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Home > Statistics & Research > Child Welfare Outcomes 2002 > Chapter Six > North Carolina

North Carolina

Context Data | Outcomes Data | Federal Comment

North Carolina [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population (Census Bureau) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total children under 18 years 1,940,947 2,002,413 2,028,146 2,068,840 Race/ethnicity (%)1, 2         Alaska Native/American Indian 1.7 1.5 1.4 1.4 Asian N/A 1.6 1.7 1.7 Asian/Pacific Islander 1.7 N/A N/A N/A Black 26.4 26.2 26.1 25.9 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A N/A 0 0 Hispanic 3.6 6.1 6.5 7 White 66.6 62.5 62.6 62.2 Two or more races N/A 1.8 1.6 1.7 Other N/A 0.3 0 0 % Child population in poverty 18 18.5 16.4 20.3 Child Welfare Summary 1999 2000 2002 2002 Child maltreatment victims3 36,976 36,186 36,601 35,523 Children in foster care on 9/30 11,339 10,847 10,130 9,527 Children adopted 949 1,337 1,327 1,324

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 127,522 123,043 122,354 127,702 65.7 per 1,000 61.5 per 1,000 60.3 per 1,000 61.7 per 1,000 Child maltreatment victims 36,976 36,186 36,601 35,523 19.1 per 1,000 18.1 per 1,000 18.0 per 1,000 17.2 per 1,000 Child fatalities 21 0 -- -- 1.1 per 100,000 0.0 per 100,000 -- per 100,000 -- per 100,000

Age of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 1.7 9.5 9.4 9.8 1-5 years 32.8 32.5 33.2 33.3 6-10 years 32.4 31.7 30.4 28.9 11-15 years 24.5 23 23.3 24.1 16+ years 8.5 3.4 3.7 3.9 Unknown / Missing data 0 0 0 0 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 36,976 36,186 36,601 35,523 Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 2.4 1.9 1.7 1.7 Asian/Pacific Islander 1.1 0.7 0.9 0.9 Black 37.9 36.6 36.2 34 Hispanic 6.9 8.2 7.9 8.4 White 57.1 51.8 52.2 53.7 Two or more races 0.2 0.7 0.8 0.9 Total %4 106.9 100 100 100 Number 36,976 36,186 36,601 35,523 Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Emotional Abuse 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 Medical Neglect 2.5 2.1 2.3 2.1 Neglect 87.8 89.9 90 90.3 Physical Abuse 3.6 3.9 3.7 3.5 Sexual Abuse 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.5 Unknown / Missing data 0 -- -- 0 Other 2.1 0.4 0.4 0.4 Total %5 100 100 100 100 Number 36,976 36,186 36,601 35,523

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) 10,265 5,391 4,317 11,339 15,656 FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 9,870 5,458 4,481 10,847 15,328 FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 10,068 5,301 5,239 10,130 15,369 FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 9,316 5,615 5,404 9,527 14,931 Median Length of Stay (Months)   FY1999 (10/1/98 - 9/30/99) 16.9 N/A 13 17.9 N/A FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 17.7 N/A 14.9 16.4 N/A FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 16.5 N/A 14.7 16.3 N/A FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 15.8 N/A 13.7 14 N/A Age of Children in Foster Care (%) In Care On: 10/1/98 In Care On: 10/1/99 In Care On: 10/1/00 In Care On: 10/1/01 Entered Care During FY: 1999 Entered Care During FY: 2000 Entered Care During FY: 2001 Entered Care During FY: 2002 Exited Care During FY: 1999 Exited Care During FY: 2000 Exited Care During FY:2001 Exited Care During FY: 2002 In Care On: 9/30/99 In Care On: 9/30/00 In Care On: 9/30/01 In Care On: 9/30/02 Under 1 Year 4.6 4.3 5.1 5.2 15.1 16 15.4 16.3 4.7 4.2 3.8 4.5 4.3 5.1 5 5.8 1-5 years 27.1 26.5 25.6 26.4 26.5 25.7 28.3 28 29.3 29.7 30.9 31.9 26.3 25.8 26.3 26.7 6-10 years 26.4 26.5 25 23.7 24.2 23.3 23.4 22.1 24.2 25 24.7 22.2 26.3 24.8 23.5 22.4 11-15 years 29.5 29.9 31 30.8 29.2 29.6 26.8 26.9 24.6 23.2 23.8 24 29.4 30.6 30.3 29.9 16-18 years 11.5 12.1 12.5 13.1 4.9 5.3 5.9 6.6 15.9 16.8 15.7 16.3 12.9 12.9 13.9 14.4 19+ years 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0 0 0.1 0.1 1.1 0.9 1 1 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.8 Unknown / Missing data 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 10,265 9,870 10,068 9,316 5,391 5,458 5,301 5,615 4,317 4,481 5,239 5,404 11,339 10,847 10,130 9,527 Race/Ethnicity of Children in Foster Care (%) In Care On: 10/1/98 In Care On: 10/1/99 In Care On: 10/1/00 In Care On: 10/1/01 Entered Care During FY: 1999 Entered Care During FY: 2000 Entered Care During FY: 2001 Entered Care During FY: 2002 Exited Care During FY: 1999 Exited Care During FY: 2000 Exited Care During FY:2001 Exited Care During FY: 2002 In Care On: 9/30/99 In Care On: 9/30/00 In Care On: 9/30/01 In Care On: 9/30/02 Alaska Native/American Indian 1.5 1.9 2.3 2.1 2.6 3.5 2.6 2.1 2.4 3 3.2 2.8 1.7 2.3 2 1.7 Asian N/A 0.3 0.2 0.3 N/A 0.3 0.4 0.6 N/A 0.4 0.2 0.5 N/A 0.2 0.3 0.3 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.3 N/A N/A N/A 0.3 N/A N/A N/A 0.4 N/A N/A N/A 0.2 N/A N/A N/A Black 53.1 50.9 49.3 47.4 41.6 41.5 38.7 38.1 45.1 43.8 43.5 42.5 50.7 49.1 46.8 44.7 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A 0 0 0.1 N/A 0.2 0.3 0.2 N/A 0 0.1 0.2 N/A 0.1 0.2 0.1 Hispanic 5.6 6.2 5.6 5.7 7.9 6.5 8.8 7.4 6.6 7.6 7.6 7.4 6.3 5.8 6.2 5.7 White 39.2 39.9 41.2 42.7 47.1 46.8 47.5 49.6 45.2 44.3 44.2 44.9 40.7 41.6 42.9 45.5 Two or more races N/A 0.5 1 1.7 N/A 1.2 1.7 1.7 N/A 0.4 0.9 1.4 N/A 0.9 1.4 1.9 Unknown / Missing data 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.1 0 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 10,265 9,870 10,068 9,316 5,391 5,458 5,301 5,615 4,317 4,481 5,239 5,404 11,339 10,847 10,130 9,527

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 3,603 3,715 3,337 3,133 Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) 1,757 2,134 2,047 1,822 Age of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 2.7 2.8 2.7 2.9 1-5 years 31.1 29.7 27.7 27.1 6-10 years 33.9 31.9 29.5 26.4 11-15 years 26.3 28.5 31.8 34.5 16+ years 5.1 6.6 7.7 8.7 Unknown / Missing data 0.9 0.5 0.6 0.4 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 3,603 3,715 3,337 3,133 Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 1.4 1.6 1.5 1.4 Asian N/A 0.3 0.3 0.4 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.1 N/A N/A N/A Black 53.5 53.9 52 47.2 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A 0 0 0.1 Hispanic 5.9 5.7 5.1 4.8 White 38.5 37.1 39.1 43.3 Two or more races N/A 1 1.6 2.6 Unknown / Missing data 0.6 0.3 0.4 0.3 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 3,603 3,715 3,337 3,133

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 3.8 4 4 2.8 1-5 years 46.4 44.9 45.4 46.5 6-10 years 32 33.5 29.8 28.2 11-15 years 16.2 15.3 17.6 18.8 16+ years 1.6 2.2 2.7 3.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 949 1,337 1,327 1,324 Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0.6 1.2 1.9 1.4 Asian N/A 0.5 0.5 0.2 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.5 N/A N/A N/A Black 51.6 44.9 48.2 43.9 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- 0.2 -- Hispanic 4.1 6.7 5.7 6.3 White 41.8 42.9 37 40.8 Two or more races N/A 3.1 5.8 6.8 Unknown / Missing data 1.3 0.7 0.8 0.6 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 949 1,337 1,327 1,324

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North Carolina [ 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 91.5 91.5 91 Children with one or more recurrences 8 8.5 8.5 9 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 14,159 15,841 16,315 15,834

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 0.8 1.5 1.1 1 Children not maltreated while in foster care 99.2 98.5 98.9 99.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 14,447 14,121 13,986 13,710

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 16.3 23 25.3 23.2 Guardianship 10 8.8 9.6 12.2 Reunification 64.6 57.6 56 55.8 Other 9.1 10.6 9.1 8.8 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 4,317 4,481 5,239 5,404 Percent Exits from Foster Care 1999 2000 2001 2002   3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 24.1 27 27.8 23.9 Guardianship 8 6.8 11.1 11.5 Reunification 53.3 45.8 44.1 46.3 Other 14.7 20.5 17 18.2 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 565 533 583 615 3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 0.8 0.9 2.4 2.6 Guardianship 7.8 5.7 8.2 9 Reunification 70.6 68.7 67.9 66.5 Other 20.8 24.7 21.5 21.9 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,024 1,088 1,193 1,240 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children age 12 or younger at entry 33.2 28.5 33.8 32.6 Children older than 12 at entry 66.8 71.5 66.2 67.4 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 244 277 302 328

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 3.8 11.3 19.8 12.6 N/A 5.3 36.4 20.7 11.1 N/A N/A N/A 17.7 24.4 28.5 26.2 N/A -- 57.1 -- Guardianship 40.4 33.8 29.9 29.8 N/A 5.3 9.1 6.9 -- N/A N/A N/A 10.3 7.9 9.8 12.3 N/A -- 14.3 -- Reunification 53.8 43.6 46.1 48.3 N/A 78.9 54.5 69 -- N/A N/A N/A 9.1 11.9 10.9 9.4 N/A 75 28.6 100 Other 1.9 11.3 4.2 9.3 N/A 10.5 -- 3.4 -- N/A N/A N/A -- -- -- -- N/A 25 -- -- 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 100 100 100 Number 104 133 167 151 N/A 19 11 29 18 N/A N/A N/A 1,946 1,963 2,277 2,297 N/A 4 7 12     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 11.6 21.4 23.1 16.8 16.4 22.6 22.4 21.7 23.1 47.1 36.4 27.3 N/A 25 40.8 37.7 -- -- -- -- Guardianship 10.2 7 9.3 9 8.2 8.3 8.2 11.7 -- 17.6 -- 27.3 N/A 20 -- 7.8 -- -- -- -- Reunification 71.2 60.7 61.2 67.9 65.7 59.8 61 57.8 76.9 17.6 63.6 45.5 N/A 50 55.1 46.8 -- -- -- -- Other 7 10.9 6.5 6.3 9.8 9.3 8.4 8.8 -- 17.6 -- -- N/A 5 4.1 7.8 -- -- -- -- Missing data -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 N/A 100 100 100 -- -- -- -- Number 285 341 399 399 1,951 1,984 2,318 2,428 13 17 11 11 N/A 20 49 77 -- -- -- --

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. 57.7 59.2 60 60.2 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 24.1 23.1 24.5 25.1 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 9.4 9.1 7.9 7.7 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 3.8 4.3 3.2 3.1 48 or more mos. 4.7 4 4.1 3.7 Missing data 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,789 2,579 2,932 3,017 4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children entering care for the first time 97.9 97.5 97.7 97.6 Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode 1.2 1.3 1.1 1.2 Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode 0.9 1.3 1.1 1.2 Missing data 0 -- 0 0 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 5,391 5,458 5,301 5,615

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. 8.5 6.2 5 6.3 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 17.4 21.3 24.6 25.3 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 28.9 28.1 25.5 27.3 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 18 19 20.1 17.2 48 or more mos. 27.1 25.5 24.8 23.9 Missing data -- -- 0.1 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 705 1,029 1,326 1,252

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 61.3 38.7 -- 100 6,260 2000 57.7 42.3 -- 100 6,312 2001 59.5 40.5 -- 100 6,343 2002 57.7 42.3 -- 100 6,707 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 1999 41.5 58.5 -- 100 3,523 2000 38.9 61.1 -- 100 3,329 2001 33.4 66.6 -- 100 3,548 2002 37.1 62.9 -- 100 3,325 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 1999 39.9 60.1 -- 100 2,205 2000 30.8 69.2 -- 100 2,074 2001 27.6 72.4 -- 100 1,901 2002 20.8 79.2 -- 100 1,806 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 1999 37.8 62.2 -- 100 1,184 2000 31.8 68.2 -- 100 1,287 2001 23 77 -- 100 1,267 2002 15.8 84.2 -- 100 1,004 48 or more mos. 1999 35 65 -- 100 2,453 2000 29.7 70.3 -- 100 2,313 2001 24.5 75.5 -- 100 2,287 2002 16.5 83.5 -- 100 2,075 Missing data 1999 80.6 19.4 -- 100 31 2000 84.6 15.4 -- 100 13 2001 91.3 8.7 -- 100 23 2002 92.9 7.1 -- 100 14

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 3 3.3 3 2.8 Institutions 3.7 3.6 3 4.7 Other settings 93.2 93 93.9 92.5 Missing data 0.1 0.1 0.1 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 3,950 3,963 3,968 4,130

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North Carolina [ Federal Comment ]

The following discussion focuses on North Carolina’s performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. North Carolina’s 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 North Carolina’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, North Carolina’s rate of maltreatment recurrence within 6 months was 9.0 percent, which is more than both the national standard (6.1 percent or less) and the national median (7.5 percent). Performance on this measure declined from 1999 to 2002 (+12 percent change).

The cross-State analyses found a substantial positive relationship between State performance on this outcome measure and the rate of child victims (i.e., the number of child victims per 1,000 children in the population). States with a relatively high rate of child victims tended to have a relatively high rate of maltreatment recurrence. For North Carolina, both the incidence of maltreatment recurrence (9.0 percent) and the rate of child victims (17.2 per 1,000 children in the population) were in the top quartile of the State rankings.

The cross-State analyses also found a small, but definite, positive relationship between performance on this outcome measure and the percentage of child victims in the State experiencing neglect. States with a relatively high percentage of child victims experiencing neglect tended to have a relatively high percentage of maltreatment recurrence. For North Carolina, both the incidence of maltreatment recurrence (9.0 percent) and the percentage of child victims experiencing neglect (90.3 percent) were in the top quartile of the State rankings. These findings suggest that a State’s definitions and laws pertaining to what constitutes maltreatment and what is necessary for substantiation may be related to the State’s performance on the outcome measure assessing maltreatment recurrence.

Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
In CY 2002, North Carolina’s incidence of maltreatment in foster care was 0.95 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 1999 to 2002 (+14.37 percent change).

Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In FY 2002, 91.2 percent of children exiting foster care in North Carolina were discharged to a permanent home (which is more than the national median of 86.1 percent); 81.8 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 78.1 percent of children exiting foster are 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). However, 32.6 percent of the children emancipating from foster care were age 12 or younger when they entered foster care, which is more than the national median of 26.9 percent. North Carolina’s performance on the measures for outcome 3 exhibited no change from FY 1999 to FY 2002. These finding suggest that in FY 2002, the State was generally successful in attaining permanency for children exiting foster care, although almost one-third of the children who exited foster care to emancipation may be said to have grown up in foster care.

Outcome 4. Reduce time to reunification without increasing re-entry
In FY 2002, the percentage of all reunifications in North Carolina occurring within 12 months of a child’s entry into foster care was 60.2, 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 did not change from FY 1999 to FY 2002.

Because the cross-State analyses 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, North Carolina’s performance in FY 2002 with regard to reunifications within 12 months must be considered in the context of its re-entry rate. For North Carolina, 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 1.2, which was the lowest percentage in the Nation. Thus, although North Carolina had a relatively low percentage of reunifications occurring with 12 months of the child’s entry into foster care, the State also had a very low 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 exhibited no change from FY 1999 to 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 31.6, which is close to the national standard (32.0 percent or more), and 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. North Carolina’s performance on this measure improved from FY 2000 to FY 2002 (+15.0 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 57.7, which is less than both the national standard (86.7 percent or more) and the national median (84.1 percent). This percentage is the second lowest percentage in the Nation. North Carolina’s performance on this measure declined slightly from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (-5.9 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 7.5, which is less than the national median of 8.6 percent. However, North Carolina’s performance on this measure declined from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (+12.7 percent change).

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