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Montana

Context Data | Outcomes Data | Federal Comment

Montana [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics


General Population
(Census Bureau)

1999

2000

2001

2002

Total children under 18 years

223,819

223,630

220,254

216,320

Race/ethnicity (%)1, 2

 

 

 

 

Alaska Native/American Indian10.49.29.49.6
AsianN/A0.60.60.6
Asian/Pacific Islander0.8N/AN/AN/A
Black0.30.40.50.5
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific IslanderN/AN/A00
Hispanic2.73.23.23.2
White85.783.983.883.5
Two or more racesN/A2.62.42.4
OtherN/A000

% Child population in poverty

22

24.6

16.4

18



Child Welfare Summary

1999

2000

2002

2002

Child maltreatment victims33,4142,4311,9351,995
Children in foster care on 9/302,1562,1802,0081,912
Children adopted187238275247


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 20,31515,78815,03217,07890.8 per 1,00070.6 per 1,00068.2 per 1,00078.9 per 1,000
Child maltreatment victims3,4142,4311,9351,99515.3 per 1,00010.9 per 1,0008.8 per 1,0009.2 per 1,000
Child fatalities41441.8 per 100,0000.4 per 100,0001.8 per 100,0001.9 per 100,000


Age of Child Victims (%)

1999

2000

2001

2002

Under 1 Year78.89.49
1-5 years31.929.132.733
6-10 years3231.52824.9
11-15 years24.824.12324
16+ years4.23.43.74.8
Unknown / Missing data03.23.24.3
Total %100100100100

Number

3,414

2,431

1,935

1,995



Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%)

1999

2000

2001

2002

Alaska Native/American Indian24.925.421.421.8
Asian/Pacific Islander0.30.30.10.2
Black0.81.10.71.3
Hispanic1.92.62.43.5
White57.152.355.152.6
Two or more races16.8--1.92.5
Total %4101.9100100100

Number

3,414

2,431

1,935

1,995



Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%)

1999

2000

2001

2002

Emotional Abuse12.21615.40.6
Medical Neglect2.52.721.7
Neglect6243.437.334.5
Physical Abuse9.244.853.267.6
Sexual Abuse9.214.814.910.3
Unknown / Missing data0------
Other4.90.41.111.2
Total %5100122.1123.9125.9

Number

3,414

2,431

1,935

1,995



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)1,8911,5961,3312,1563,487
FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00)1,9181,5881,3272,1803,506
FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01)1,9991,5061,4972,0083,505
FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02)1,8861,3061,2801,9123,192

Median Length of Stay (Months)

 

FY1999 (10/1/98 - 9/30/99)18.6N/A4.515.6N/A
FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00)15.9N/A5.116N/A
FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01)17N/A6.316.2N/A
FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02)17.5N/A7.616.5N/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 Year54.74.5413.113.71314.27.476.75.24.64.74.14.8
1-5 years24.124.925.725.527.22930.334.92730.430.732.824.325.925.927.7
6-10 years27.227.727.326.226.725.825.421.826.12425.524.626.926.725.924.3
11-15 years28.829.729.331.725.823.724.623.122.723.42224.229.728.931.229.6
16-18 years14.812.91312.67.17.96.75.915.714.514.11214.413.612.613.3
19+ years0.20.10.30.10.10.1----1.10.7110.10.30.20.4
Unknown / Missing data----------------------0.1--------
Total %100100100100100100100100100100100100100100100100

Number

1,891

1,918

1,999

1,886

1,596

1,588

1,506

1,306

1,331

1,327

1,497

1,280

2,156

2,180

2,008

1,912



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 Indian26.329.532.732.83132.430.327.925.827.530.627.430.132.832.533.1
AsianN/A0.30.30.2N/A0.400.2N/A0.60.10N/A0.20.20.3
Asian/Pacific Islander0.4N/AN/AN/A0.6N/AN/AN/A0.7N/AN/AN/A0.4N/AN/AN/A
Black1.81.61.71.11.21.31.11.81.41.61.71.51.61.41.11.4
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific IslanderN/A------N/A--0--N/A--0--N/A------
Hispanic3.13.34.24.12.94.33.962.93.64.34.73.13.93.95.1
White64.561.958.358.65955.755.752.164.26156.857.960.65857.554.7
Two or more racesN/A----0.5N/A--0.73.8N/A--0.22.3N/A--0.31.6
Unknown / Missing data3.93.432.65.25.98.2855.76.26.24.13.84.53.9
Total %100100100100100100100100100100100100100100100100

Number

1,891

1,918

1,999

1,886

1,596

1,588

1,506

1,306

1,331

1,327

1,497

1,280

2,156

2,180

2,008

1,912



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 adopted780854752692
Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR)690717631586


Age of Waiting Children (%)

1999

2000

2001

2002

Under 1 Year2.43.41.92.2
1-5 years24.924.724.523.4
6-10 years27.829.329.827.2
11-15 years32.631.132.232.5
16+ years10.91010.512.1
Unknown / Missing data1.41.51.22.6
Total %100100100100

Number

780

854

752

692



Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%)

1999

2000

2001

2002

Alaska Native/American Indian1923.424.925.6
AsianN/A0.20.30.3
Asian/Pacific Islander0.5N/AN/AN/A
Black2.12.61.92
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific IslanderN/A------
Hispanic3.84.44.54.5
White70.365.965.364.2
Two or more racesN/A----1.2
Unknown / Missing data4.43.43.22.3
Total %100100100100

Number

780

854

752

692



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 Year1.61.32.50.4
1-5 years46.552.542.244.5
6-10 years30.528.632.736.4
11-15 years18.715.519.317.8
16+ years2.72.13.30.8
Total %100100100100

Number

187

238

275

247



Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%)

1999

2000

2001

2002

Alaska Native/American Indian18.714.321.818.2
AsianN/A0.4----
Asian/Pacific Islander1.1N/AN/AN/A
Black1.10.43.62
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific IslanderN/A------
Hispanic2.16.77.38.1
White73.371.867.371.3
Two or more racesN/A----0.4
Unknown / Missing data3.76.3----
Total %100100100100

Number

187

238

275

247



Back to Top


Montana [ 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--86.989.488
Children with one or more recurrences--13.110.612
Total %--100100100

Number

--

1,112

871

934



Graph of the Recurrence of Maltreatment Within 6 Months

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--0.20.20.6
Children not maltreated while in foster care--99.899.899.4
Total %--100100100

Number

--

3,221

3,116

2,869



Graph of the Occurance of Maltreatment in Foster Care

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

Adoption15.419.319.618.8
Guardianship1.522.96.5
Reunification60.857.558.659.4
Other10.48.89.28
Missing data11.912.49.87.3
Total %100100100100

Number

1,331

1,327

1,497

1,280



Percent Exits from Foster Care

1999200020012002
Graph of Exits from Foster Care in 1999Graph of Exits from Foster Care in 2000Graph of Exits from Foster Care in 2001Graph of Exits from Foster Care in 2002
 

3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%)

1999

2000

2001

2002

Adoption28.238.539.231.6
Guardianship5.11.52.43.1
Reunification25.629.23236.7
Other23.115.419.223.5
Missing data17.915.47.25.1
Total %100100100100

Number

39

65

125

98



3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%)

1999

2000

2001

2002

Adoption0.32.22.50.8
Guardianship1.61.91.97.2
Reunification52.547.446.246.6
Other3429.930.328.9
Missing data11.618.719.116.5
Total %100100100100

Number

318

321

314

249



3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%)

1999

2000

2001

2002

Children age 12 or younger at entry27.318.934.332.9
Children older than 12 at entry72.781.165.767.1
Missing data--------
Total %100100100100

Number

99

90

99

82



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

Adoption11.49.913.312.5N/A12.5----22.2N/AN/AN/A11.19.538.526.3N/A------
Guardianship1.71.44.410.5N/A--------N/AN/AN/A--------N/A------
Reunification61.864.962.963N/A2550--11.1N/AN/AN/A16.79.519.25.3N/A--100--
Other4.75.24.63.7N/A25------N/AN/AN/A--14.37.75.3N/A------
Missing data20.418.614.810.3N/A37.550100N/A------
Total %100100100100N/A100100100100N/AN/AN/A100100100100N/A--100--

Number

343

365

458

351

N/A

8

2

1

9

N/A

N/A

N/A

18

21

26

19

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

Adoption10.335.431.2301722.923.423.32019.74.3--N/A----3.4--------
Guardianship2.62.11.61.71.42.21.85.41.52.67.56.3N/A--------------
Reunification66.752.148.45559.254.155.553.667.761.878.588.6N/A--66.793.1100------
Other--2.110.93.313.71111.511.33.15.35.42.5N/A--33.3----------
Missing data20.58.37.8108.89.87.86.37.710.54.32.5N/A----3.4--------
Total %100100100100100100100100100100100100N/A--100100100------

Number

39

48

64

60

855

809

850

741

65

76

93

79

N/A

--

3

29

2

--

--

--



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.83.48784.780.5
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.10.89.810.914.2
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.2.81.433
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.10.80.60.9
48 or more mos.20.90.81.3
Missing data--------
Total %100100100100

Number

809

763

877

760



Graph of Time to Reunification



4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%)

1999

2000

2001

2002

Children entering care for the first time7268.568.569.9
Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode16.820.219.116.1
Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode8.38.910.612.9
Missing data2.92.41.91.1
Total %100100100100

Number

1,596

1,588

1,506

1,306



Graph of Re-entries Into Foster Care

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.14.110.910.21.2
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.1931.221.832
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.32.230.527.628.2
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.19.513.31917.8
48 or more mos.15.113.321.420.7
Missing data--0.8----
Total %100100100100

Number

205

256

294

241



Graph of Time to Adoption

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.19998119--1001,770
200080.819.2--1001,779
200181.318.7--1001,746
200284.115.9--1001,489
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.199950.449.6--100607
200057.542.5--100669
200155.244.8--100629
200254.645.4--100663
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.199950.349.7--100366
200041.758.3--100391
200147.352.7--100419
200241.558.5--100342
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.199940.159.9--100252
200042.957.1--100212
200134.665.4--100240
200233.366.7--100234
48 or more mos.19993763--100487
200034.565.5--100452
200134.765.3--100470
200227.472.6--100463
Missing data1999100----1005
2000100----1003
2001100----1001
2002--100--1001


Graph of Children Experiencing 2 or Fewer Placements

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 homes8.611.911.89.4
Institutions0.210.90.4
Other settings91.287.187.290.3
Missing data--------
Total %100100100100

Number

1,204

1,220

1,166

1,036



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Montana [ Federal Comment ]

The following discussion focuses on Montana’s performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. The Montana 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 Montana’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, Montana’s rate of maltreatment recurrence within 6 months was 12.0 percent, which is more than the national standard (6.1 percent or less) and the national median (7.5 percent). Performance on this measure improved from 2000 (which is the first year for which data are reported) to 2002 (-8.4 percent change).

Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
In CY 2002, Montana’s incidence of maltreatment in foster care was 0.63 percent, which is more than both the national standard (0.57 percent or less) and the national median (0.39 percent). Change in performance on this measure is difficult to interpret because only 8 children were reported as maltreated in foster care in FY 2000, while 18 children were reported as maltreated in foster care in FY 2002.

Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In FY 2002, 84.7 percent of children exiting foster care in Montana were discharged to a permanent home (which is less than the national median of 86.1 percent); 71.4 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 54.6 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 less than the national median of 72.0 percent). In addition, 32.9 percent of the children emancipated from foster care were age 12 or younger when they entered foster care, which is more than the national median of 26.9 percent. These findings suggest that the State experiences challenges in achieving permanency for children exiting foster care, particularly children who are age 13 or older when they entered foster care.

Montana’s performance improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 with regard to: (1) the percentage of all children exiting foster care to a permanent home (+9.0 percent change), and (2) the percentage of children with a diagnosed disability who exited foster care to a permanent home (+21.1 percent change). Performance declined with regard to the percentage of children emancipated from foster care who were age 12 or younger when they entered foster care (+20.7 percent change for measure 3.4).

Outcome 4. Reduce time to reunification without increasing re-entry
In FY 2002, the percentage of all reunifications in Montana occurring within 12 months of a child’s entry into foster care was 80.5, which is more 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.

Because the cross-State analysis found a substantial positive relationship between State percentages of reunifications within 12 months and the percentage of children entering foster care who were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode, Montana’s performance in FY 2002 with regard to reunifications within 12 months must be considered in the context of its re-entry rate. For Montana, 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 16.1 percent, which is higher than both the national standard (8.6 percent or less) and the national median (9.9 percent). Thus, although Montana had a high percentage of reunifications in FY 2002 that occurred within 12 months of entry into foster care, the State also had a high percentage of children entering foster care who were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode. Performance on the measure of foster care re-entry did not change from FY 1999 to FY 2002.

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 33.2, 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. Montana’s performance on this measure declined from FY 2000 to FY 2004 (-21.3 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 84.1, which does not meet the national standard (86.7 percent or more), but is equal to 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 9.7, which is more than the national median of 8.6 percent. Montana’s performance on this measure declined from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (+10.7 percent change).

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