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

Massachusetts

Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment | Federal Comment

Massachusetts [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population (Census Bureau) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total children under 18 years 1,468,554 1,467,524 1,473,056 1,463,340 Race/ethnicity (%)1, 2         Alaska Native/American Indian 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 Asian N/A 4 4.2 4.3 Asian/Pacific Islander 5.2 N/A N/A N/A Black 8.1 6.5 7.3 7.4 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A N/A 0 0 Hispanic 10.4 10.5 10.8 11 White 76.2 75.2 75.4 74.8 Two or more races N/A 2.7 2 2.1 Other N/A 0.8 0 0 % Child population in poverty 20 15.8 11.9 13.2 Child Welfare Summary 1999 2000 2002 2002 Child maltreatment victims3 29,633 34,150 34,721 34,995 Children in foster care on 9/30 11,169 11,619 11,568 12,510 Children adopted 922 861 778 808

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 56,620 63,446 63,305 64,343 38.6 per 1,000 43.2 per 1,000 43.0 per 1,000 44.0 per 1,000 Child maltreatment victims 29,633 34,150 34,721 34,995 20.2 per 1,000 23.3 per 1,000 23.6 per 1,000 23.9 per 1,000 Child fatalities 0 4 19 17 0.0 per 100,000 -- per 100,000 -- per 100,000 -- per 100,000

Age of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 0 8.1 8.1 8.3 1-5 years 0 29 29.4 29.4 6-10 years 0 30.6 30.1 29.4 11-15 years 0 25.9 26.5 26.7 16+ years 0 5.5 5.5 5.8 Unknown / Missing data 0 0.9 0.5 0.4 Total % 0 100 100 100 Number 29,633 34,150 34,721 34,995 Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 Asian/Pacific Islander 0 2 1.9 1.7 Black 0 13.6 14.2 14 Hispanic 0 15.9 18.4 19.9 White 0 43.5 45.2 46.9 Two or more races 0 1.5 1.7 1.9 Total %4 0 100 100 100 Number 29,633 34,150 34,721 34,995 Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Emotional Abuse 0 0.4 0.3 0.3 Medical Neglect 0 -- -- -- Neglect 0 87 88.1 89 Physical Abuse 0 19 17.9 16.9 Sexual Abuse 0 3.5 3.2 3.5 Unknown / Missing data 0 -- -- -- Other 0 0.1 0.1 0.2 Total %5 0 110 109.6 109.9 Number 29,633 34,150 34,721 34,995

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) 11,550 7,368 7,749 11,169 18,918 FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 10,630 7,381 6,392 11,619 18,011 FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 11,030 7,174 6,636 11,568 18,204 FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 11,503 6,555 5,548 12,510 18,058 Median Length of Stay (Months)   FY1999 (10/1/98 - 9/30/99) 22.1 N/A 10.7 18.5 N/A FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 19.2 N/A 8.3 17.4 N/A FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 17.9 N/A 9.4 17.5 N/A FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 19.1 N/A 12.7 18.6 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 2.4 2.6 3 3.1 8.5 9.2 9.7 10.8 3 3 3.4 3.2 2.6 3 3.2 3.3 1-5 years 22.4 20 19.8 18.8 19.5 18.9 20.3 20.5 21.4 19.7 21.5 21.5 20 19.5 18.9 19.2 6-10 years 24.4 23.4 21.4 20.2 19.1 19.2 17.4 17 21.3 20 18 17.2 22.9 21.1 20.2 18.6 11-15 years 30.2 32 33.3 33.7 39.1 40.2 38.9 38.7 28.4 30.5 31 26.4 32.6 34 33.7 34.1 16-18 years 18 19.2 19.5 20.9 13.3 12.2 13.3 12.9 23.1 23.9 23.3 27.3 19.2 19.4 20.9 21.2 19+ years 1.9 2.3 2.4 2.6 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 1.6 1.6 1.7 2.8 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.7 Unknown / Missing data 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.1 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.6 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.8 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 11,550 10,630 11,030 11,503 7,368 7,381 7,174 6,555 7,749 6,392 6,636 5,548 11,169 11,619 11,568 12,510 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 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 Asian N/A 1.5 1.6 1.8 N/A 1.9 2 2.5 N/A 1.9 1.9 2.3 N/A 1.6 1.7 1.9 Asian/Pacific Islander 1.6 N/A N/A N/A 1.6 N/A N/A N/A 1.7 N/A N/A N/A 1.5 N/A N/A N/A Black 20.1 19 17.7 18.6 15.4 13.5 13.5 15.8 18.4 15.8 14.8 17.1 18.2 17.3 16.8 17.8 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- 0 N/A 0 0 0 N/A 0 0 0 N/A -- -- 0 Hispanic 21 20.6 21 24.8 16.7 16.5 15.4 24.4 18.2 16.6 18.1 23.6 20 20.3 19.1 25.2 White 48.7 48.4 46.8 49.8 47.1 45.1 43.9 49.8 47.9 48.2 46.5 50 48.3 46.4 45.2 49.7 Two or more races N/A 0.6 1 2.2 N/A 1.1 1.3 2.7 N/A 0.6 1.3 2.2 N/A 0.9 1.1 2.4 Unknown / Missing data 8 9.6 11.6 2.6 18.7 21.6 23.8 4.6 13.4 16.8 17.2 4.7 11.3 13.2 15.9 2.8 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 11,550 10,630 11,030 11,503 7,368 7,381 7,174 6,555 7,749 6,392 6,636 5,548 11,169 11,619 11,568 12,510

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 3,278 3,147 2,912 3,114 Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) 927 897 720 1,193 Age of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 2.5 3 3.2 3.2 1-5 years 39.5 38.6 39.7 40.1 6-10 years 41.2 38.5 36.8 35.1 11-15 years 16.1 19.2 19.2 20.1 16+ years 0.7 0.5 1 1.3 Unknown / Missing data 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 3,278 3,147 2,912 3,114 Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 Asian N/A 1.9 2 1.8 Asian/Pacific Islander 2.1 N/A N/A N/A Black 19.5 16.4 14.4 15.8 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- 0 Hispanic 24.9 24.8 25.6 31.1 White 44.2 45 41.7 44.8 Two or more races N/A 1.1 1.8 3.3 Unknown / Missing data 9.1 10.6 14.4 3 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 3,278 3,147 2,912 3,114

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 0.3 1.4 1.2 1.4 1-5 years 44.7 48.1 48.7 49.1 6-10 years 41.8 37.4 32.8 32.4 11-15 years 12.7 12.5 16.3 15.5 16+ years 0.5 0.6 1 1.4 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 922 861 778 808 Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0.2 0.6 0.1 -- Asian N/A 2.3 1.7 1.4 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.9 N/A N/A N/A Black 23.8 21.5 17.4 15 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 20.9 20.3 23.1 25.4 White 51.6 49.7 52.2 50.4 Two or more races N/A 2.8 2.1 5.7 Unknown / Missing data 2.6 2.8 3.5 2.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 922 861 778 808

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Massachusetts [ 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 92.6 89.3 88.6 89 Children with one or more recurrences 7.4 10.7 11.4 11 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 14,167 16,225 17,022 16,462

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 0.9 1.1 1.1 1.1 Children not maltreated while in foster care 99.1 98.9 98.9 98.9 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 16,590 16,579 16,619 16,650

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 16.4 12.1 12.8 14.3 Guardianship 8.9 6.7 4.3 7.9 Reunification 53.2 54.6 59.3 60.2 Other 8.2 9.3 11.6 15.5 Missing data 13.4 17.3 12 2 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 7,749 6,392 6,636 5,548 Percent Exits from Foster Care 1999 2000 2001 2002   3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 29.4 16.7 38.9 26.8 Guardianship 5.9 8.3 -- 6.3 Reunification 29.4 25 38.9 43.5 Other 17.6 33.3 11.1 21.8 Missing data 17.6 16.7 11.1 1.5 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 17 12 18 395 3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 Guardianship 3 2.6 1.9 2.7 Reunification 64.2 59.5 61.3 65 Other 16 16.8 22 29.1 Missing data 16.6 21 14.6 3.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,957 2,694 2,655 2,262 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children age 12 or younger at entry 25 24.2 25.5 23.1 Children older than 12 at entry 74.6 75.8 74.5 76.9 Missing data 0.3 -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 635 557 542 726

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 5.9 -- 30.8 -- N/A 11.8 15.4 10.4 5.3 N/A N/A N/A 20.2 17 15.9 12.4 N/A -- -- -- Guardianship -- -- 7.7 8.3 N/A 2.5 1.6 4.8 0.8 N/A N/A N/A 13.7 9.1 5.4 11.1 N/A -- -- -- Reunification 88.2 30 46.2 83.3 N/A 64.7 61.8 70.4 9.1 N/A N/A N/A 8.6 11.6 14.2 16.4 N/A 100 50 -- Other 5.9 50 7.7 8.3 N/A 5.9 13 13.6 13.6 N/A N/A N/A 14.5 19.3 12.3 2.9 N/A -- -- 100 Missing data -- 20 7.7 -- N/A 15.1 8.1 0.8 N/A -- 50 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 N/A 100 100 100 100 N/A N/A N/A 100 100 100 100 N/A 100 100 100 Number 17 10 13 12 N/A 119 123 125 132 N/A N/A N/A 1,422 1,010 982 947 N/A 1 2 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 21.7 14.6 16.4 15.4 16.1 12.9 14.2 14.5 18 7.9 6.8 13.3 57.1 41.5 22.9 35.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 -- Guardianship 7 6.3 4.2 6 8.9 7.1 4.5 8.3 9.3 8.4 5.3 6.3 N/A -- 2.4 4.9 4.1 3.4 2.9 4.3 Reunification 49 51.4 53.8 62.9 53.8 54.8 57.3 58.7 49.4 46.3 68 69.9 33.3 51.2 62.7 55.7 77.2 72.3 78.1 68.1 Other 8.2 8.8 12.3 14.3 9.1 10.3 12.3 16.5 8.7 15 9.2 8.4 N/A -- 1.2 4.1 2.3 2.8 6.8 22.4 Missing data 14.1 18.9 13.3 1.4 12.1 14.8 11.7 2.1 14.7 22.4 10.7 2.1 9.5 7.3 10.8 -- 16.3 21.4 12.1 5.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 1,414 1,058 1,204 1,308 3,708 3,079 3,088 2,774 334 214 206 143 21 41 83 122 701 860 935 116

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. 72.9 76.6 75.1 71.6 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 15.3 14.4 16.6 16.8 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 5.4 4.3 3.9 5.8 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 2.3 1.9 1.4 2.2 48 or more mos. 1.9 1.7 1.9 2.9 Missing data 2.1 1.1 1.1 0.7 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 4,121 3,489 3,935 3,338 4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children entering care for the first time 66 68.3 68.2 74.9 Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode 22.3 20.2 20 11.2 Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode 11.3 11.3 11.7 13.9 Missing data 0.4 0.1 0.2 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 7,368 7,381 7,174 6,555

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. 2.5 2.2 2.1 2 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 6.8 13.5 17.2 17.2 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 17.2 20.7 24 26.3 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 21.2 20.3 18.8 24.4 48 or more mos. 52 43.2 37.8 30.2 Missing data 0.3 0.1 -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,271 773 849 796

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 77 18.4 4.7 100 8,170 2000 74.3 22.7 3.1 100 8,154 2001 73.2 23.7 3.1 100 8,113 2002 75.8 21.4 2.8 100 7,356 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 1999 58.7 40.1 1.2 100 3,252 2000 53.8 44.8 1.4 100 3,386 2001 54.4 45.3 0.3 100 3,614 2002 52.5 47.4 0.1 100 3,700 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 1999 49.4 50.5 0 100 2,187 2000 46 53.3 0.7 100 1,933 2001 42.1 57.8 0.1 100 2,137 2002 42.8 57.2 -- 100 2,367 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 1999 39.9 60.1 -- 100 1,460 2000 34.1 65.9 -- 100 1,338 2001 39.7 60.3 0 100 1,258 2002 34 66 -- 100 1,415 48 or more mos. 1999 25.3 74.7 0 100 3,626 2000 18.7 81.3 -- 100 3,079 2001 19 81 -- 100 2,984 2002 17.5 82.5 -- 100 3,160 Missing data 1999 46.6 0.9 52.5 100 223 2000 56.2 0.8 43 100 121 2001 57.1 1 41.8 100 98 2002 41.7 1.7 56.7 100 60

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 3.8 3.4 4 3.3 Institutions 4.4 3.5 3.8 3.6 Other settings 91.5 92.9 92.1 93 Missing data 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 3,877 3,998 3,870 3,562

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Massachusetts [ State Comment ]

Lewis H. Spence, Commissioner
Department of Social Services Massachusetts Executive
Office of Health and Human Services
617-748-2000

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

• The Massachusetts Department of Social Services (DSS) continues to address the issues that have been raised in the review of our State’s data tables. Discrepancies noted pertaining to placement discharge reasons have been corrected on resubmitted AFCARS files. DSS is committed to an ongoing effort to improve the accuracy of the data submitted to the AFCARS and NCANDS systems. Efforts have been and continue to be made to improve the data collected in FamilyNet, the Massachusetts SACWIS system, and to extract data for the AFCARS and NCANDS data files in compliance with the latest federal directives.
  
  
• No child fatalities are reported on the NCANDS Child file. In calendar year 2001, Massachusetts began counting all child abuse/neglect fatalities, whether they occurred in families known or unknown to the Department of Social Services. Counts in prior years were limited to children from families known to the Department.
  
  

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Massachusetts [ Federal Comment ]

The following discussion focuses on Massachusetts’ performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. The Massachusetts 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 the Child Welfare Monitoring Documents Library. A discussion of the implications of CFSR findings for Massachusetts’ 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, Massachusetts’ rate of maltreatment recurrence within 6 months was 11.0 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 (+48.6 percent change).

The cross-State analyses found a substantial positive relationship between State performance on this outcome measure and the State rate of child victims (i.e., the number of child victims per 1,000 children in the population). States with a relatively high rate of child victims tended to have a relatively high rate of maltreatment recurrence. For Massachusetts, both the incidence of maltreatment recurrence (11.0 percent) and the rate of child victims (23.9 per 1,000 children in the population) were in the top quartile of the State rankings.

The cross-State analyses also found a small, but definite, positive relationship between performance on the measure of maltreatment recurrence and the State percentage of child victims experiencing neglect. States with a relatively high percentage of child victims experiencing neglect tended to have a relatively high percentage of maltreatment recurrence. For Massachusetts, both the incidence of maltreatment recurrence (11.0 percent) and the percentage of child victims experiencing neglect (89.0 percent) were in the top quartile of the State rankings. This suggests that a State’s definitions and laws pertaining to what constitutes maltreatment may be related to the State’s 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, Massachusetts’ incidence of maltreatment in foster care was 1.11 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 (+18.0 percent change).

Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In FY 2002, 82.4 percent of children exiting foster care in Massachusetts were discharged to a permanent home (which is less than the national median of 86.1 percent); 76.7 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 67.9 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 State experiences challenges in achieving permanency for children exiting foster care. However, 23.1 percent of the children emancipated from foster care were age 12 or younger at the time of entry into 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 all children exiting foster care to a permanent home (+5.1 percent change); (2) the percentage of children with a diagnosed disability exiting foster care to a permanent home (+18.6 percent change); and (3) the percentage of children emancipated from foster care who were age 12 or younger when they entered foster care (-7.6 percent change). Performance did not change from FY 1999 to FY 2002 with regard to the percentage of children exiting foster care to a permanent home who were older than age 12 when they entered foster care.

Outcome 4. Reduce time to reunification without increasing re-entry
In FY 2002, the percentage of all reunifications in Massachusetts occurring within 12 months of a child’s entry into foster care was 71.6, which does not meet the national standard (76.2 percent or more), but is more than the national median (68.0 percent). Performance with regard to reunifications within 12 months exhibited no change from FY 1999 to FY 2002.

Massachusetts’ 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 11.2 percent, which is more than the national standard (8.6 percent or less) and the national median (9.9 percent). However, performance on this measure improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (-49.6 percent change).

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 19.2, which is less than both the national standard (32.0 percent or more) and 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. Massachusetts’ performance on this measure improved from FY 2000 to FY 2002 (+22.8 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 75.8, which is less than both the national standard (86.7 percent or more) and the national median (84.1 percent). Performance on this measure did not 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 placed in a group home or institution was 6.9, which is less than the national median of 8.6 percent. Performance on this measure improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (-16.3 percent change).

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