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Home > Statistics & Research > Child Welfare Outcomes 2002 > Chapter Six > New Hampshire

New Hampshire

Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment | Federal Comment

New Hampshire[ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population (Census Bureau) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total children under 18 years 304,436 309,624 307,717 308,371 Race/ethnicity (%)1, 2         Alaska Native/American Indian 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 Asian N/A 1.3 1.4 1.5 Asian/Pacific Islander 1.4 N/A N/A N/A Black 0.6 0.8 1 1 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A N/A 0 0 Hispanic 2.3 2.5 2.6 2.6 White 95.5 93.4 93.2 93.1 Two or more races N/A 1.6 1.5 1.6 Other N/A 0.2 0 0 % Child population in poverty 8 7.7 8.2 5.8 Child Welfare Summary 1999 2000 2002 2002 Child maltreatment victims3 926 811 1,102 962 Children in foster care on 9/30 1,385 1,311 1,288 1,291 Children adopted 62 97 95 114

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 8,833 8,120 12,132 10,564 29.0 per 1,000 26.2 per 1,000 39.4 per 1,000 34.3 per 1,000 Child maltreatment victims 926 811 1,102 962 3.0 per 1,000 2.6 per 1,000 3.6 per 1,000 3.1 per 1,000 Child fatalities 3 -- -- -- 1.0 per 100,000 -- per 100,000 -- per 100,000 -- per 100,000

Age of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 0 7.8 9.4 8.4 1-5 years 0 27.3 29.3 24.7 6-10 years 0 28.6 31.1 28 11-15 years 0 31.3 24.1 31.2 16+ years 0 4.1 5.1 6.9 Unknown / Missing data 0 1 0.9 0.8 Total % 0 100 100 100 Number 926 811 1,102 962 Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0 -- 0.3 0.3 Asian/Pacific Islander 0 0.5 0.6 0.3 Black 0 2.2 3 2.3 Hispanic 0 5.3 3.6 3.6 White 0 65.7 79.4 89.1 Two or more races 0 1 1.5 0.8 Total %4 0 100 100 100 Number 926 811 1,102 962 Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Emotional Abuse 5.3 2.6 3.6 1.9 Medical Neglect 1.9 2.6 1.8 2.8 Neglect 65.2 64.4 63.4 60.3 Physical Abuse 27.5 18.9 19.1 21.4 Sexual Abuse 25.7 20.3 21.4 21.2 Unknown / Missing data 0 -- -- -- Other 0 -- -- -- Total %5 125.7 108.8 109.3 107.6 Number 926 811 1,102 962

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) 1,264 522 401 1,385 1,786 FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 1,317 484 491 1,311 1,801 FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 1,222 534 468 1,288 1,756 FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 1,240 563 512 1,291 1,803 Median Length of Stay (Months)   FY1999 (10/1/98 - 9/30/99) 20.9 N/A 15.4 23.5 N/A FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 24.6 N/A 18.3 26.1 N/A FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 27.6 N/A 20.3 25.2 N/A FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 26 N/A 15.3 23.2 N/A Age of Children in Foster Care (%) In Care On: 10/1/98 In Care On: 10/1/99 In Care On: 10/1/00 In Care On: 10/1/01 Entered Care During FY: 1999 Entered Care During FY: 2000 Entered Care During FY: 2001 Entered Care During FY: 2002 Exited Care During FY: 1999 Exited Care During FY: 2000 Exited Care During FY:2001 Exited Care During FY: 2002 In Care On: 9/30/99 In Care On: 9/30/00 In Care On: 9/30/01 In Care On: 9/30/02 Under 1 Year 2.4 2.6 1.9 2 11.1 10.3 10.7 10.8 3.2 2.9 3.4 3.5 2.6 2 2.1 2 1-5 years 22.2 21 20.1 21.3 24.9 25.2 29.2 22.2 25.2 25.3 25.2 21.5 20.6 20.1 21.4 21.3 6-10 years 26.9 29.2 26.6 24.1 25.1 22.5 21.5 18.7 15.7 25.9 20.7 21.9 28.2 25.7 24.5 20.8 11-15 years 30.3 30.8 35.3 35.6 32.6 32.6 28.5 35.2 20.9 17.1 22.6 26.2 31.8 35.7 35.3 36.9 16-18 years 16.3 15 15 15.6 6.3 9.1 9.6 13 28.9 23.8 22.6 23.6 15.3 15.5 15.5 17.8 19+ years 1.9 1.4 1.1 1.4 -- -- -- -- 5.5 3.7 4.3 2.9 1.4 1.1 1.3 1.1 Unknown / Missing data 0.1 0.1 -- -- -- 0.2 0.6 0.2 0.5 1.4 1.1 0.4 0.1 -- -- 0.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 1,264 1,317 1,222 1,240 522 484 534 563 401 491 468 512 1,385 1,311 1,288 1,291 Race/Ethnicity of Children in Foster Care (%) In Care On: 10/1/98 In Care On: 10/1/99 In Care On: 10/1/00 In Care On: 10/1/01 Entered Care During FY: 1999 Entered Care During FY: 2000 Entered Care During FY: 2001 Entered Care During FY: 2002 Exited Care During FY: 1999 Exited Care During FY: 2000 Exited Care During FY:2001 Exited Care During FY: 2002 In Care On: 9/30/99 In Care On: 9/30/00 In Care On: 9/30/01 In Care On: 9/30/02 Alaska Native/American Indian 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 -- -- 0.4 0.4 0.2 -- 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 Asian N/A 0.2 0.2 0.2 N/A 0.4 0.2 0.2 N/A 0.6 0.2 0.2 N/A 0.2 0.2 0.2 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.2 N/A N/A N/A 0.4 N/A N/A N/A 0.2 N/A N/A N/A 0.3 N/A N/A N/A Black 1.7 1.9 2.6 3.3 2.1 4.3 3.2 4.1 1.5 2.9 1.3 2.5 1.9 2.4 3.3 4 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A 0 0 0 N/A -- -- 0.4 N/A -- -- -- N/A 0 0 0.2 Hispanic 3.9 5.2 4.7 4.9 7.5 5.2 5.6 5.2 4 5.9 4.7 4.9 5.2 4.9 5 5 White 89.7 87.7 87.4 86.3 82.2 82.4 85.6 86.7 86.8 83.1 89.1 86.9 87.7 87.5 86 86.2 Two or more races N/A 3.5 4.1 3.8 N/A 2.7 2.2 1.4 N/A 1.4 2.8 3.7 N/A 4 3.8 2.8 Unknown / Missing data 0.7 1.2 0.7 1.1 5.6 5 2.8 1.8 5.2 6.1 1.7 1.6 1.2 0.8 1.2 1.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 1,264 1,317 1,222 1,240 522 484 534 563 401 491 468 512 1,385 1,311 1,288 1,291

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 289 283 230 194 Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) 257 195 122 26 Age of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 4.5 1.8 1.7 -- 1-5 years 44.6 38.9 32.2 28.9 6-10 years 39.8 42 39.1 40.2 11-15 years 10 16.3 24.3 28.4 16+ years 1 0.7 2.6 2.6 Unknown / Missing data -- 0.4 -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 289 283 230 194 Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0.7 0.7 0.9 1 Asian N/A -- -- -- Asian/Pacific Islander -- N/A N/A N/A Black 2.1 1.4 1.3 1.5 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- 0.5 Hispanic 3.1 5.3 6.5 7.2 White 89.3 86.9 86.1 86.1 Two or more races N/A 5.7 5.2 3.6 Unknown / Missing data 4.8 -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 289 283 230 194

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 -- 1.8 1-5 years 48.4 44.3 47.4 33.3 6-10 years 40.3 45.4 40 36.8 11-15 years 9.7 8.2 11.6 26.3 16+ years 1.6 1 1.1 1.8 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 62 97 95 114 Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian -- -- -- -- Asian N/A -- -- 0.9 Asian/Pacific Islander -- N/A N/A N/A Black -- 2.1 3.2 0.9 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A 3.1 1.1 -- Hispanic 6.5 8.2 5.3 0.9 White 87.1 85.6 88.4 90.4 Two or more races N/A -- 2.1 4.4 Unknown / Missing data 1.6 1 -- 2.6 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 62 97 95 114

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New Hampshire [ 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 -- 91.8 91.7 97.4 Children with one or more recurrences -- 8.2 8.3 2.6 Total % -- 100 100 100 Number -- 281 384 388

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 -- -- 0.1 0.1 Children not maltreated while in foster care -- -- 99.9 99.9 Total % -- -- 100 100 Number -- -- 1,631 1,708

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 11 18.3 16.7 19.1 Guardianship 2.7 5.5 4.1 5.3 Reunification 45.9 47.7 55.1 54.9 Other 21.7 19.3 18.8 17.2 Missing data 18.7 9.2 5.3 3.5 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 401 491 468 512 Percent Exits from Foster Care 1999 2000 2001 2002   3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 27.1 44.3 33.3 29.1 Guardianship 3.5 3.2 1.4 4.9 Reunification 34.1 31.6 44.7 42.7 Other 24.7 15.8 14.9 16.5 Missing data 10.6 5.1 5.7 6.8 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 85 158 141 103 3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption -- -- 0.8 0.7 Guardianship 1.5 1.4 3.2 3.3 Reunification 45.6 52.8 44.4 58.9 Other 34.6 35.9 45.2 30.5 Missing data 18.4 9.9 6.3 6.6 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 136 142 126 151 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children age 12 or younger at entry 45.3 45.6 33.3 42.9 Children older than 12 at entry 54.7 54.4 66.7 57.1 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 64 57 54 56

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 -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- -- N/A N/A N/A -- 21.4 33.3 7.7 N/A -- -- -- Guardianship -- -- 100 -- N/A -- -- -- -- N/A N/A N/A -- 21.4 -- 15.4 N/A -- -- -- Reunification -- -- -- -- N/A 33.3 -- 100 -- N/A N/A N/A -- 21.4 16.7 -- N/A -- -- -- Other -- -- -- 100 N/A -- 100 -- -- N/A N/A N/A 50 -- 16.7 7.7 N/A -- -- -- Missing data 100 -- -- -- N/A 66.7 -- -- N/A -- -- -- Total % 100 -- 100 100 N/A 100 100 100 100 N/A N/A N/A 100 100 100 100 N/A -- -- -- Number 1 -- 1 1 N/A 3 1 1 1 N/A N/A N/A 6 14 6 13 N/A -- -- --     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 12.5 10.3 22.7 4 11.5 20.6 15.3 20 25 -- -- -- 12.5 -- 53.8 36.8 -- -- -- -- Guardianship -- 3.4 -- 16 3.2 5.6 4.1 4.5 -- -- -- 12.5 N/A -- -- -- -- -- 16.7 -- Reunification 43.8 58.6 68.2 40 45.4 46.1 56.6 56 50 60 100 62.5 50 42.9 15.4 36.8 52.9 68 16.7 -- Other 18.8 13.8 9.1 32 22.7 19.6 18.5 16.6 -- 20 -- 12.5 25 42.9 30.8 21.1 17.6 16 50 -- Missing data 25 13.8 -- 8 17.2 8.1 5.5 2.9 25 20 -- 12.5 12.5 14.3 -- 5.3 29.4 16 16.7 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 -- Number 16 29 22 25 348 408 417 445 4 5 2 8 8 7 13 19 17 25 6 --

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. 55.4 58.5 48.8 62.6 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 28.3 22.6 26.4 21.4 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 5.4 9.8 8.5 7.8 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 2.2 4.3 6.2 2.1 48 or more mos. 6.5 3.4 9.7 6 Missing data 2.2 1.3 0.4 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 184 234 258 281 4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children entering care for the first time 73 69.4 71.9 72.3 Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode 11.1 13.4 13.3 17.4 Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode 4 5.4 5.6 4.6 Missing data 11.9 11.8 9.2 5.7 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 522 484 534 563

5. Reduce Time in Foster Care to Adoption (AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database:  Fiscal Year Data)

5.1 Time to Adoption (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Less than 12 mos. 2.3 3.3 2.6 4.1 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 9.1 10 2.6 12.2 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 22.7 18.9 21.8 25.5 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 15.9 30 43.6 21.4 48 or more mos. 50 37.8 29.5 36.7 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 44 90 78 98

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 85.3 14.7 -- 100 578 2000 85.8 14.2 -- 100 557 2001 88.7 11.3 -- 100 576 2002 87.4 12.6 -- 100 617 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 1999 64.5 35.5 -- 100 372 2000 60.6 39.4 -- 100 335 2001 63.4 36.6 -- 100 306 2002 73.4 26.6 -- 100 354 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 1999 58.8 41.2 -- 100 274 2000 54.6 45.4 -- 100 260 2001 53.8 46.2 -- 100 210 2002 53.3 46.7 -- 100 214 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 1999 50 50 -- 100 168 2000 53.4 46.6 -- 100 221 2001 49 51 -- 100 198 2002 51.9 48.1 -- 100 133 48 or more mos. 1999 36.2 63.8 -- 100 389 2000 34.2 65.8 -- 100 421 2001 34.7 65.3 -- 100 464 2002 34.8 65.2 -- 100 480 Missing data 1999 100 -- -- 100 5 2000 100 -- -- 100 7 2001 100 -- -- 100 2 2002 100 -- -- 100 5

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 10.7 9.4 7.3 11.3 Institutions 1.1 0.3 -- 0.9 Other settings 88.2 90.3 92.7 87.8 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 355 329 371 345

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New Hampshire [ State Comment ]

Nancy L. Rollins, Director
Division for Children, Youth and Families
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
603-271-4451

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

• The data in Section D indicate that as of 9/30/02, termination of parental rights had been obtained for only 13.4 percent of children waiting to be adopted. New Hampshire has experienced an increase in its utilization of Bridges, its State Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS). This means that staff is progressively enhancing the entry of case planning and outcome data into Bridges. Noting that the reporting period for the AFCARS Annual file is the twelve-month federal fiscal year, it is not surprising that few cases achieve establishment of the goal of adoption and court ordered termination of parental rights within the same federal fiscal year. Despite tight staffing constraints, NH has been working to reduce the period of time required for the overall adoption process but the average case still requires more than six months from the permanency hearing until the termination of parental rights petition is granted by the court.
  
  
• The data in Section E indicate that 114 children were reported to the AFCARS Adoption Database as adopted in FY 2002. However, the data for outcome measure 3.1 and 5.1 indicate that 98 children were reported to the AFCARS Foster Care Database as discharged to a finalized adoption. The apparent discrepancy of seventeen cases found when comparing the two files is explained as follows:
  
  

  −	6 children who were adopted had the Exit Care Reason Code “Not Applicable” instead of “Adoption” for Exit Care Reason
  −	4 children were discharged from foster care in FFY 2001 but the adoption was not finalized until FFY 2002.
  −	2 youths in juvenile cases were not open for IV-E.
  −	5 children received Adoption Subsidy but the placement history was not available.

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New Hampshire [ Federal Comment ]

The following discussion focuses on New Hampshire’s performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. The New Hampshire Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) was completed in fiscal year (FY) 2003, and compliance with the national standards was based on data from 2001. The final report for that review is available from the Child Welfare Monitoring Documents Library. A discussion of the implications of CFSR findings for New Hampshire’s performance on the Report to Congress Outcomes is provided in Child Welfare Outcomes 2001.

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, New Hampshire’s rate of maltreatment recurrence within 6 months was 2.6 percent, which is less than both the national standard (6.1 percent or less) and the national median (7.5 percent). Performance on this measure improved considerably from 2000 to 2002 (-68.3 percent change).

The cross-State analyses found a substantial positive relationship between State performance on this outcome measure and the State rate of child victims (i.e., the number of child victims per 1,000 children in the population). States with a relatively low rate of child victims tended to have a relatively low rate of maltreatment recurrence. For New Hampshire, both the incidence of maltreatment recurrence (2.6 percent) and the rate of child victims (3.1 per 1,000) were in the bottom quartile of the State rankings. This suggests that the State’s definitions and laws pertaining to what constitutes maltreatment and what is necessary for substantiation may be related to its performance on the measure of maltreatment recurrence.

Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
In CY 2002, New Hampshire’s incidence of maltreatment in foster care was 0.06 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 is difficult to interpret because in FY 2002, only one child was reported as maltreated by a foster parent or facility staff member. Only two children were reported as maltreated in FY 2001.

Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In FY 2002, 79.3 percent of children exiting foster care in New Hampshire were discharged to a permanent home (which is less than the national median of 86.1 percent); 76.7 percent of children with a diagnosed disability who exited foster care were discharged to a permanent home (which is less than the national median of 79.8 percent); and 62.9 percent of children exiting foster care who were older than age 12 at entry into foster care were discharged to a permanent home (which is less than the national median of 72.0 percent). In addition, 42.9 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. However, New Hampshire’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 New Hampshire occurring within 12 months of a child’s entry into foster care was 62.6, 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 improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (+13.0 percent change).

For New Hampshire, 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 17.4 percent, which is more than both the national standard (8.6 percent or less) and the national median (9.9 percent). Performance on the measure of foster care re-entry declined from FY 1999 to 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 16.3, which is less than both the national standard (32.0 percent or more) and the national median (23.0 percent). Change in performance on this measure is assessed from FY 2000 to FY 2002 due to data quality issues for many States for this measure in FY 1999. New Hampshire’s performance on this measure improved from FY 2000 to FY 2002 (+22.4 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 87.4, which is more than both the national standard (86.7 percent or more) and than 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 12.2, which is more than the national median of 8.6 percent. New Hampshire’s performance on this measure did not change from FY 1999 to FY 2002.

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