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

Missouri

Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment | Federal Comment

Missouri [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population (Census Bureau) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total children under 18 years 1,399,492 1,409,738 1,407,321 1,397,461 Race/ethnicity (%)1, 2         Alaska Native/American Indian 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 Asian N/A 1.1 1.1 1.2 Asian/Pacific Islander 1.3 N/A N/A N/A Black 14.4 14.3 14.5 14.6 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A N/A 0 0 Hispanic 2.3 3 3 3.1 White 81.7 78.9 78.8 78.6 Two or more races N/A 2.1 2.1 2.1 Other N/A 0.2 0 0 % Child population in poverty 18 10.2 12.9 15 Child Welfare Summary 1999 2000 2002 2002 Child maltreatment victims3 9,079 7,658 9,237 9,810 Children in foster care on 9/30 12,577 13,181 13,394 13,052 Children adopted 849 1,265 1,102 1,542

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 71,351 74,412 80,743 80,653 51.0 per 1,000 52.8 per 1,000 57.4 per 1,000 57.7 per 1,000 Child maltreatment victims 9,079 7,658 9,237 9,810 6.5 per 1,000 5.4 per 1,000 6.6 per 1,000 7.0 per 1,000 Child fatalities 36 48 33 52 2.6 per 100,000 3.4 per 100,000 2.3 per 100,000 3.7 per 100,000

Age of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 5.5 6.4 5.2 6.2 1-5 years 28.7 27.9 29.4 30.1 6-10 years 31.2 30.4 29.6 29.2 11-15 years 29.5 29.1 30 28.7 16+ years 4.7 5.5 5.7 5.6 Unknown / Missing data 0.3 0.7 -- 0.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 9,079 7,658 9,237 9,810 Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.4 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.3 Black 26 22.5 20.6 18.7 Hispanic 0.9 1.8 2 2.3 White 72 74.2 75.6 77 Two or more races 1 0.1 0.1 -- Total %4 100.9 100 100 100 Number 9,079 7,658 9,237 9,810 Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Emotional Abuse 1.5 4 7.7 6.3 Medical Neglect 2.5 2.7 3 3.4 Neglect 49.6 45.2 51.5 48.8 Physical Abuse 24.1 27.4 27.3 28.2 Sexual Abuse 26 28.3 24.5 28.7 Unknown / Missing data 1.1 2.7 -- -- Other 5.2 2.6 3.5 2.7 Total %5 110.1 112.9 117.5 118.1 Number 9,079 7,658 9,237 9,810

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) 11,540 6,341 5,304 12,577 17,881 FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 11,474 7,216 5,509 13,181 18,690 FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 11,705 7,392 5,703 13,394 19,097 FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 12,647 7,401 6,996 13,052 20,048 Median Length of Stay (Months)   FY1999 (10/1/98 - 9/30/99) 19.3 N/A 12.8 18.9 N/A FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 19.3 N/A 12.2 17 N/A FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 17 N/A 12.8 15.5 N/A FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 16.7 N/A 14 15.8 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 3.7 3.9 4.1 4.1 12.7 12.7 12.7 13.7 4 4 4.2 4.1 3.8 4.1 4.3 4.5 1-5 years 23.5 22.2 22.1 22.6 24.2 24.7 25.8 26 24.6 25.1 27 27.2 22.8 22.5 22.6 23.4 6-10 years 26.2 26.5 24.7 24.1 24.2 24.1 24 23.1 24.3 25.2 23.7 24 26.3 25.2 23.9 22 11-15 years 29.7 30.4 31.2 31 31.4 31.4 30.5 30.3 24.9 26 25.3 25.5 30.3 30.9 30.8 31 16-18 years 15 15 15.8 15.9 7.4 7.1 7 6.8 18.8 16.6 16.1 15.7 15 15.3 16 16.4 19+ years 1.8 1.9 2 2.4 0 -- 0 0.1 2.9 2.4 3.3 3.4 1.9 1.9 2.3 2.7 Unknown / Missing data 0.1 0 0.1 -- 0 0 -- 0 0.5 0.6 0.4 0.1 0 0.1 -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 11,540 11,474 11,705 12,647 6,341 7,216 7,392 7,401 5,304 5,509 5,703 6,996 12,577 13,181 13,394 13,052 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 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 Asian N/A 0.2 0.3 0.2 N/A 0.6 0.4 0.4 N/A 0.6 0.5 0.4 N/A 0.2 0.2 0.2 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.1 N/A N/A N/A 0.3 N/A N/A N/A 0.2 N/A N/A N/A 0.2 N/A N/A N/A Black 43.5 43.6 41.1 37.3 35 31.3 27.7 27 33.5 32.4 32.6 30.9 43.5 41.6 37.3 34.9 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- N/A -- -- 0 N/A -- -- 0 N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.5 1.8 1.8 2.1 2.1 2.1 1.9 1.7 2.1 1 1.2 1.5 1.5 White 54.7 54.5 56.8 59.9 62.3 65.3 68.2 68.6 63.6 64.3 64 65 54.7 56.4 60 62.2 Two or more races N/A 0 0 0 N/A 0 0.1 0 N/A 0 0 0.1 N/A 0 0 0 Unknown / Missing data 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.7 0.3 0.7 1.1 1.4 0.2 0.6 0.7 1.3 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.8 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 11,540 11,474 11,705 12,647 6,341 7,216 7,392 7,401 5,304 5,509 5,703 6,996 12,577 13,181 13,394 13,052

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 3,143 3,131 3,015 2,907 Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) 2,150 1,527 1,615 1,660 Age of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 1.9 1.8 2.4 3 1-5 years 28 26.8 25.3 24.8 6-10 years 35.4 33.9 31.2 27.7 11-15 years 28.1 32 35.1 37 16+ years 5.3 4.8 5.1 6.7 Unknown / Missing data 1.2 0.8 0.8 0.9 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 3,143 3,131 3,015 2,907 Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 Asian N/A 0.1 0.2 0.5 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.2 N/A N/A N/A Black 43.2 47.3 45.2 43.2 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 1.1 1.1 1.3 1.3 White 54.9 50.8 52.5 54 Two or more races N/A 0 0 0 Unknown / Missing data 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.6 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 3,143 3,131 3,015 2,907

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 2.3 2.6 3 1-5 years 45.1 42.1 46.5 43.3 6-10 years 32.9 35.1 31.6 31.8 11-15 years 17.2 17.3 15.9 18.8 16+ years 3.5 3.2 3.4 3.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 849 1,265 1,102 1,542 Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0.7 0.6 0.3 0.3 Asian N/A 0.2 -- 0 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.1 N/A N/A N/A Black 39.8 39.3 38.9 36.7 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 1.1 1.1 2 2.5 White 58.2 58.3 58.5 59.9 Two or more races N/A 0.3 -- 0.1 Unknown / Missing data 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.4 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 849 1,265 1,102 1,542

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Missouri [ 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 92.1 94.1 89.7 92.1 Children with one or more recurrences 7.9 5.9 10.3 7.9 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 4,109 3,436 4,128 4,588

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 0.6 0.7 Children not maltreated while in foster care -- 99.5 99.4 99.3 Total % -- 100 100 100 Number -- 17,316 17,624 18,261

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 15.9 19.6 18.9 21.8 Guardianship 4.7 5 7 13.8 Reunification 65.1 61.1 59.6 57.1 Other 14.2 14.3 14.5 7.3 Missing data -- -- 0 0 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 5,304 5,509 5,703 6,996 Percent Exits from Foster Care 1999 2000 2001 2002   3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 24.3 22 20.6 22.5 Guardianship 3.8 5.7 6.9 12.4 Reunification 50.9 51 51.5 50.6 Other 21 21.3 20.9 14.5 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 822 1,308 1,318 1,522 3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 1.3 1.4 2.5 2.5 Guardianship 2.5 3.2 5 11 Reunification 70.1 66.2 63.9 67.2 Other 26 29.3 28.5 19.2 Missing data -- -- 0.1 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,597 1,521 1,545 1,810 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children age 12 or younger at entry 47.1 46.5 50.3 30.4 Children older than 12 at entry 52.9 53.5 49.7 69.6 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 594 600 676 299

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 42.9 35.7 9.5 26.3 N/A 5.7 -- 7.7 8.3 N/A N/A N/A 19 23 22.5 25.9 N/A -- -- -- Guardianship -- -- -- 5.3 N/A -- -- 11.5 8.3 N/A N/A N/A 5 4.8 9.4 18.3 N/A -- -- -- Reunification 50 50 76.2 68.4 N/A 85.7 85.7 61.5 8.3 N/A N/A N/A 13.1 14.2 16.6 7.5 N/A -- -- 100 Other 7.1 14.3 14.3 -- N/A 8.6 14.3 19.2 -- 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 -- -- 100 Number 14 14 21 19 N/A 35 28 26 12 N/A N/A N/A 1,776 1,784 1,860 2,162 N/A -- -- 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 7.9 12.7 22.2 26 14.5 18.2 17.3 20 7.7 17.4 7.9 6.7 N/A 50 -- 25 -- -- -- -- Guardianship 3.5 1 2 8.9 4.7 5.3 6 11.9 -- -- 2.6 13.5 N/A -- -- 25 -- 11.1 -- -- Reunification 64.9 75.5 57.6 60.3 66.3 61.9 63.3 60.7 84.6 78.3 73.7 75.3 N/A 50 100 50 -- 88.9 100 -- Other 23.7 10.8 18.2 4.8 14.6 14.6 13.4 7.3 7.7 4.3 15.8 4.5 N/A -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Missing data -- -- -- -- -- -- 0 0 -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 N/A 100 100 100 -- 100 100 -- Number 114 102 99 146 3,375 3,540 3,652 4,545 13 23 38 89 N/A 2 2 8 -- 9 3 --

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. 63.9 68 65.6 65.9 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 19.2 16.4 20.7 20 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 6.5 7 5.3 6 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 3.4 3.1 3 2.7 48 or more mos. 5.8 4.5 4.4 4.2 Missing data 1.2 1 0.9 1.3 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 3,455 3,367 3,400 3,993 4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children entering care for the first time 76.8 78.1 77.9 74.9 Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode 10.5 8.8 8.5 8.5 Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode 10.9 10.9 11 9.5 Missing data 1.8 2.2 2.5 7.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 6,341 7,216 7,392 7,401

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. 5 5.5 7.3 6.8 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 18.8 19.1 21.6 23.5 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 24.8 25.4 27.6 25.4 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 16.7 18.6 17.8 18.1 48 or more mos. 34.7 31.2 25.7 25.4 Missing data -- 0.2 0.1 0.8 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 844 1,078 1,076 1,525

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 79.4 20.6 -- 100 7,048 2000 79.1 20.9 -- 100 8,020 2001 77.1 22.9 -- 100 8,310 2002 78.7 21.3 -- 100 8,432 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 1999 56 44 -- 100 3,768 2000 53.6 46.4 -- 100 3,630 2001 51.7 48.3 -- 100 4,199 2002 52.9 47.1 -- 100 4,563 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 1999 44.1 55.9 -- 100 2,265 2000 43.1 56.9 -- 100 2,381 2001 38.5 61.5 -- 100 2,203 2002 40.4 59.6 -- 100 2,595 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 1999 34.7 65.3 -- 100 1,544 2000 34.6 65.4 -- 100 1,452 2001 32.9 67.1 -- 100 1,452 2002 31.3 68.7 -- 100 1,409 48 or more mos. 1999 24.8 75.2 -- 100 3,194 2000 23.9 76.1 -- 100 3,171 2001 19.8 80.2 -- 100 2,885 2002 17.2 82.8 -- 100 2,966 Missing data 1999 93.5 6.5 -- 100 62 2000 100 -- -- 100 36 2001 95.8 4.2 -- 100 48 2002 96.4 3.6 -- 100 83

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 1.6 1.8 1.8 1.5 Institutions 12 9.3 8.6 6.2 Other settings 86.4 88.9 89.6 92.3 Missing data 0 -- 0 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 4,402 5,051 5,169 3,577

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Missouri[ State Comment ]

Frederic Simmens, Director
Children’s Division
Missouri Department of Social Services
573-522-8024

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

• Missouri continues to be committed to providing the most accurate data possible through our NCANDS and AFCARS transmissions. We continue to enhance our data systems to more completely detail our compliance with the mandates of ASFA and to better serve our families. We have continued our efforts to safely return children to their families and have seen a dramatic increase in the number of children returned home within 12 and 24 months of placement. We have also seen an increase in adoptions within 24 months of placement. Our Child Fatality Review Panels continue their aggressive pursuit to accurately identify all child maltreatment deaths.


• The data in Section C indicate that Missouri has significantly fewer children in care on October 1, 2000, than on September 30, 2000. We suspect this difference is because the October 1, 2000 total counts only those children in the care and custody of Missouri placed in alternative care. The September 30, 2000, total also includes children in the temporary custody of adoptive parents, children in the custody of other agencies, and children for whom the agency provides supervision services only who are generally in the custody of relatives.


• The seeming discrepancy between the number of children awaiting adoption and the number of children with termination of parental rights (Section D) reflects the practice in many Missouri courts to delay termination of parental rights until an adoptive home has been found for a specific child or sibling group.

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Missouri [ Federal Comment ]

The following discussion focuses on Missouri’s performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. The Missouri Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) was completed in fiscal year (FY) 2004, and compliance with the national standards was based on data from 2002. The final report for that review is available from www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/cwrp/staterpt. A discussion of the implications of CFSR findings for Missouri’s performance on the Report to Congress Outcomes is provided below.

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, Missouri’s rate of maltreatment recurrence within 6 months was 7.9 percent, which does not meet the national standard (6.1 percent or less), but is about equal to the national median (7.5 percent). Performance on this measure exhibited no change from 1999 to 2002. Information from the CFSR Final Report indicates that stakeholders in the State attribute maltreatment recurrence to poverty, a lack of funding for services, difficulties accessing services for children and families in the inhome services cases, and chronic neglect.

Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
In CY 2002, Missouri’s incidence of maltreatment in foster care was 0.66 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 2000 to 2002 (+26.9 percent change). Information from the CFSR Final Report indicates that the State is using a new curriculum for training foster parents that they hope will address the problem of risk of harm in foster care.

Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In FY 2002, 92.7 percent of children exiting foster care in Missouri were discharged to a permanent home (which is more than the national median of 86.1 percent); 85.5 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 80.8 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). These findings suggest that the State is generally successful in achieving permanency for children exiting foster care. However, 30.4 percent of the children emancipated from foster care were age 12 or younger at the time of entry into foster care, which is more than the national median of 26.9 percent. Missouri’s performance on all of the measures for outcome 3 improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002.
Outcome 4. Reduce time to reunification without increasing re-entry
In FY 2002, the percentage of all reunifications in Missouri occurring within 12 months of a child’s entry into foster care was 65.9, 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 exhibited no change from FY 1999 to FY 2002. Information from the CFSR Final Report identifies the following as potential barriers to timely reunification: (1) an agency practice of using extended trial home visits rather than reunifying children even when safety issues have been resolved; (2) parental substance abuse relapse; (3) lack of adequate housing; and (4) the scarcity of services for parents.
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, Missouri’s performance in FY 2002 with regard to reunifications within 12 months must be considered in the context of its re-entry rate. For Missouri, 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 8.5 percent, which meets the national standard (8.6 percent or less) and is less than the national median (9.9 percent). Thus, although Missouri had a 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 in FY 2002 who were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode. Performance on the measure of foster care re-entry improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (-19.0 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 30.3, which does not meet the national standard (32.0 percent or more), but is more than 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. Missouri’s performance on this measure improved from FY 2000 to FY 2002 (+23.2 percent change). Information from the CFSR Final Report identifies the following as barriers to timely adoptions: (1) agency delays in filing for termination of parental rights (TPR) in a timely manner; (2) excessive caseloads of attorneys and social workers; (3) a perception on the part of the courts and the agency that children age 12 and older and children with behavioral issues are not going to be adopted; and (4) a lack of concerted efforts to find adoptive homes for children that do not have foster parents who are willing to adopt them.

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 78.7, which is less than both the national standard (86.7 percent or more) and the national median (84.1 percent). Missouri exhibited no change in performance on this measure from FY 1999 to FY 2002. Information from the CFSR Final Report identified the following as potential barriers to placement stability: (1) a lack of appropriate resources to meet children’s placement needs; (2) the use of emergency foster care placements when children enter foster care; (3) the rotation from one emergency foster care placement to another because of a lack of long-term placements; (4) insufficient training and support to foster parents to help them deal with children’s behavioral problems; and (4) lack of support from the agency for relative placements.

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 7.7, which is less than the national median of 8.6 percent. Missouri’s performance on this measure improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (-43.3 percent change).

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