.6 24.5 28.6 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,333 1,312 1,298 1,331 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children age 12 or younger at entry 18.9 23.1 23.4 26.8 Children older than 12 at entry 81.1 76.9 76.6 73.2 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 444 450 363 396

3.5 Exits by Race/Ethnicity (%) Alaska Native/A.I. Asian Asian/Pacific Islander Black Native Hawaiian/ Other P.I.   1999 2000 2001 2002 1999 2000 2001 2002 1999 2000 2001 2002 1999 2000 2001 2002 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 9.3 13.6 5.1 4.6 N/A -- -- -- 20 N/A N/A N/A 23.8 20.9 17.1 15.8 N/A -- -- -- Guardianship -- -- 4.1 14.9 N/A -- -- -- -- N/A N/A N/A 0.4 0.2 7.1 13.5 N/A -- -- -- Reunification 82.5 81.7 83.2 68.2 N/A 83.3 100 100 10 N/A N/A N/A 14.7 12.1 14.8 21.8 N/A -- 100 100 Other 8.2 4.7 7.7 12.3 N/A 16.7 -- -- -- N/A N/A N/A -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- Missing data -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 N/A 100 100 100 100 N/A N/A N/A 100 100 100 100 N/A -- 100 100 Number 183 191 196 195 N/A 6 3 12 10 N/A N/A N/A 463 479 467 436 N/A -- 6 1     Hispanic White Unable to Determine Two or More Races Missing Data   1999 2000 2001 2002 1999 2000 2001 2002 1999 2000 2001 2002 1999 2000 2001 2002 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 17.6 16.2 22.7 19.8 18.7 20 17.3 16.4 -- 2.7 2.4 2.6 11.6 19.5 26.9 26.6 -- -- -- -- Guardianship 0.4 0.6 4.8 13.3 0.6 0.4 6.1 12.1 -- -- 2.4 11.2 N/A 1 7.5 17.9 -- -- -- -- Reunification 73.7 74.8 65.2 54.7 71.5 69.4 66.4 58.1 94.7 97.3 90.2 77 84.2 73.3 55.1 38.6 -- -- -- -- Other 8.4 8.4 7.3 12.2 9.3 10.2 10.2 13.4 5.3 -- 4.9 9.2 4.1 6.2 10.6 16.8 -- -- -- -- Missing data -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 -- -- -- -- Number 1,363 1,543 1,514 1,657 2,593 2,553 2,234 2,126 95 74 82 152 146 210 227 184 -- -- -- --

4. Reduce Time to Reunification Without Increasing Re-entry (AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database:  Fiscal Year Data)

4.1 Time to Reunification (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Less than 12 mos. 68 71.5 73.7 83.9 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 17.8 15 15 11.5 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 6.7 8 5.2 2.8 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 3.5 2.8 2.8 0.7 48 or more mos. 3.9 2.7 3.1 1 Missing data 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 3,511 3,632 3,127 2,689 4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children entering care for the first time 87.1 84.7 80.5 78.8 Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode 10.7 11.5 13.8 13.1 Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode 2.2 3.9 5.7 8.2 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 4,372 4,644 4,515 5,069

5. Reduce Time in Foster Care to Adoption (AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database:  Fiscal Year Data)

5.1 Time to Adoption (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Less than 12 mos. 8.4 3.8 4.4 2.1 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 11.4 14.4 19.1 26.4 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 24.7 28.3 35.5 31.4 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 23.4 26.2 24 19.8 48 or more mos. 32.1 27.3 16.9 20.3 Missing data -- -- 0.1 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 870 930 884 807

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 2 or Fewer Placements Missing Data Total % Number Less than 12 mos. 1999 81.9 13.9 4.2 100 4,921 2000 82.4 14.9 2.7 100 5,171 2001 82.4 16.2 1.4 100 5,037 2002 82.1 16.3 1.6 100 5,617 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 1999 52.2 47 0.8 100 2,614 2000 51.5 47.9 0.6 100 2,121 2001 49.8 49.8 0.3 100 2,165 2002 51 48.9 0 100 2,241 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 1999 38.4 61.3 0.3 100 1,697 2000 35.8 64 0.1 100 1,688 2001 35.9 64.1 -- 100 1,247 2002 32.9 67 0 100 1,108 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 1999 33.8 65.7 0.5 100 935 2000 28.4 71.5 0 100 1,006 2001 26.6 73.4 -- 100 913 2002 20 80 -- 100 610 48 or more mos. 1999 31.1 68.8 0.2 100 1,697 2000 23.5 76.3 0.2 100 1,530 2001 16.2 83.8 -- 100 1,404 2002 12.2 87.8 -- 100 1,375 Missing data 1999 78.3 -- 21.7 100 23 2000 66.7 -- 33.3 100 15 2001 15.4 -- 84.6 100 13 2002 87 -- 13 100 23

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 (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Group homes 5.7 6.6 7.7 8.4 Institutions 17.3 20.6 23.1 23.5 Other settings 63.4 67 68.5 67.2 Missing data 13.7 5.7 0.7 0.9 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 3,124 3,292 3,138 3,544

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Arizona [ Federal Comment ]

The following discussion focuses on Arizona’s performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. The Arizona Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) was completed in fiscal year (FY) 2001, and compliance with the national standards was based on data from 1999. The final report for that review is available from the Child Welfare Monitoring Documents Library. A discussion of the implications of CFSR findings for Arizona’s performance on the Report to Congress Outcomes is provided in Child Welfare Outcomes 2000.

The Federal Comment includes an examination of State performance in 2002 and the percent change in performance from 1999 to 2002. A difference in percent change from 1999 to 2002 that was less than 5.0 in either direction was considered to represent “no change in performance.” With the exception of outcome measure 2.1, the data presented in the Report to Congress are rounded to one decimal. However, the percent change in performance was calculated using data rounded to two decimals. Measure 2.1 is rounded to two decimals because the national standard is less than one percent. Key findings of the analyses of national data pertaining to State variation in performance on the outcome measures are incorporated into a State’s Federal Comment when relevant.

Outcome 1. Reduce recurrence of child abuse and/or neglect
In calendar year (CY) 2002, Arizona’s rate of maltreatment recurrence within 6 months was 3.5 percent, which is less than both the national standard (6.1 percent or less) and the national median (7.5 percent). Performance on this measure improved from 1999 to 2002 (-27.1 percent change).

The cross-State analysis found a substantial positive relationship between State performance on this outcome measure and State performance on the rate of child victims (i.e., the number of child victims per 1,000 children in the population). States with relatively low rates of child victims tended to have relatively low rates of maltreatment recurrence. For Arizona, both the incidence of maltreatment recurrence (3.5 percent) and the rate of child victims (3.5 children per 1,000 in the population) were in the bottom quartile of the State rankings. This suggests that the State’s policies and laws pertaining to what constitutes maltreatment and what is necessary for substantiation may be related to its rate of maltreatment recurrence.

Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
In CY 2002, Arizona’s incidence of maltreatment in foster care was 0.25 percent, which is less than both the national standard of 0.57 percent or less and the national median of 0.39 percent. However, performance on this measure declined from 1999 to 2002 (+161.64 percent change). This change in performance is difficult to interpret, because only 9 children were reported in 1999 as victims of maltreatment in foster care compared to 24 children reported as victims in 2002.

Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In FY 2002, 86.3 percent of children exiting foster care in Arizona were discharged to a permanent home (which is about equal to the national median of 86.1 percent); 79.0 percent of children with a diagnosed disability who exited foster care were discharged to a permanent home (which is about equal to the national median of 79.8 percent); and 71.4 percent of children exiting foster care who were older than age 12 at entry into foster care were discharged to a permanent home (which is about equal to the national median of 72.0 percent). In addition, 26.8 percent of the children exiting foster care through emancipation were age 12 or younger at the time of entry into foster care, which is about equal to the national median of 26.9 percent. This suggests that the State experiences some success in achieving permanency for children exiting foster care. There was no change in performance from FY 1999 to FY 2002 with regard to the percentage of all children discharged to a permanent home, and the percentage of children discharged to a permanent home who were older than age 12 when they entered foster care. However, performance declined over this time period with regard to: (1) the percentage of children with a diagnosed disability discharged to a permanent home (-12.2 percent change), and (2) the percentage of children emancipated from foster care who were age 12 or younger when they entered foster care (+45.5 percent change).

Outcome 4. Reduce time to reunification without increasing re-entry
In FY 2002, the percentage of all reunifications in Arizona occurring within 12 months of a child’s entry into foster care was 83.9, which is more than both the national standard (76.2 percent or more) and the national median (68.0 percent). Performance with regard to reunifications within 12 months improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (+23.4 percent change).

Because the cross-State analyses of performance on this measure found a substantial positive relationship between the percentage of reunifications within 12 months and the percentage of children entering foster care who were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode, Arizona’s performance with regard to reunifications within 12 months must be considered in the context of its reentry rate. For Arizona, the percentage of children entering foster care in FY 2002 who were re-entering within 12 months of a discharge from a prior foster care episode was 13.1, which is more than both the national standard (8.6 percent or less) and the national median (9.9 percent). Performance on this measure declined from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (+22.3 percent change). Thus, although Arizona had a relatively high percentage of reunifications in FY 2002 occurring within 12 months of entry into foster care, the State also had a relatively high percentage of children entering foster care who were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode.

Outcome 5. Reduce time in foster care to adoption
In FY 2002, the percentage of all finalized adoptions occurring within 24 months of a child’s entry into foster care was 28.5, which does not meet the national standard (32.0 percent or more) but is more than the national median (23.0 percent). Change in performance on this measure is assessed from FY 2000 to FY 2002 due to data quality issues for many States for this measure in FY 1999. Arizona’s performance on this measure improved from FY 2000 to FY 2002 (+56.8 percent change).

Outcome 6. Increase placement stability
In FY 2002, the percentage of children who experienced no more than 2 placement settings during their first 12 months in foster care was 82.1, which is less than both the national standard (86.7 percent or more) and the national median (84.1 percent). Arizona’s performance on this measure exhibited no change from FY 1999 to FY 2002.

Outcome 7. Reduce placements of young children in group homes and institutions
In FY 2002, the percentage of children age 12 or younger entering foster care who were placed in a group home or institution was 31.9, which was the second highest percentage in the Nation. In addition, Arizona’s performance on this measure declined from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (+39.0 percent).

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