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

Minnesota

Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment | Federal Comment

Minnesota [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population (Census Bureau) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total children under 18 years 1,271,850 1,272,504 1,264,306 1,252,125 Race/ethnicity (%)1, 2         Alaska Native/American Indian 1.8 1.5 1.5 1.5 Asian N/A 4.2 4.2 4.2 Asian/Pacific Islander 4.3 N/A N/A N/A Black 4.3 4.9 5.4 5.5 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A N/A 0 0 Hispanic 3 4.3 4.4 4.6 White 86.6 82 81.7 81.2 Two or more races N/A 2.9 2.8 2.9 Other N/A 0.2 0 0 % Child population in poverty 8 8.5 8.4 7.6 Child Welfare Summary 1999 2000 2002 2002 Child maltreatment victims3 11,113 11,824 9,840 9,982 Children in foster care on 9/30 8,996 8,530 8,167 8,052 Children adopted 633 614 567 626

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 24,855 24,840 23,842 26,344 19.5 per 1,000 19.5 per 1,000 18.9 per 1,000 21.0 per 1,000 Child maltreatment victims 11,113 11,824 9,840 9,982 8.7 per 1,000 9.3 per 1,000 7.8 per 1,000 8.0 per 1,000 Child fatalities 28 21 16 16 2.2 per 100,000 1.6 per 100,000 1.3 per 100,000 1.3 per 100,000

Age of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 6.2 8.4 8.6 9 1-5 years 31.3 30.2 28.5 32.5 6-10 years 35.1 34.1 33.9 30.5 11-15 years 22 22.1 23 23.1 16+ years 4.7 4.5 4.6 4.7 Unknown / Missing data 0.8 0.8 1.4 0.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 11,113 11,824 9,840 9,982 Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 10.1 7.1 6.9 6.2 Asian/Pacific Islander 4 3.7 2.8 3.2 Black 28.1 25.1 24.9 25 Hispanic 7.4 7.2 6.9 8.4 White 62.6 48.9 49.7 49.4 Two or more races 0 4.9 4.9 5.8 Total %4 114.1 100 100 100 Number 11,113 11,824 9,840 9,982 Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Emotional Abuse 1 0.8 0.6 0.8 Medical Neglect 4.6 0.2 0.1 0.3 Neglect 77.4 73.6 72.1 73.1 Physical Abuse 24.8 21.9 22.3 21.5 Sexual Abuse 7.3 7.4 9.2 9.2 Unknown / Missing data 0 -- -- -- Other 0 -- -- -- Total %5 115 103.9 104.3 104.9 Number 11,113 11,824 9,840 9,982

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) 8,012 10,724 9,743 8,996 18,736 FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 7,664 10,803 9,939 8,530 18,467 FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 7,424 10,012 9,269 8,167 17,436 FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 7,435 10,317 9,700 8,052 17,752 Median Length of Stay (Months)   FY1999 (10/1/98 - 9/30/99) 13.7 N/A 2.3 12.5 N/A FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 14.8 N/A 2 12.7 N/A FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 14.6 N/A 2.1 12.7 N/A FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 14.2 N/A 2.4 12.1 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 2.6 2.8 3 3.3 5.8 5.6 5.9 6.5 2.9 2.9 3 3.5 3 3 3.2 3.7 1-5 years 15.6 16.3 16 15.5 14.6 14.3 14.4 15.6 14.5 15.3 16.2 15.9 15.6 15.3 14.9 16.3 6-10 years 21.5 21.4 20.4 18 14.8 15 14.4 14.8 15 15 15 14.6 19.8 19.1 17 15.5 11-15 years 36.9 35.1 35.1 36.7 39.7 39.6 39.7 37.5 34.2 33.8 32.2 31.9 35.8 36.4 37.8 36 16-18 years 22.5 23.5 24.6 25.4 24.7 25.2 25.4 25.4 32.1 31.5 32.4 32.4 24.8 25.2 25.8 27.2 19+ years 0.8 0.8 0.8 1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 1.1 1.4 1.2 1.5 0.9 0.9 1.1 1.1 Unknown / Missing data 0.1 0 0.1 0.1 0.2 0 -- -- 0.2 0.1 0.1 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 8,012 7,664 7,424 7,435 10,724 10,803 10,012 10,317 9,743 9,939 9,269 9,700 8,996 8,530 8,167 8,052 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 11.9 11.3 11.1 12.4 8 8.4 9.3 9.4 8.4 8.5 8.1 9.6 11.1 10.8 12.3 11.9 Asian N/A 1.4 1.4 1.7 N/A 3.1 2.8 3.2 N/A 3.1 2.6 3.3 N/A 1.5 1.8 1.6 Asian/Pacific Islander 1.2 N/A N/A N/A 2.7 N/A N/A N/A 2.6 N/A N/A N/A 1.5 N/A N/A N/A Black 20.2 22.5 21.9 20.9 19.1 19.4 18.4 19.4 18.3 20 18.8 19 20.9 21.5 21.1 21.2 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- 0 N/A 0 0 0 N/A -- 0 0.1 N/A 0 0 0 Hispanic 4.8 5.4 5.8 6.2 5.2 5.4 5.7 6.6 4.8 5.1 5.7 6.4 5.2 5.8 5.9 6.5 White 54.1 52 51.7 51.8 58.4 56.8 57.3 54.6 58.8 56.9 57.7 55.3 54.2 52.5 51.8 51.2 Two or more races N/A 6.9 7 6.3 N/A 4.8 4 4.6 N/A 4.7 4.7 4.3 N/A 6.8 5.9 6.6 Unknown / Missing data 0.8 0.5 0.9 0.6 1.6 2 2.5 2.1 1.8 1.6 2.4 2 0.7 1.1 1.2 0.8 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 8,012 7,664 7,424 7,435 10,724 10,803 10,012 10,317 9,743 9,939 9,269 9,700 8,996 8,530 8,167 8,052

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 2,147 1,839 1,670 1,618 Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) 1,763 1,480 1,332 1,290 Age of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 3.6 3.2 3.4 4.3 1-5 years 28.8 25.8 23.7 25.3 6-10 years 34.5 31.9 28.7 25.3 11-15 years 24.4 28.4 31 31.1 16+ years 6.7 7.6 9.8 10.2 Unknown / Missing data 2 3.1 3.4 3.8 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,147 1,839 1,670 1,618 Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 8.4 8.4 8.9 9.3 Asian N/A 0.4 0.4 0.9 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.5 N/A N/A N/A Black 31 31.2 31.6 34.5 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 6.4 6.3 6.6 6.7 White 44.4 43.6 42.7 38.4 Two or more races N/A 10 9.7 10 Unknown / Missing data 9.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,147 1,839 1,670 1,618

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 1.6 1.6 1.9 3.4 1-5 years 40.4 40.9 47.6 45.5 6-10 years 41.5 39.4 33.2 31.2 11-15 years 15.6 17.8 16 18.7 16+ years 0.8 0.3 1.2 1.3 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 633 614 567 626 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 33 29 22.4 22.2 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 3.5 4.1 7.2 8.8 White 46.4 47.9 54.3 54.2 Two or more races N/A 11.1 11.5 10.2 Unknown / Missing data 5.2 8 4.6 4.6 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 633 614 567 626

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Minnesota [ 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 -- 95.4 94.7 94.1 Children with one or more recurrences -- 4.6 5.3 5.9 Total % -- 100 100 100 Number -- 6,334 4,903 5,170

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 -- 0.2 0.2 0.3 Children not maltreated while in foster care -- 99.8 99.8 99.7 Total % -- 100 100 100 Number -- 16,382 15,306 15,701

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 5.6 5.9 6.1 6.6 Guardianship 0.6 0.7 1 0.9 Reunification 76.6 82.8 81.5 80.7 Other 15.9 10.5 11.3 11.9 Missing data 1.4 0.1 0 0 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 9,743 9,939 9,269 9,700 Percent Exits from Foster Care 1999 2000 2001 2002   3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 9 12.7 11.4 10.1 Guardianship 0.5 0.7 0.6 0.7 Reunification 68.4 71.6 70.8 70.3 Other 19.1 14.9 17.3 18.8 Missing data 2.9 0.1 0 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,510 2,591 2,520 3,028 3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 0 -- 0.1 0.2 Guardianship 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 Reunification 77.8 85.2 83.3 82.1 Other 20.6 14.6 16.4 17.4 Missing data 1.3 0 -- 0 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 5,573 5,597 5,122 5,270 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children age 12 or younger at entry 21.9 21.4 20 26 Children older than 12 at entry 78.1 78.4 80 74 Missing data -- 0.2 -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 347 527 520 561

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 6 4.7 5.1 3.7 N/A 1 0.8 -- 0.8 N/A N/A N/A 10.2 8.5 7.3 7.7 N/A -- -- -- Guardianship 0.1 0.5 1.3 2.9 N/A -- -- -- -- N/A N/A N/A 0.5 0.7 1.1 0.3 N/A -- -- -- Reunification 76.3 81.3 79.4 78.3 N/A 91.7 88.2 91 16.1 N/A N/A N/A 16.9 10.4 11.3 12 N/A -- 100 100 Other 15.8 13.4 14.2 15.1 N/A 7.1 10.9 9 3.1 N/A N/A N/A 2.2 0.1 0.1 -- N/A -- -- -- Missing data 1.8 0.1 -- -- N/A 0.3 -- -- 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 818 845 751 927 N/A 312 238 323 255 N/A N/A N/A 1,781 1,987 1,742 1,847 N/A -- 3 10     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 7.1 7.1 7.8 10.2 3.5 4.8 5.5 6.4 1.1 0.6 0.9 -- 14.7 14.1 14.1 13 -- -- -- -- Guardianship 0.4 1 1 1.1 0.6 0.7 0.9 0.8 -- 0.6 0.5 -- 1.4 1.3 3.4 1 -- -- -- -- Reunification 75 83.3 79.2 78.9 78.8 84 82.7 80.8 86.8 89.4 88.2 94.4 70.7 73.1 70.2 75.2 -- -- -- -- Other 16.7 8.6 12 9.7 15.9 10.5 10.9 12 11.5 8.7 10.5 5.6 13.1 11.5 12.3 10.8 -- -- -- -- Missing data 0.9 -- -- -- 1.1 0.1 -- 0 0.6 0.6 -- -- 0.2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 -- -- -- -- Number 468 510 524 616 5,729 5,655 5,351 5,365 174 161 220 196 518 469 440 416 -- -- -- --

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. 80.3 84.9 87 89.9 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 10.5 8.2 7.8 7.9 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 2.7 1.8 1.4 1.3 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 1.3 0.7 0.4 0.4 48 or more mos. 1.4 1 0.5 0.5 Missing data 3.9 3.4 2.8 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 7,461 8,232 7,551 7,826 4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children entering care for the first time 62.9 61.2 60.7 59.5 Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode 22.7 27.7 27.7 28.1 Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode 8.6 8.6 9.6 10 Missing data 5.8 2.6 2 2.5 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 10,724 10,803 10,012 10,317

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. 11.4 7.4 6.3 6.6 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 16.1 22.9 29.9 28.4 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 18.9 23.9 28.6 31.7 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 17.6 17.3 15.6 15.4 48 or more mos. 35.5 28.5 19.3 17.9 Missing data 0.5 -- 0.2 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 546 585 569 637

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 82.3 17.7 -- 100 11,596 2000 85.4 14.6 -- 100 11,762 2001 86.2 13.8 -- 100 11,170 2002 87.5 12.5 0 100 11,742 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 1999 49.9 50.1 -- 100 2,794 2000 54.4 45.6 -- 100 2,484 2001 54.4 45.6 -- 100 2,292 2002 56.7 43.3 -- 100 2,254 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 1999 39.9 60.1 -- 100 1,199 2000 39.6 60.4 -- 100 1,317 2001 40.5 59.5 -- 100 1,152 2002 42.6 57.4 -- 100 1,140 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 1999 37.8 62.2 -- 100 799 2000 40.4 59.6 -- 100 713 2001 32.7 67.3 -- 100 781 2002 34.4 65.6 -- 100 688 48 or more mos. 1999 37.8 62.2 -- 100 1,961 2000 37.8 62.2 -- 100 1,866 2001 37.7 62.3 -- 100 1,785 2002 34.4 65.6 -- 100 1,894 Missing data 1999 99 1 -- 100 387 2000 100 -- -- 100 325 2001 99.6 0.4 -- 100 256 2002 100 -- -- 100 34

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 2.4 4.6 4.7 4.2 Institutions 24 22.4 19.7 16.4 Other settings 60.3 73 75.6 79.4 Missing data 13.3 0.1 -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 4,532 4,600 4,287 4,586

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Minnesota [ State Comment ]

Erin Sullivan Sutton, Director
Child Safety and Permanency
Minnesota Department of Human Services
612-722-3765

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

• The data in Section C indicate that there were 8,167 children in foster care on September 30, 2001 and 7,435 children in foster care on October 1, 2001, a difference of 732 children. The difference is due to a prior error in AFCARS record selection, which selected children on the basis of the discharge date rather than the discharge transaction date. As a result, some discharges from the end of a reporting period, especially those that were entered after an AFCARS file was extracted, were never included in an AFCARS file.



• Data for outcome measure 4.2 indicate that 28.1 percent of children entering foster care were re-entering care within 12 months of discharge from a prior foster care episode; the national median for this measure is 9.7 percent. A number of factors contribute to our re-entry rate. Analysis has revealed that some local agencies create new removal records when placement authority changes from voluntary to court-ordered, when respite care is provided, or when placement changes from emergency to non-emergency status. Another factor affecting re-entry is Minnesota’s lack of provision for trial home visits as a dispositional alternative. The increasing number of children entering care with serious behavioral problems also affects the re-entry rate. For these children, placement is frequently a behavioral intervention.



• Data for outcome measure 7.1 indicate that 20.6 percent of children age 12 or younger at the time of entry into foster care were placed in a group home or institution. The national median for this measure is 8.6 percent for group homes and institutions combined. The relatively high percentage of children placed in group homes or institutions is due to the tendency of the county with the highest population in Minnesota to rely on a large facility as its emergency shelter rather than on smaller family foster home settings.

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Minnesota [ Federal Comment ]

The following discussion focuses on Minnesota’s performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. The Minnesota 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 Minnesota’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, Minnesota’s rate of maltreatment recurrence within 6 months was 5.9 percent, which is less than both the national standard (6.1 percent or less) and the national median (7.5 percent). However, performance on this measure declined from 2000 to 2002 (+28.3 percent change).

Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
In CY 2002, Minnesota’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). Performance on this measure declined from 2000 to 2002 (+61.1 percent change).

Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In FY 2002, 88.1 percent of children exiting foster care in Minnesota were discharged to a permanent home (which is more than the national median of 86.1 percent); 81.2 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); and 82.6 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 more than the national median of 72.0 percent). In addition, 26.0 percent of the children exiting foster care through emancipation were age 12 or younger at the time of entry into foster care, which is about equal to the national median of 26.9 percent. These findings suggest that the State is generally successful in achieving permanency for children exiting foster care.

Performance improved slightly from FY 1999 to FY 2002 with regard to: (1) the percentage of all children exiting foster care to permanent home (+6.5 percent change), and (2) the percentage of children who exited to a permanent home who were older than age 12 at entry into foster care (+5.7 percent change). Performance declined 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 (+18.8 percent change).

Outcome 4. Reduce time to reunification without increasing re-entry
In FY 2002, the percentage of all reunifications in Minnesota occurring within 12 months of a child’s entry into foster care was 89.9, which is more than the national standard (76.2 percent or more) and was the second highest percentage in the Nation. Performance with regard to reunifications within 12 months improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (+12.0 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 entering foster care who were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode, Minnesota’s performance in FY 2002 with regard to reunifications within 12 months must be considered in the context of its re-entry rate. For Minnesota, 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 28.1 percent, which was the highest in the nation. Thus, although Minnesota had a very high percentage of reunifications in FY 2002 occurring within 12 months of entry into foster care, the State also had a very high percentage of children entering foster care who were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode. In addition, performance on the measure of foster care re-entry declined from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (+23.9 percent change).

The cross-State analyses also found a substantial positive relationship between State performance on the measure of foster care reentry and the percentage of children entering foster care in the State 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 in FY 2002 who were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode. For Minnesota, both the percentage of children entering foster care who were age 16 and older (25.6 percent) and the incidence of foster care re-entry (28.1 percent) were in the top quartile of the State rankings. One explanation for this may be that children age 16 and older who enter foster care are often entering because of their own behavior (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 particularly relevant to Minnesota, because the 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 35.0, 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 is assessed from FY 2000 to FY 2002 due to data quality issues for many States for this measure in FY 1999. Minnesota’s performance on this measure improved from FY 2000 to FY 2002 (+15.7 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 87.5, which is more than the national standard (86.7 percent or more) and the national median (84.1 percent). Minnesota’s performance on this measure improved slightly from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (+6.3 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 20.6, which is considerably more than the national median of 8.6 percent. However, Minnesota’s performance on this measure improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (-21.9 percent change).

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