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

Colorado

Context Data | Outcomes Data | Federal Comment

Colorado [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population (Census Bureau) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total children under 18 years 1,065,510 1,127,272 1,136,591 1,151,118 Race/ethnicity (%)1, 2         Alaska Native/American Indian 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 Asian N/A 2.2 2.3 2.4 Asian/Pacific Islander 2.6 N/A N/A N/A Black 4.4 4.3 4.6 4.6 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A N/A 0.1 0.1 Hispanic 21.3 23.5 24 24.4 White 70.9 66.2 65.8 65.2 Two or more races N/A 2.9 2.6 2.6 Other N/A 0.2 0 0 % Child population in poverty 12 13.3 10.6 12.3 Child Welfare Summary 1999 2000 2002 2002 Child maltreatment victims3 6,989 7,467 4,837 7,570 Children in foster care on 9/30 7,639 7,533 7,138 9,209 Children adopted 716 698 656 919

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 34,110 35,483 30,983 40,552 32.0 per 1,000 31.5 per 1,000 27.3 per 1,000 35.2 per 1,000 Child maltreatment victims 6,989 7,467 4,837 7,570 6.6 per 1,000 6.6 per 1,000 4.3 per 1,000 6.6 per 1,000 Child fatalities 32 31 20 25 3.0 per 100,000 2.8 per 100,000 1.8 per 100,000 2.2 per 100,000

Age of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 9.8 10 9.9 10.8 1-5 years 30.2 30.8 30.4 31.6 6-10 years 31.8 30.5 30 29.5 11-15 years 23.7 23.5 23.6 23.7 16+ years 4.2 4.7 5.4 4.3 Unknown / Missing data 0.2 0.5 0.7 0.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 6,989 7,467 4,837 7,570 Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 1.3 1.2 1.8 1 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.8 0.8 1.3 1 Black 8.4 7 10.2 8.7 Hispanic 18.6 21.4 30 34.3 White 62.8 64.9 79.5 51.1 Two or more races 5.9 -- -- 1.9 Total %4 118.6 100 122.8 100 Number 6,989 7,467 4,837 7,570 Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Emotional Abuse 14.6 15.9 16.9 5.5 Medical Neglect 7.1 71.4 1.3 1.6 Neglect 70.7 72.2 41 44.9 Physical Abuse 27.6 26.8 25.1 25 Sexual Abuse 15.1 14.4 11.2 11.8 Unknown / Missing data 0 -- 14.4 16.7 Other 0 -- -- -- Total %5 135.1 200.7 109.9 105.5 Number 6,989 7,467 4,837 7,570

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) 6,131 7,183 5,675 7,639 13,314 FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 6,103 6,942 5,512 7,533 13,045 FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 5,331 7,007 5,200 7,138 12,338 FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 7,814 7,738 6,343 9,209 15,552 Median Length of Stay (Months)   FY1999 (10/1/98 - 9/30/99) 12.1 N/A 3.2 11.3 N/A FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 12.2 N/A 3.7 12 N/A FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 11.9 N/A 4 9.6 N/A FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 12.6 N/A 5.5 12.3 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 4.6 4 4.5 4.1 7.9 8.8 8.6 10.1 4.5 4.4 4.5 4.4 3.7 4 4.5 4.5 1-5 years 18 17.8 21.6 19.4 19.1 20.4 18.9 20.6 18.8 19.4 22.3 22.7 19.1 20.1 19.8 19.6 6-10 years 22.6 21 20.7 19.4 17.7 17.7 18.3 15.6 16.7 16.6 17.8 16.8 21.4 20.1 18.9 16.9 11-15 years 34.2 36.7 32 32 38.6 35.5 34.6 32.8 32.9 32.2 28.5 27.8 35.5 34.3 33.4 31 16-18 years 19.4 19 19.7 23 16.7 17.5 19.4 20.3 25.9 26.2 25.2 25.2 19 20 21.9 24.7 19+ years 1.2 1.5 1.4 2.2 0 0.1 0.2 0.6 1 0.9 1.5 3.1 1.3 1.5 1.5 3.3 Unknown / Missing data 0 0 0.1 0.1 0 -- -- 0 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 0 -- 0.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 6,131 6,103 5,331 7,814 7,183 6,942 7,007 7,738 5,675 5,512 5,200 6,343 7,639 7,533 7,138 9,209 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 2.7 2.1 1.6 2.6 2 1.5 0.9 2.4 2.7 1.9 1.2 2.3 2.1 1.7 1.2 Asian N/A 0.8 0.5 0.6 N/A 0.8 0.8 0.6 N/A 1 0.8 0.6 N/A 0.7 0.6 0.6 Asian/Pacific Islander 1 N/A N/A N/A 1.1 N/A N/A N/A 1.3 N/A N/A N/A 0.9 N/A N/A N/A Black 15.7 16.3 16.8 15 12.8 11.1 12.8 11.2 11.7 10.3 13.8 13.3 15.9 15.9 15.1 12.9 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- 0 0 N/A -- 0 0 N/A -- 0 0 N/A -- 0 0 Hispanic 24.9 25.5 28.1 31.5 26.6 28.7 31 34.3 25.6 27.9 30.2 33.3 26 26.7 29.4 32.6 White 54.3 51.4 49.5 49 48.8 47.3 50 50.5 51.7 49.3 48.5 49.3 51 49.2 50.7 50 Two or more races N/A -- 0.6 1.9 N/A -- 1.3 2.5 N/A -- 0.8 2.1 N/A -- 1.1 2.2 Unknown / Missing data 2.2 3.3 2.3 0.4 8 10 2.5 0 7.3 8.9 4 0 3.9 5.4 1.3 0.3 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 6,131 6,103 5,331 7,814 7,183 6,942 7,007 7,738 5,675 5,512 5,200 6,343 7,639 7,533 7,138 9,209

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 1,682 1,788 1,469 2,118 Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) 1,211 1,267 695 1,461 Age of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 1.7 2 4.3 6.2 1-5 years 28.7 28.7 35.7 36.9 6-10 years 36.4 35.1 32.4 28 11-15 years 28.9 30 23.9 25.5 16+ years 3.7 3.7 3.3 2.7 Unknown / Missing data 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.6 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,682 1,788 1,469 2,118 Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 1.7 2.5 1.4 1.1 Asian N/A 0.4 0.3 0 Asian/Pacific Islander 1.1 N/A N/A N/A Black 18.5 20.5 18.9 16 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- 0.1 0 Hispanic 30.4 30.3 31.7 33 White 46.9 44.8 45.3 46.5 Two or more races N/A -- 1.2 2.7 Unknown / Missing data 1.3 1.5 1.1 0.5 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,682 1,788 1,469 2,118

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 4.1 3 3.2 1.6 1-5 years 45.4 48.6 50.5 49.4 6-10 years 32.8 32.1 28.7 28.9 11-15 years 14.8 14.3 15.7 17.2 16+ years 2.9 2 2 2.8 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 716 698 656 919 Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 1.7 1.9 2.1 1.8 Asian N/A 0.7 0.8 0.5 Asian/Pacific Islander -- N/A N/A N/A Black 21.2 16.9 19.7 18.4 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 23.7 28.2 27.6 30.1 White 50.7 52 48 46.6 Two or more races N/A -- 1.4 2.5 Unknown / Missing data 2.5 0.3 0.5 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 716 698 656 919

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Colorado [ 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 -- -- -- 96.7 Children with one or more recurrences -- -- -- 3.3 Total % -- -- -- 100 Number -- -- -- 3,597

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 -- -- -- 0.3 Children not maltreated while in foster care -- -- -- 99.7 Total % -- -- -- 100 Number -- -- -- 14,218

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 5.2 3.1 9.3 13.6 Guardianship 0.9 1.3 2.3 2.6 Reunification 71.5 71.7 68.8 65.5 Other 16.8 16.2 14.6 14.1 Missing data 5.6 7.6 4.9 4.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 5,675 5,512 5,200 6,343 Percent Exits from Foster Care 1999 2000 2001 2002   3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 5.2 3.6 8.5 19.4 Guardianship 0.8 0.8 2.2 2.1 Reunification 68.2 67.9 60.8 48.4 Other 21.2 21.9 23.7 22.2 Missing data 4.6 5.9 4.8 8 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,773 1,793 1,568 1,683 3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 0.4 0.4 1.4 0.8 Guardianship 0.5 0.8 1.8 1.5 Reunification 70.4 70 66 61.9 Other 28.2 28.6 28.1 27.3 Missing data 0.5 0.2 2.7 8.5 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,720 2,615 2,288 2,825 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children age 12 or younger at entry 19.5 18.7 22.9 16.4 Children older than 12 at entry 80.5 81.3 77.1 83.6 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 246 252 297 329

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 3 4.8 9.3 20.5 N/A 7.1 2.5 12.5 -- N/A N/A N/A 10.5 4.8 14.5 18.5 N/A -- -- -- Guardianship 2.2 1.4 5.2 2.6 N/A 1.8 -- 2.5 1.4 N/A N/A N/A 1.4 1.2 4 4.1 N/A -- -- -- Reunification 64.9 70.1 63.9 60.3 N/A 76.8 75 72.5 24.7 N/A N/A N/A 16.4 18.8 16.6 16.5 N/A -- 100 100 Other 28.4 17.7 12.4 12.8 N/A 8.9 22.5 5 1.4 N/A N/A N/A 6.6 8.8 5.4 4.3 N/A -- -- -- Missing data 1.5 6.1 9.3 3.8 N/A 5.4 -- 7.5 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 134 147 97 78 N/A 56 40 40 73 N/A N/A N/A 665 565 719 844 N/A -- 2 5     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 5.3 2.9 8.6 12.9 4.6 3.2 9.1 12.6 2.2 0.8 0.5 -- N/A -- 11.4 15.9 -- -- -- -- Guardianship 0.8 1.6 2.3 3.2 0.9 1.3 1.9 1.8 0.5 0.4 -- -- N/A -- -- 2.3 -- -- -- -- Reunification 71.1 70.9 69 65.2 71.5 70.7 70.4 68.2 85.1 86.4 81.3 80 N/A -- 70.5 59.8 -- -- 100 -- Other 17.3 16 14.3 13.6 16.7 16.6 14.5 13.7 11.3 11.6 12.6 20 N/A -- 9.1 17.4 -- -- -- -- Missing data 5.6 8.5 5.9 5.1 6.3 8.2 4 3.6 1 0.8 5.6 -- N/A -- 9.1 4.5 -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 N/A -- 100 100 -- -- 100 -- Number 1,452 1,537 1,569 2,115 2,936 2,716 2,523 3,124 415 491 198 5 N/A -- 44 132 -- -- 8 --

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. 85.7 85.7 83 84 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 10.1 10.4 10.6 11.3 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 1.8 1.7 2.4 1.8 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 1.2 0.4 0.6 0.7 48 or more mos. 1.3 1 0.9 0.5 Missing data -- 0.8 2.5 1.7 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 4,058 3,954 3,579 4,152 4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children entering care for the first time 67.5 69.8 67.9 63.8 Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode 20 19.3 20.9 18.5 Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode 10.9 10.4 10.8 11.7 Missing data 1.6 0.5 0.5 5.9 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 7,183 6,942 7,007 7,738

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. 23.4 24.9 24.9 11.8 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 29.8 36.4 26.6 33.8 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 13.9 22 20.6 25.3 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 16.3 6.9 10.3 14 48 or more mos. 16.6 9.8 6.6 13.6 Missing data -- -- 10.9 1.5 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 295 173 485 865

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 87.5 12.5 -- 100 8,172 2000 86.9 13.1 -- 100 7,870 2001 79.1 17.8 3.2 100 7,762 2002 79.9 16.3 3.7 100 8,777 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 1999 56.7 43.3 -- 100 2,266 2000 57.7 42.3 -- 100 2,316 2001 50 49 1 100 2,016 2002 54.8 43 2.2 100 3,034 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 1999 42.8 57.2 -- 100 915 2000 41.4 58.6 -- 100 1,068 2001 33.1 65.8 1 100 975 2002 46 52.7 1.3 100 1,401 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 1999 33.9 66.1 -- 100 641 2000 33.1 66.9 -- 100 513 2001 22.9 76.2 0.9 100 424 2002 37.8 61.2 1 100 770 48 or more mos. 1999 24.4 75.6 -- 100 1,293 2000 23.9 76.1 -- 100 1,231 2001 16.9 82.7 0.4 100 989 2002 31.7 67.5 0.8 100 1,431 Missing data 1999 96.3 3.7 -- 100 27 2000 100 -- -- 100 47 2001 70.3 0.6 29.1 100 172 2002 69.8 -- 30.2 100 139

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 1.5 1.4 2 1.3 Institutions 6.2 5.7 10.6 13.5 Other settings 92.3 92.9 82.1 85.3 Missing data -- -- 5.3 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 3,777 3,783 3,062 4,074

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Colorado [ Federal Comment ]

The following discussion focuses on Colorado’s performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. The Colorado 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 the Child Welfare Monitoring Documents Library. A discussion of the implications of CFSR findings for Colorado’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, Colorado’s rate of maltreatment recurrence within 6 months was 3.3 percent, which is considerably lower than both the national standard (6.1 percent or less) and the national median (7.5 percent). Change in performance on this measure from 1999 to 2002 cannot be assessed because the State did not report the necessary data to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) prior to 2002.

The cross-State analyses found a substantial positive relationship between State performance on this outcome measure and the rate of child victims (i.e., the number of child victims per 1,000 children in the population) in a State. States with a relatively low rate of child victims tended to have a relatively low percentage of maltreatment recurrence. For Colorado, both the percentage of maltreatment recurrence (3.3 percent) and the rate of child victims (6.6 per 1,000 children in the population) were in the bottom quartile for all States.

The cross-State analyses also found a small, but definite, positive relationship between State performance on this outcome measure and the percentage of child victims in the State experiencing neglect. States with a relatively low percentage of child victims experiencing neglect tended to have a relatively low percentage of maltreatment recurrence. For Colorado, both the incidence of maltreatment recurrence (3.3 percent) and the percentage of child victims experiencing neglect (44.9 percent) were in the bottom quartile for all States. These findings suggest that the State’s definitions and laws pertaining to what constitutes maltreatment and what is required for substantiation may be related to its performance on the outcome measure assessing maltreatment recurrence.

Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
In CY 2002, Colorado’s incidence of maltreatment in foster care was 0.29 percent, which is less than both the national standard (0.57 percent or less) and the national median (0.39 percent). Change in performance on this measure from 1999 to 2002 cannot be assessed because the State did not report the necessary data to NCANDS prior to 2002.

Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In FY 2002, 81.7 percent of children exiting foster care in Colorado were discharged to a permanent home (which is less than the national median of 86.1 percent); 69.9 percent of children with a diagnosed disability who exited foster care were discharged to a permanent home (which is less than the national median of 79.8 percent); and 64.2 percent of children exiting foster care who were older than age 12 at entry into foster care exited to a permanent home (which is less than the national median of 72.0 percent). These findings suggest that the State is not consistently successful in achieving permanency for children exiting foster care. However, 16.4 percent of the children exiting foster care through emancipation were age 12 or younger at the time of entry into foster care, which is less than the national median of 26.9 percent.

Colorado’s performance improved slightly from FY 1999 to FY 2002 with regard to: (1) the percentage of all children exiting foster care who exited to a permanent home (+5.3 percent change), and (2) the percentage of children exiting from foster care to emancipation who were age 12 or younger when they entered foster care (-15.9 percent change). However, performance declined with regard to: (1) the percentage of children exiting foster care to a permanent home who were older than age 12 when they entered foster care (-10.0 percent change), and (2) the percentage of children exiting foster care to a permanent home who had a diagnosed disability (-5.9 percent change).

Outcome 4. Reduce time to reunification without increasing re-entry
In FY 2002, the percentage of all reunifications in Colorado occurring within 12 months of a child’s entry into foster care was 84.0, which is more than the national standard (76.2 percent or more) and the national median (68.0 percent). Performance with regard to reunifications within 12 months exhibited no change from FY 1999 to FY 2002.

Because the cross-State analyses of performance on this measure found a substantial positive relationship between the percentage of reunifications within 12 months in a State and the percentage of children entering foster care who were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode, Colorado’s performance with regard to reunifications within 12 months must be considered in the context of its re-entry rate. For Colorado, 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 18.5, which is considerably more than both the national standard (8.6 percent or less) and the national median (9.9 percent). However, performance on this measure improved slightly from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (-7.4 percent change). Thus, although Colorado had a high percentage of reunifications in FY 2002 occurring within 12 months of entry into foster care, the State also had a high percentage of children entering foster care in FY 2002 who were reentering within 12 months of a prior episode.

The cross-State analysis of the measure of foster care re-entry also found a substantial positive relationship between State performance on this measure and the percentage of children entering foster care in the State in FY 2002 who were age 16 or older. States with a relatively high percentage of children age 16 and older entering foster care in FY 2002 tended to have a relatively high percentage of children entering foster care who were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode. For Colorado, both the percentage of children entering foster care who were age 16 and older (20.9 percent) and the incidence of foster care re-entry (18.5 percent) were in the top quartile. One explanation for this is that children age 16 and older who enter foster care are often entering because of their own behaviors (or through the juvenile justice system) rather than as a result of maltreatment, and they may leave the foster care system before the behavior problems are fully resolved. This is particularly relevant to Colorado, because this State provides child welfare foster care services to children in the juvenile justice system.

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 45.5, which is more than both the national standard (32.0 percent or more) and the national median (23.0 percent). Change in performance on this measure from FY 1999 to FY 2002 cannot be assessed, because data in prior years exhibited a substantial discrepancy between the number of finalized adoptions the State provided in its AFCARS Adoption data submission and the number of exits to a finalized adoption the State provided in its AFCARS Foster Care data submission.

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 79.9, which is less than both the national standard (86.7 percent or more) and the national median (84.1 percent). Performance on this measure declined from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (-8.7 percent change).

Outcome 7. Reduce placements of young children in group homes and institutions
In FY 2002, the percentage of children age 12 or younger placed in a group home or institution was 14.7, which is more than the national median of 8.6 percent. Colorado’s performance on this measure declined considerably from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (+92.5 percent change).

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