Search:
		ACF Home   |   Services   |   Working with ACF   |   Policy/Planning   |   About ACF   |   ACF News   |   HHS Home

	Questions?  |  Privacy  |  Site Index  |  Contact Us  |  Download Reader™  |  Print

Enter Search term hereGo Button  Advanced  Search

Home > Statistics & Research > Child Welfare Outcomes 2002 > Chapter Six > Distric of Columbia

District of Columbia

Context Data | Outcomes Data | Federal Comment

District of Columbia [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population (Census Bureau) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total children under 18 years 95,290 109,679 112,281 112,128 Race/ethnicity (%)1, 2         Alaska Native/American Indian 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 Asian N/A 1.5 1.9 2 Asian/Pacific Islander 2.7 N/A N/A N/A Black 74.3 74.3 72.4 70.5 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A N/A 0 0 Hispanic 9.7 9.9 10.6 11.2 White 13.2 11.9 13.2 14.3 Two or more races N/A 1.9 1.7 1.7 Other N/A 0.3 0 0 % Child population in poverty 24 21.4 30.8 33.9 Child Welfare Summary 1999 2000 2002 2002 Child maltreatment victims3 2,308 2,911 2,908 3,032 Children in foster care on 9/30 3,466 3,054 3,339 3,321 Children adopted 166 319 230 252

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 5,014 7,578 7,332 8,243 52.6 per 1,000 69.1 per 1,000 65.3 per 1,000 73.5 per 1,000 Child maltreatment victims 2,308 2,911 2,908 3,032 24.2 per 1,000 26.5 per 1,000 25.9 per 1,000 27.0 per 1,000 Child fatalities 5 5 9 7 5.2 per 100,000 4.6 per 100,000 8.0 per 100,000 6.2 per 100,000

Age of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 12.1 7.8 9.2 9.4 1-5 years 32.4 30 28.2 25.8 6-10 years 31 33.8 31.5 31.5 11-15 years 17.5 21.7 24.2 26.6 16+ years 6.8 6.7 6.9 6.6 Unknown / Missing data 0.2 -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,308 2,911 2,908 3,032 Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0 -- -- 0 Asian/Pacific Islander 1 0.5 -- 0.3 Black 63.3 68.3 70.6 52.2 Hispanic 3.3 3.6 2.6 2.6 White 1.6 1.4 0.5 0.6 Two or more races 0 -- 0.3 0.4 Total %4 103.6 97.8 100 100 Number 2,308 2,911 2,908 3,032 Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Emotional Abuse 3.8 14.7 -- -- Medical Neglect 1.2 2.7 -- -- Neglect 71.8 68 85.2 79.2 Physical Abuse 14.4 13.4 17.3 22.9 Sexual Abuse 1.7 6.4 3.8 5.3 Unknown / Missing data 18.2 23.4 -- -- Other 19.2 25.8 0.3 0.1 Total %5 130.3 154.4 106.6 107.5 Number 2,308 2,911 2,908 3,032

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) 2,894 1,231 659 3,466 4,125 FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 2,594 775 315 3,054 3,369 FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 2,907 822 390 3,339 3,729 FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 2,905 812 396 3,321 3,717 Median Length of Stay (Months)   FY1999 (10/1/98 - 9/30/99) 24.5 N/A 17.2 23.7 N/A FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 22.4 N/A 15.8 27.4 N/A FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 28.5 N/A 18.7 32.6 N/A FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 31.8 N/A 10.8 37.2 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 2 1.3 1.3 1.7 8.9 12.3 12.5 11.6 3.5 2.9 3.3 4.8 1.8 1.5 1.9 1.6 1-5 years 27.4 21.2 19.9 18.9 27.3 29.9 28.5 27.2 31.1 25.7 22.8 22 23.3 20.1 19.2 18.3 6-10 years 28.6 28.7 30.5 28.8 27.8 31.5 26.3 26.8 30.5 27 27.4 28 29.4 29.6 28.3 27 11-15 years 23.3 27.4 28.1 29.5 20.8 20.4 25.7 24.9 14.3 20.3 23.1 22.7 23.7 26.7 28.5 30.1 16-18 years 13.6 15.9 15.2 15.6 12.5 5.8 6.9 8.6 7.3 14 9.7 6.1 15.2 15.3 15.5 16.1 19+ years 5 5.3 4.9 5.5 2.4 0.1 -- 0.5 13.4 5.1 9 13.4 6.5 6.2 6.1 6.7 Unknown / Missing data -- 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 -- 0.1 0.4 -- 5.1 4.6 3 0.1 0.6 0.5 0.3 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 2,894 2,594 2,907 2,905 1,231 775 822 812 659 315 390 396 3,466 3,054 3,339 3,321 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 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0 Asian N/A 0.2 0.1 0.2 N/A 0.4 0.5 0.4 N/A 0.3 -- -- N/A 0.2 0.2 0.3 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.2 N/A N/A N/A -- N/A N/A N/A 0.5 N/A N/A N/A 0.1 N/A N/A N/A Black 97.1 96.7 94.8 92.2 95 83.9 78 62.7 95.1 88.6 88.5 75.3 96.7 94.3 91.4 87 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 0.8 0.8 1.2 1.7 1.9 3.4 2.4 3.3 3 2.2 2.6 2.8 0.8 1.3 1.4 1.9 White -- 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.5 1.1 -- 0.6 0.5 1 0 0.2 0.3 0.4 Two or more races N/A 0.5 0.5 0.6 N/A 0.5 0.5 0.1 N/A 0.6 1 0.5 N/A 0.5 0.4 0.5 Unknown / Missing data 1.9 1.6 3.1 5.1 2.6 11.6 18.1 32.1 1.4 7.6 7.4 20.5 2.2 3.5 6.3 9.8 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 2,894 2,594 2,907 2,905 1,231 775 822 812 659 315 390 396 3,466 3,054 3,339 3,321

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 64 1,086 1,148 1,178 Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) 44 -- -- 1 Age of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year -- 1 0.5 0.3 1-5 years 18.8 26.9 20.6 20.9 6-10 years 57.8 47.6 44.9 40.6 11-15 years 17.2 23.4 31.5 34.5 16+ years -- 0.7 1.9 3.1 Unknown / Missing data 6.2 0.4 0.5 0.8 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 64 1,086 1,148 1,178 Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian -- -- -- -- Asian N/A -- -- 0 Asian/Pacific Islander -- N/A N/A N/A Black 98.4 96.8 96.3 95.1 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic -- 1 1 1.2 White 1.6 0.4 0.4 0.3 Two or more races N/A 0.2 0.2 0.6 Unknown / Missing data -- 1.7 2.2 2.8 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 64 1,086 1,148 1,178

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 0.6 1.6 3 0.4 1-5 years 41 34.5 23.9 25 6-10 years 42.8 44.8 52.2 42.1 11-15 years 13.9 16.3 16.1 28.6 16+ years 1.8 2.8 4.8 4 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 166 319 230 252 Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian -- -- -- -- Asian N/A -- -- -- Asian/Pacific Islander -- N/A N/A N/A Black 97.6 96.9 99.6 99.2 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic -- 1.6 -- 0.4 White -- 0.6 -- -- Two or more races N/A 0.3 -- -- Unknown / Missing data 2.4 0.6 0.4 0.4 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 166 319 230 252

Back to Top

District of Columbia [ 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 -- -- 91.7 93.6 Children with one or more recurrences -- -- 8.3 6.4 Total % -- -- 100 100 Number -- -- 1,353 1,413

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 0.4 Children not maltreated while in foster care -- -- 99.7 99.6 Total % -- -- 100 100 Number -- -- 3,651 3,621

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 33.8 14.3 14.6 4.3 Guardianship -- 1.3 0.5 1.3 Reunification 44.9 53 57.7 76.5 Other 13.5 31.4 27.2 17.9 Missing data 7.7 -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 659 315 390 396 Percent Exits from Foster Care 1999 2000 2001 2002   3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 15.8 34.4 35.1 13.8 Guardianship -- -- -- 3.4 Reunification 21.1 37.5 40.5 48.3 Other 63.2 28.1 24.3 34.5 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 19 32 37 29 3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 21.9 -- 2.1 1 Guardianship -- -- -- -- Reunification 34.9 17.6 26.8 46.9 Other 33.6 82.4 71.1 52.1 Missing data 9.6 -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 146 91 97 96 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children age 12 or younger at entry 43.6 20 26.5 27.8 Children older than 12 at entry 56.4 80 73.5 72.2 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 78 25 49 54

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 -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- -- N/A N/A N/A 34.4 15.8 16.2 5.7 N/A -- -- -- Guardianship -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- -- N/A N/A N/A -- 1.4 0.6 1 N/A -- -- -- Reunification -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- 33.3 N/A N/A N/A 13.2 31.2 27.2 23.5 N/A -- -- -- Other -- -- -- -- N/A 100 -- -- 33.3 N/A N/A N/A 7.3 -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- Missing data -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- Total % -- -- -- -- N/A 100 -- -- 100 N/A N/A N/A 100 100 100 100 N/A -- -- -- Number -- -- -- -- N/A 1 -- -- 3 N/A N/A N/A 627 279 345 298 N/A -- -- --     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 10 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 55.6 -- 3.4 -- N/A 50 -- -- -- -- -- -- Guardianship -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 2.5 N/A -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Reunification 55 71.4 70 100 -- 50 100 100 22.2 70.8 72.4 96.3 N/A -- 50 100 -- -- -- -- Other 15 28.6 30 -- -- 50 -- -- 22.2 29.2 24.1 1.2 N/A 50 50 -- -- -- -- -- Missing data 20 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 -- 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 N/A 100 100 100 -- -- -- -- Number 20 7 10 11 -- 2 2 4 9 24 29 81 N/A 2 4 2 -- -- -- --

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. 62.8 59.9 65.8 68 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 13.5 19.8 10.7 13.9 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 5.7 9.6 16 7.6 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 4.4 3.6 3.1 4.6 48 or more mos. 13.5 7.2 4.4 5.9 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 296 167 225 303 4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children entering care for the first time 64.7 85.4 86.7 81.2 Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode 22.3 3.7 5.7 9.7 Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode 12.8 6.2 5.4 8.6 Missing data 0.2 4.6 2.2 0.5 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,231 775 822 812

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. 22.9 2.2 5.3 -- At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 16.1 13.3 -- 5.9 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 12.1 35.6 15.8 -- At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 10.8 17.8 14 11.8 48 or more mos. 37.2 31.1 64.9 82.4 Missing data 0.9 -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 223 45 57 17

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 94.7 5.3 -- 100 1,310 2000 86.5 13.5 -- 100 820 2001 86.2 13.8 -- 100 880 2002 84.5 15.5 -- 100 878 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 1999 84.5 15.5 -- 100 826 2000 75.8 24.2 -- 100 748 2001 68.5 31.5 -- 100 531 2002 57.9 42.1 -- 100 508 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 1999 71.7 28.3 -- 100 537 2000 70.9 29.1 -- 100 609 2001 64.9 35.1 -- 100 678 2002 60.4 39.6 -- 100 500 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 1999 63.3 36.7 -- 100 371 2000 62.9 37.1 -- 100 337 2001 62.9 37.1 -- 100 529 2002 54.5 45.5 -- 100 536 48 or more mos. 1999 50 50 -- 100 1,067 2000 49.9 50.1 -- 100 855 2001 46.9 53.1 -- 100 1,111 2002 44.1 55.9 -- 100 1,295 Missing data 1999 100 -- -- 100 14 2000 -- -- -- 0 -- 2001 -- -- -- 0 -- 2002 -- -- -- 0 --

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 4.2 7.1 24.9 9.5 Institutions 12.5 16.5 20.6 20 Other settings 83.3 74.5 52.7 64.3 Missing data -- 2 1.8 6.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 814 595 598 566

Back to Top

District of Columbia [ Federal Comment ]

The following discussion focuses on the District of Columbia’s performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. The District of Columbia’s 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 the District of Columbia’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 t 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, the District of Columbia’s rate of maltreatment recurrence within 6 months was 6.4 percent, which does not meet the national standard (6.1 percent or less), but is less than the national median (7.5 percent). There was no change in performance on this measure from 1999 to 2002.

Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
In CY 2002, the District of Columbia’s incidence of maltreatment in foster care was 0.39 percent, which meets the national standard (0.57 percent or less) and is equal to the national median (0.39 percent). Performance on this measure declined from 2001 to 2002 (+18.2 percent change).

Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In FY 2002, 82.1 percent of children exiting foster care in the District of Columbia were discharged to a permanent home (which is less than the national median of 86.1 percent); 65.5 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 47.9 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 less than the national median of 72.0 percent). These findings suggest that the District of Columbia is not consistently successful in finding permanent homes for children discharged from foster care. In addition, 27.8 percent of the children exiting foster care through emancipation were age 12 or younger at the time of entry into foster care, which is more than the national median of 26.9 percent.

Performance from FY 1999 to FY 2002 improved with regard to: (1) the percentage of children with a diagnosed disability who exited foster care to a permanent home (+77.8 percent change), and (2) the percentage of children emancipated from foster care who were age 12 or younger when they entered foster care (-36.3 percent change). However, performance declined from FY 1999 to FY 2002 with regard to the percentage of children discharged to a permanent home who were older than age 12 when they entered foster care (-15.7 percent change). There was no change in performance from FY 1999 to FY 2002 with regard to the percentage of all children exiting foster care who were discharged to a permanent home.

Outcome 4. Reduce time to reunification without increasing re-entry
In FY 2002, the percentage of all reunifications in the District of Columbia occurring within 12 months of a child’s entry into foster care was 68.0, which does not meet the national standard (76.2 percent or more), but is equal to the national median (68.0 percent). Performance with regard to reunifications within 12 months improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (+8.2 percent change).

The District of Columbia’s performance in FY 2002 with regard to the percent of re-entries into foster care within 12 months of a discharge from a prior foster care episode was 9.7 percent. This does not meet the national standard (8.6 percent or less), but is about equal to the national median (9.9 percent). Performance on this measure improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (-56.3 percent change).

Outcome 5. Reduce time in foster care to adoption
The District of Columbia’s performance on this measure cannot be assessed because there was a considerable discrepancy between the number of children the State provided in its AFCARS Adoption data submission as adopted in FY 2002 (252 children), and the number of children provided in its AFCARS Foster Care data submission as exiting foster care to a finalized adoption (17 children). This discrepancy also occurred in prior years.

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 84.5, which does not meet the national standard (86.7 percent or more), but is about equal to the national median (84.1 percent). Performance on this measure declined from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (-10.7 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 29.5, which is more than three times the national median of 8.6. In addition, performance on this measure declined from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (+76.6 percent change).

Back to Top

Return to Chapter VI State Data Pages

Return to Table of Contents