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

Kansas

Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment | Federal Comment

Kansas [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population (Census Bureau) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total children under 18 years 698,637 703,314 702,262 696,519 Race/ethnicity (%)1, 2         Alaska Native/American Indian 0.8 1 1 0.9 Asian N/A 1.7 1.9 2 Asian/Pacific Islander 2.1 N/A N/A N/A Black 6.8 6.9 7.2 7.2 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A N/A 0 0 Hispanic 8.4 10.4 10.7 11 White 81.9 77 76.6 76.1 Two or more races N/A 2.9 2.6 2.7 Other N/A 0.2 0 0 % Child population in poverty 18 15 14.4 12.2 Child Welfare Summary 1999 2000 2002 2002 Child maltreatment victims3 8,452 8,356 7,308 6,425 Children in foster care on 9/30 6,774 6,569 6,409 6,190 Children adopted 566 468 428 471

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 28,694 30,627 7,814 26,696 41.1 per 1,000 43.5 per 1,000 11.1 per 1,000 38.3 per 1,000 Child maltreatment victims 8,452 8,356 7,308 6,425 12.1 per 1,000 11.9 per 1,000 10.4 per 1,000 9.2 per 1,000 Child fatalities 6 7 7 1 0.9 per 100,000 1.0 per 100,000 1.0 per 100,000 0.1 per 100,000

Age of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 6.9 7.5 7.1 7.3 1-5 years 31.5 31.4 32.9 33.7 6-10 years 31.7 30.4 30 29.4 11-15 years 24.2 25 24.4 24 16+ years 5.4 5.6 5.1 5.2 Unknown / Missing data 0.4 -- 0.5 0.4 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 8,452 8,356 7,308 6,425 Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0.7 1.1 1 0.9 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.1 0.5 0.4 0.3 Black 14.3 14.7 13.5 14.2 Hispanic 4.9 2.7 2.1 1.9 White 75.9 74.3 75.2 74.5 Two or more races 6.3 1.3 1.7 1.8 Total %4 104.8 100 100 100 Number 8,452 8,356 7,308 6,425 Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Emotional Abuse 14 88.1 17 17 Medical Neglect 3 26.2 2.5 2.2 Neglect 49.5 77 27.6 27.4 Physical Abuse 30.8 54.3 27.4 25.8 Sexual Abuse 15.7 27.4 13.8 14.3 Unknown / Missing data 0 4.2 0.6 0.8 Other 0 82.5 23 23.1 Total %5 113 359.7 111.9 110.6 Number 8,452 8,356 7,308 6,425

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) 4,959 3,376 1,562 6,774 8,335 FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 5,166 3,191 1,788 6,569 8,357 FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 5,376 2,834 1,801 6,409 8,210 FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 5,132 2,766 1,710 6,190 7,898 Median Length of Stay (Months)   FY1999 (10/1/98 - 9/30/99) 11.4 N/A 12.9 13.9 N/A FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 12.3 N/A 13.2 14.8 N/A FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 13.3 N/A 15.5 16.9 N/A FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 15.1 N/A 16.3 16.6 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 3.3 3.9 3.1 3.2 10.9 10 11 10 2 2.3 1.9 1.4 3.6 3 3.1 3.1 1-5 years 20 21.3 22.6 23.1 21.7 21.4 21.8 22 16.4 18.3 17 18.8 21.5 23.5 24 24.1 6-10 years 21.3 21.3 21.8 21.4 20.6 20.2 20.4 17.9 17.6 16.4 17.7 16 21.5 21.3 21.8 20.5 11-15 years 34.4 32.5 32.1 32 33.5 35 33.8 35.4 28.3 28.6 26.7 24.7 30.4 30.3 30.4 30.4 16-18 years 20.1 20.2 19.7 19.7 12.6 13 12.7 14.6 33.7 32.9 34.8 36.8 21.5 20.7 19.8 21.2 19+ years 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.1 0 0 -- 1.7 1.3 1.7 2.2 1 0.8 0.7 0.7 Unknown / Missing data 0.1 0.2 0.1 0 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 4,959 5,166 5,376 5,132 3,376 3,191 2,834 2,766 1,562 1,788 1,801 1,710 6,774 6,569 6,409 6,190 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 1.3 1.5 0.8 0.8 1.4 0.7 1 0.7 1.3 2.1 0.7 1.1 1.4 0.9 0.9 0.7 Asian N/A 0.4 0.4 0.3 N/A 0.5 0.3 0.3 N/A 0.6 0.6 0.5 N/A 0.4 0.3 0.2 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.4 N/A N/A N/A 0.5 N/A N/A N/A 0.7 N/A N/A N/A 0.4 N/A N/A N/A Black 22.3 22.3 22.7 21.6 18.3 18.1 15.9 14.4 15.4 16.8 16.8 14.1 21.9 21.8 21.4 20.4 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A 0 -- -- N/A -- 0 0 N/A -- -- -- N/A 0 0 0 Hispanic 6.7 6.2 5.5 5.3 6.8 3.8 3.8 4.7 7.2 5 3.8 4.2 6.6 5.4 5.2 5.4 White 67.4 67.1 67.3 68 70.4 72.6 72.7 72.2 72.2 72.8 73.8 75.4 67.8 68.2 67.8 67.8 Two or more races N/A 0.6 1 1.6 N/A 1 1.8 2 N/A 0.6 0.9 1.4 N/A 0.8 1.4 1.8 Unknown / Missing data 1.9 1.9 2.4 2.5 2.6 3.3 4.4 5.6 3.2 2.2 3.4 3.3 1.9 2.5 3 3.6 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 4,959 5,166 5,376 5,132 3,376 3,191 2,834 2,766 1,562 1,788 1,801 1,710 6,774 6,569 6,409 6,190

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 1,757 1,910 2,063 2,082 Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) 987 1,190 1,350 1,401 Age of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 2 1.7 1.9 1.7 1-5 years 26 27.3 28.2 30.4 6-10 years 28.9 27.2 27.2 26.6 11-15 years 32.2 31.8 32 30.9 16+ years 9.4 10 8.8 9.2 Unknown / Missing data 1.5 2 1.9 1.3 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,757 1,910 2,063 2,082 Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 1.6 1.2 1.1 0.7 Asian N/A 0 0.3 0.3 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.3 N/A N/A N/A Black 29.3 29 29.8 29.1 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 5.7 6.6 6.8 5.3 White 60.7 60.1 58.9 60.2 Two or more races N/A 1.1 1 2.1 Unknown / Missing data 2.4 1.9 2.1 2.4 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,757 1,910 2,063 2,082

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 0.2 -- -- 0.6 1-5 years 39.4 39.7 41.8 45.2 6-10 years 34.8 32.7 34.1 30.8 11-15 years 21.9 20.9 18.7 18.3 16+ years 3.7 6.4 5.4 5.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 566 468 428 471 Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 1.8 1.5 0.7 1.5 Asian N/A 0.9 -- -- Asian/Pacific Islander -- N/A N/A N/A Black 26.9 27.8 20.1 25.7 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 8.3 5.3 2.8 7.9 White 58.8 59.4 71.5 62.6 Two or more races N/A 1.9 1.4 1.1 Unknown / Missing data 2.8 3.2 3.5 1.3 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 566 468 428 471

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Kansas [ 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 -- 92.2 91.7 91.8 Children with one or more recurrences -- 7.8 8.3 8.2 Total % -- 100 100 100 Number -- 4,080 3,533 3,137

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 -- 0.5 0.5 0.6 Children not maltreated while in foster care -- 99.5 99.5 99.4 Total % -- 100 100 100 Number -- 7,961 7,796 7,481

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 2.1 1.7 1.3 1.8 Guardianship 6.2 5.6 6.8 9.1 Reunification 75.8 79.6 78.3 72.9 Other 15.9 13 13.6 15.6 Missing data -- -- -- 0.6 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,562 1,788 1,801 1,710 Percent Exits from Foster Care 1999 2000 2001 2002   3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 8.3 22.2 7.1 20 Guardianship -- 5.6 7.1 4 Reunification 66.7 66.7 64.3 44 Other 25 5.6 21.4 24 Missing data -- -- -- 8 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 12 18 14 25 3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 Guardianship 3.9 4.6 5.1 6.9 Reunification 72.1 73.5 69.9 64.8 Other 23.9 21.7 24.8 27.2 Missing data -- -- -- 1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 727 808 830 815 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children age 12 or younger at entry 23.7 19.5 12.5 16.9 Children older than 12 at entry 76.3 80.5 87.5 83.1 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 114 149 160 195

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 3.7 2.3 0.7 1.2 N/A -- -- -- Guardianship -- -- 33.3 -- N/A -- -- -- -- N/A N/A N/A 10.4 5.3 6.3 12 N/A -- -- -- Reunification 80 64.9 58.3 66.7 N/A 81.8 63.6 87.5 9.1 N/A N/A N/A 20.7 12.7 15.2 16.2 N/A -- -- -- Other 20 35.1 8.3 33.3 N/A 18.2 36.4 12.5 -- 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 -- -- -- Number 20 37 12 18 N/A 11 11 8 11 N/A N/A N/A 241 300 302 241 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 2.7 2.2 1.4 1.4 1.6 1.5 1.4 2.1 6 -- -- -- N/A 9.1 6.2 -- -- -- -- -- Guardianship 4.4 3.4 5.8 4.2 5.9 6.3 6.5 9.3 -- -- 12.9 -- N/A -- -- 16.7 -- -- -- -- Reunification 78.8 86.5 65.2 76.4 77.2 79.3 79.5 73 84 89.7 75.8 75.4 N/A 72.7 81.2 75 -- -- -- -- Other 14.2 7.9 27.5 18.1 15.3 12.8 12.5 14.8 10 10.3 11.3 24.6 N/A 18.2 12.5 8.3 -- -- -- -- Missing data -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.8 -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 N/A 100 100 100 -- -- -- -- Number 113 89 69 72 1,127 1,301 1,329 1,290 50 39 62 57 N/A 11 16 24 -- -- -- --

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. 50.3 47.8 43.2 42.3 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 31.8 33 35 33.7 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 9.6 11.9 13.8 15.5 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 4.3 3.7 4.2 4.7 48 or more mos. 2.8 3.2 3.7 3.4 Missing data 1.2 0.4 0.1 0.4 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,184 1,424 1,411 1,247 4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children entering care for the first time 91.1 89.6 89.9 87.9 Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode 2.4 4.3 3.1 3.8 Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode 0.7 1.1 2.8 4.4 Missing data 5.8 5.1 4.2 4 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 3,376 3,191 2,834 2,766

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. 30.3 16.7 4.3 22.6 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 27.3 20 34.8 29 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 6.1 36.7 34.8 6.5 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 18.2 6.7 -- 22.6 48 or more mos. 18.2 20 26.1 19.4 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 33 30 23 31

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 64.2 27.2 8.6 100 3,732 2000 67 27.8 5.2 100 3,591 2001 67 28.3 4.7 100 3,192 2002 69 28.9 2.1 100 3,079 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 1999 44.5 50.7 4.9 100 2,377 2000 42.5 55.2 2.2 100 2,339 2001 42.2 55.6 2.2 100 2,319 2002 42 56.7 1.2 100 2,099 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 1999 30.2 66.3 3.5 100 1,040 2000 28.3 69.4 2.3 100 1,224 2001 27.8 70.3 1.9 100 1,254 2002 29.4 68.6 1.9 100 1,243 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 1999 21.2 76.8 2 100 449 2000 20.7 76.8 2.5 100 569 2001 19.5 78.5 2 100 697 2002 23.3 73.8 2.9 100 615 48 or more mos. 1999 18.1 79.5 2.4 100 701 2000 14 85 1 100 628 2001 12.2 86.7 1.1 100 744 2002 10 88.7 1.3 100 851 Missing data 1999 75 11.1 13.9 100 36 2000 66.7 16.7 16.7 100 6 2001 75 -- 25 100 4 2002 63.6 36.4 -- 100 11

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 3.2 1.6 1.6 1.6 Institutions 2.3 2.9 1.3 1.1 Other settings 93.5 94.2 96.1 97 Missing data 1.1 1.2 1 0.3 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,806 1,701 1,585 1,483

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Kansas [ State Comment ]

Sandra Hazlett, Director Children and Family Services
Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services
785-296-4653

The following are Kansas’ comments on the State data presented in Child Welfare Outcomes 2002: Report to Congress:

• With regard to Section B, readers may notice that data under maltreatment types reflect that 23 percent of child victims in Kansas are due to a report type of “other.” This reported victim population of “other” is due to a maltreatment reason categorized in Kansas as “Lack of Supervision.”
  


• With regard to Section C (data pertaining to entrances and exits from foster care), during FFY2001 and FFY2002, Kansas had an AFCARS programming error which prevented accurate reporting of the number of children discharged from foster care (Exits) for reason of adoption. The impact of this programming error is that Kansas underreported exits from foster care for reason of adoption as reflected in Tables 3. 1 and 5. 1, as well as the total number of exits reported in Section C. Kansas has corrected this programming error. Additional information in Section C regarding median length of stay indicates that the length of stay for children in care on October 1, 2001, (15.1 months) is nearly two months less than the median length of stay for children in care one day earlier on September 30, 2001(16.9 months). At the time of this publication, Kansas is unable to determine the reason for the difference in median length of stay.
  


• With regard to performance on outcomes 4.1 and 6.1, Kansas does not meet national standards for timely reunification or placement stability. Kansas is addressing these outcomes in our Program Improvement Plan.
  

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Kansas [ Federal Comment ]

The following discussion focuses on Kansas’ performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. The Kansas 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 Kansas’ 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, Kansas’ rate of maltreatment recurrence within 6 months was 8.2 percent, which is more than both the national standard (6.1 percent or less) and the national median (7.5 percent). Performance on this measure declined from 1999 to 2002 (+5.1 percent change).

Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
In CY 2002, Kansas’ incidence of maltreatment in foster care was 0.61 percent, which is more than both the national standard (0.57 percent or less) and the national median (0.39 percent). Performance on this measure declined from 1999 to 2002 (+24.5 percent change).

Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In FY 2002, 83.9 percent of children exiting foster care in Kansas were discharged to a permanent home (which is less than the national median of 86.1 percent); 68.0 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 71.8 percent of children exiting foster care who were older than age 12 at entry into foster care exited to a permanent home (which is about equal to the national median of 72.0 percent). These findings suggest that the State experiences challenges in achieving permanency for children exiting foster care. However, 16.9 percent of the children emancipated from foster care were age 12 or younger when they entered foster care, which is less than the national median of 26.9 percent.

Performance improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 with regard to the percentage of children emancipated from foster care who were age 12 or younger when they entered foster care (-28.5 percent change). However, performance declined with regard to: (1) the percentage of children with a diagnosed disability exiting foster care to a permanent home (-9.3 percent change), and (2) the percentage of children exiting to a permanent home who were older than age 12 when they entered foster care (-5.6 percent change). There was no change in performance with regard to the percentage of all children exiting foster care to permanent homes.

Outcome 4. Reduce time to reunification without increasing re-entry
In FY 2002, the percentage of all reunifications in Kansas occurring within 12 months of a child’s entry into foster care was 42.3, which is less 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 declined from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (-15.7 percent change).

Because the cross-State analysis 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, Kansas’ performance in FY 2002 with regard to reunifications within 12 months must be considered in the context of its re-entry rate. For Kansas, 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 3.8, which is considerably less than both the national standard (8.6 percent or less) and the national median (9.9 percent). Thus, although Kansas had a relatively low percentage of reunifications in FY 2002 occurring within 12 months of entry into foster care, the State also had a low 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 51.6. However, this percentage is difficult to interpret because it is based on the number of children reported as exits from foster care to a finalized adoption. There was a substantial discrepancy between the number of finalized adoptions the State provided in its AFCARS Adoption data submission (471 finalized adoptions) and the number of exits to a finalized adoption the State provided in its AFCARS Foster Care data submission (31 children reported as exiting to a finalized adoption). This extremely large discrepancy also occurred in FYs 1999, 2000, and 2001.

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 69.0, which is less than both the national standard (86.7 percent or more) and the national median (84.1 percent). Performance on this measure improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (+7.4 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 2.7, which is less than the national median of 8.6 percent. Performance on this measure improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (-50.8 percent change).

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