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

Michigan

Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment | Federal Comment

Michigan [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population (Census Bureau) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total children under 18 years 2,561,139 2,575,677 2,573,235 2,570,264 Race/ethnicity (%)1, 2         Alaska Native/American Indian 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 Asian N/A 1.8 2 2.1 Asian/Pacific Islander 1.9 N/A N/A N/A Black 17.2 17.3 17.5 17.5 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A N/A 0 0 Hispanic 4.1 4.8 4.8 4.9 White 76.2 72.4 72.6 72.3 Two or more races N/A 2.8 2.4 2.5 Other N/A 0.2 0 0 % Child population in poverty 14 13.6 13 14.7 Child Welfare Summary 1999 2000 2002 2002 Child maltreatment victims3 24,505 26,680 28,475 28,830 Children in foster care on 9/30 20,300 20,034 20,896 21,251 Children adopted 2,446 2,804 2,980 2,847

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 166,160 164,369 172,281 190,164 64.9 per 1,000 63.8 per 1,000 66.9 per 1,000 74.0 per 1,000 Child maltreatment victims 24,505 26,680 28,475 28,830 9.6 per 1,000 10.4 per 1,000 11.1 per 1,000 11.2 per 1,000 Child fatalities 48 -- -- -- 1.9 per 100,000 -- per 100,000 -- per 100,000 -- per 100,000

Age of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 11.9 12.4 12.4 12.3 1-5 years 28.9 27.9 27.2 28 6-10 years 31 30.6 29.7 28.4 11-15 years 23.5 24 25.6 26 16+ years 4.7 5.1 5.1 5.3 Unknown / Missing data 0 -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 24,505 26,680 28,475 28,830 Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.7 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.4 -- 0.4 0.4 Black 40.7 39.7 38.9 35.8 Hispanic 2.4 2.2 2.9 2.9 White 55.8 53.7 55 57.9 Two or more races 2.4 -- -- -- Total %4 102.4 100 100 100 Number 24,505 26,680 28,475 28,830 Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Emotional Abuse 6.9 7.3 7.5 5.4 Medical Neglect 2.3 2.7 2.5 2.4 Neglect 70.8 68.7 66.3 69.2 Physical Abuse 20.9 22.7 21.3 19.8 Sexual Abuse 6.5 5.9 5.8 5.8 Unknown / Missing data 0 -- -- -- Other 0 -- 3.6 3.5 Total %5 107.4 107.3 107 106.1 Number 24,505 26,680 28,475 28,830

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) 16,111 10,929 6,740 20,300 27,040 FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 17,129 10,707 7,802 20,034 27,836 FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 16,925 12,283 8,312 20,896 29,208 FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 21,059 10,019 9,827 21,251 31,078 Median Length of Stay (Months)   FY1999 (10/1/98 - 9/30/99) 13.6 N/A 13.9 14.4 N/A FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 14.5 N/A 15.3 14.7 N/A FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 14.4 N/A 14.8 12.7 N/A FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 15.3 N/A 18.2 15.6 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 4.7 4.5 4.9 4.5 12.8 13.9 14 13.9 2.6 2.7 2.9 2 5.3 5.2 5.6 4.5 1-5 years 26.6 25.2 26.6 25.4 24.6 27 27.8 25.3 24.2 24.8 27.3 27.6 26.6 27.3 28 25.7 6-10 years 23.5 24.4 25.2 23.7 22.5 24.4 23.9 22.9 20.6 22.5 24.2 22.6 25 25.2 24.7 23.3 11-15 years 24.7 25.5 25.2 26.8 26.9 24.5 25.6 28.9 19.4 20 20.4 21.5 24.7 24.9 25.9 28.1 16-18 years 18.8 18.3 16.6 18.2 11.3 9.5 8.4 9 26.7 24.7 20.8 21 16.9 16 14.5 17.2 19+ years 1.4 1.5 1.2 1.3 0.1 0.1 0.2 0 4.9 4.1 3.6 5 1.3 1.3 1.1 1.2 Unknown / Missing data 0.3 0.7 0.3 0 1.7 0.5 0.2 -- 1.6 1.1 0.7 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 16,111 17,129 16,925 21,059 10,929 10,707 12,283 10,019 6,740 7,802 8,312 9,827 20,300 20,034 20,896 21,251 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 -- -- -- 1.1 -- -- 0.2 1.4 -- -- -- 1.4 -- -- 0.1 1.2 Asian N/A -- -- 0.2 N/A -- 0 0.3 N/A -- -- 0.4 N/A -- 0 0.2 Asian/Pacific Islander -- N/A N/A N/A -- N/A N/A N/A -- N/A N/A N/A -- N/A N/A N/A Black -- -- -- 52.7 -- -- 8.7 43.9 -- -- -- 45 -- -- 5.1 52.1 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- 0 N/A -- -- 0.3 N/A -- -- 0 N/A -- -- 0.1 Hispanic -- -- -- 3.4 -- -- 0.7 4.3 -- -- -- 4.1 -- -- 0.4 3.5 White -- -- -- 39.3 -- -- 8.3 46.3 -- -- -- 45.4 -- -- 4.9 39.8 Two or more races N/A -- -- 3.1 N/A -- 0.6 3.2 N/A -- -- 3.4 N/A -- 0.3 3 Unknown / Missing data 100 100 100 0.2 100 100 81.4 0.3 100 100 100 0.2 100 100 89.1 0.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 16,111 17,129 16,925 21,059 10,929 10,707 12,283 10,019 6,740 7,802 8,312 9,827 20,300 20,034 20,896 21,251

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 8,495 7,745 7,839 6,874 Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) 5,166 5,226 6,174 6,750 Age of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 5.9 5.7 5.6 2.1 1-5 years 35.6 33 32 27.6 6-10 years 33.6 31.8 30.3 29 11-15 years 20.3 23.9 26.3 31.8 16+ years 3.4 4.1 4.8 7.9 Unknown / Missing data 1.2 1.5 1.1 1.6 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 8,495 7,745 7,839 6,874 Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian -- -- 0 0.9 Asian N/A -- -- 0 Asian/Pacific Islander -- N/A N/A N/A Black -- -- 4.3 59.8 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- 0 Hispanic -- -- 0.3 3 White -- -- 3.9 33 Two or more races N/A -- 0.2 3.1 Unknown / Missing data 100 100 91.2 0.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 8,495 7,745 7,839 6,874

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 1.3 1.5 1.8 1.3 1-5 years 47.1 43.3 43 44.2 6-10 years 34.3 36.7 36.1 31.9 11-15 years 15.9 15.9 16.8 20.1 16+ years 1.6 2.5 2.2 2.5 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,446 2,804 2,980 2,847 Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 1 0.6 0.8 0.9 Asian N/A 0.2 -- 0.1 Asian/Pacific Islander 0 N/A N/A N/A Black 51.5 49.5 48.5 43.3 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A 0 -- -- Hispanic 4.3 4.1 4.3 4.2 White 42.4 41 40.3 45.7 Two or more races N/A 4.2 5.8 5.4 Unknown / Missing data 0.7 0.3 0.3 0.3 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,446 2,804 2,980 2,847

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Michigan [ 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 96.6 96.7 96.4 92.2 Children with one or more recurrences 3.4 3.3 3.6 7.8 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 11,576 13,482 14,171 14,334

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 0.3 0.2 Children not maltreated while in foster care -- 99.7 99.7 99.8 Total % -- 100 100 100 Number -- 26,044 27,359 28,779

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 19.8 21.8 22.4 22.4 Guardianship 1 1.2 2.8 3.6 Reunification 60 56.2 56.7 61 Other 19.1 20.7 17.9 12.3 Missing data 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.8 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 6,740 7,802 8,312 9,827 Percent Exits from Foster Care 1999 2000 2001 2002   3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption -- -- -- 36.2 Guardianship -- -- -- 2.5 Reunification -- -- -- 45 Other -- -- -- 15.7 Missing data -- -- -- 0.7 Total % -- -- -- 100 Number       1,532 3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 1.6 1.4 1.5 2.7 Guardianship 0.8 1.1 2.5 2.9 Reunification 60.7 53.6 54.5 59.8 Other 36.5 43.4 41.1 32.1 Missing data 0.3 0.5 0.4 2.4 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,606 2,812 2,532 2,987 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children age 12 or younger at entry 22.8 23.9 24.3 20.4 Children older than 12 at entry 76.5 75.5 75.5 79.6 Missing data 0.7 0.5 0.2 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 587 564 485 607

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 -- -- -- 14.9 N/A -- -- 5.3 -- N/A N/A N/A -- -- -- 20.4 N/A -- -- -- Guardianship -- -- -- 3 N/A -- -- -- -- N/A N/A N/A -- -- -- 3.5 N/A -- -- -- Reunification -- -- -- 74.6 N/A -- -- 78.9 -- N/A N/A N/A -- -- -- 14.1 N/A -- -- 50 Other -- -- -- 7.5 N/A -- -- 15.8 -- N/A N/A N/A -- -- -- 0.9 N/A -- -- 50 Missing data -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- Total % -- -- -- 100 N/A -- -- 100 -- N/A N/A N/A -- -- -- 100 N/A -- -- 100 Number -- -- -- 134 N/A -- -- 38 -- N/A N/A N/A -- -- -- 4,427 N/A -- -- 2     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 -- -- -- 23.1 -- -- -- 23.6 -- -- -- 29.2 N/A -- -- 35.2 19.8 21.8 22.4 -- Guardianship -- -- -- 4 -- -- -- 3.6 -- -- -- 4.2 N/A -- -- 3 1 1.2 2.8 -- Reunification -- -- -- 60.9 -- -- -- 60.8 -- -- -- 62.5 N/A -- -- 55.3 60 56.2 56.7 -- Other -- -- -- 11.5 -- -- -- 11.1 -- -- -- 4.2 N/A -- -- 5.9 19.1 20.7 17.9 -- Missing data -- -- -- 0.5 -- -- -- 0.8 -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.1 -- Total % -- -- -- 100 -- -- -- 100 -- -- -- 100 N/A -- -- 100 100 100 100 -- Number -- -- -- 399 -- -- -- 4,465 -- -- -- 24 N/A -- -- 338 6,740 7,802 8,312 --

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. 58.1 52.9 56.6 38.8 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 25 28.1 28.2 39.6 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 7.7 7.1 8.1 13.3 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 2.4 3 2.2 5.2 48 or more mos. 1.4 2.2 1.5 3.1 Missing data 5.3 6.8 3.2 0.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 4,041 4,383 4,713 5,994 4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children entering care for the first time 90.3 90 90.9 90.5 Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode 4.9 5 5 7.7 Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode 4.4 4.6 3.6 1.1 Missing data 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.7 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 10,929 10,707 12,283 10,019

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. 16.7 12.6 12.8 11.3 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 24.2 22.4 21.7 30.3 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 29.2 31 32 32.6 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 16.4 16 18.3 15.9 48 or more mos. 13.4 17.8 14.8 9.8 Missing data 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,333 1,699 1,860 2,199

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 84.9 15.1 -- 100 11,750 2000 86.2 13.8 -- 100 11,588 2001 87.8 12.2 -- 100 13,416 2002 85.3 14.7 -- 100 11,663 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 1999 66.1 33.9 -- 100 6,824 2000 65.8 34.2 -- 100 6,997 2001 69.6 30.4 -- 100 6,955 2002 67.2 32.8 -- 100 8,433 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 1999 56 44 -- 100 3,614 2000 59.4 40.6 -- 100 3,863 2001 59.2 40.8 -- 100 3,777 2002 46.4 53.6 -- 100 4,801 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 1999 49 51 -- 100 1,914 2000 49.8 50.2 -- 100 2,091 2001 54.7 45.3 -- 100 1,980 2002 36.7 63.3 -- 100 2,559 48 or more mos. 1999 36.8 63.2 -- 100 2,572 2000 36.5 63.5 -- 100 2,865 2001 35.4 64.6 -- 100 2,820 2002 20.1 79.9 -- 100 3,581 Missing data 1999 95.6 4.4 -- 100 366 2000 97.2 2.8 -- 100 432 2001 97.3 2.7 -- 100 260 2002 85.4 14.6 -- 100 41

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 0.1 0 0 -- Institutions 5.6 5.7 4.1 2.4 Other settings 94.3 94.3 95.9 97.6 Missing data 0 0 0 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 7,339 7,623 8,525 6,999

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Michigan [ State Comment ]

Marianne Udow, Director
Michigan Family Independence Agency
517-373-2035

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

• For Section B, the number of child fatalities (Based on reports received by FIA, completed investigations and matched against vital statistics and child death review data for accuracy and reliability) and the child fatality rates for the missing years are:
  2000 - 49 fatalities, 1.9 per 100,000
  2001 - 54 fatalities, 2.1 per 100,000
  2002 - 52 fatalities, 2.0 per 100,000
  
  
• For Section C, the Median Length of Stay data are not accurate. The Michigan SACWIS system known as SWSS FAJ (Services Worker Support System for Foster Care, Adoption and Juvenile Justice) was implemented between February 2001 and December 2001. The conversion and implementation was completed statewide with all converted cases activated by December 2001. The data that were available for this section are inaccurate due to the conversion process.
  
  
• For Section C, Race/Ethnicity of Children in Foster Care data are missing for a number of years because the state of Michigan was not AFCARS compliant until 3/2002, and there were missing data elements in the AFCARS submissions.
  
  
• For Section E, Children Adopted, there is a discrepancy between finalized adoptions in 2002 and the number of children reported as discharged to adoption. This occurred due to redundant data systems. These systems are being combined to create a seamless and accurate multi-program AFCARS reporting system. The 2847 finalized adoptions reported in 2002 are accurate.
  
  
• Regarding Outcome Measure 3.3, Michigan is striving to increase the percentage of children age 12 and over at entry being discharged to a permanent home to meet the national median. Strategies are outlined in Michigan’s Program Improvement Plan.
  
  
• With regard to Outcome Measure 4.1, the state of Michigan is striving to increase the percentage of exits to reunification that occurred within 12 months of entry into foster care to meet the national median. Strategies outlined in Michigan’s Program Improvement Plan should increase the percentage.
  
  

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Michigan [ Federal Comment ]

The following discussion focuses on Michigan’s performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. The Michigan 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 Michigan’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, Michigan’s rate of maltreatment recurrence within 6 months was 7.8 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 considerably from 1999 to 2002 (+129.4 percent change).

Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
In CY 2002, Michigan’s incidence of maltreatment in foster care was 0.25 percent, which is less than both the national standard (0.57 percent or less) and the national median (0.39 percent). Performance on this measure improved from 2000 (the first year that data were reported for this measure) to 2002 (-24.2 percent change).

Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In FY 2002, 86.9 percent of children exiting foster care in Michigan were discharged to a permanent home (which is about equal to the national median of 86.1 percent), and 83.7 percent of children with a diagnosed disability who exited foster care were discharged to a permanent home (which is more than the national median of 79.8 percent). In addition, 20.4 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. However, 65.5 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 is less successful in achieving permanency for children exiting foster care who entered care when they were adolescents than it is in achieving permanency for other children, including children with a diagnosed disability.

Performance improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 with regard to: (1) the percentage of all children exiting foster care who were discharged to a permanent home (+7.7 percent change), and (2) the percentage of children emancipated from foster care who were 12 or younger when they entered foster care (-10.5 percent change). Performance on the other measures either exhibited no change or change could not be assessed.

Outcome 4. Reduce time to reunification without increasing re-entry
In FY 2002, the percentage of all reunifications in Michigan occurring within 12 months of a child’s entry into foster care was 38.8, 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 (-33.2 percent change).

Because the cross-State analysis found a substantial positive relationship between the percentage of reunifications within 12 months and the percentage of children in a State entering foster care who were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode, Michigan’s performance in FY 2002 with regard to reunifications within 12 months must be considered in the context of its re-entry rate. For Michigan, 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 7.7, which is less than both the national standard (8.6 percent or less) and the national median (9.9 percent). Thus, although Michigan had a relatively low percentage of reunifications in FY 2002 occurring within 12 months of entry into foster care, the State also had a relatively low percentage of children entering foster care in FY 2002 who were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode. Performance on the measure of foster care re-entry declined from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (+56.7 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 41.7. However, this percentage is difficult to interpret, because there was a substantial discrepancy between the number of adoptions provided in the State’s AFCARS Adoption data submission (2,847 adoptions) and the number of exits from foster care to a finalized adoption provided in the State’s AFCARS Foster Care data submission (2,199 exits from foster care to adoption). Even larger discrepancies 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 85.3, which does not meet the national standard (86.7 percent or more), but is more than 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 2.4, which is less than the national median of 8.6 percent and the second lowest percentage nationally. Michigan’s performance on this measure improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (-57.3 percent change).

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