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

North Dakota

Context Data | Outcomes Data | Federal Comment

North Dakota [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population (Census Bureau) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total children under 18 years 160,092 153,810 151,223 146,812 Race/ethnicity (%)1, 2         Alaska Native/American Indian 8.5 7.8 8 8.1 Asian N/A 0.6 0.7 0.8 Asian/Pacific Islander 1.2 N/A N/A N/A Black 0.8 0.8 1 1 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A N/A 0 0 Hispanic 1.8 2 2 2 White 87.7 86.6 86.4 86.2 Two or more races N/A 2.1 1.8 1.8 Other N/A 0 0 0 % Child population in poverty 19 15.3 19.5 16.3 Child Welfare Summary 1999 2000 2002 2002 Child maltreatment victims3 -- 1,383 1,359 1,493 Children in foster care on 9/30 1,131 1,129 1,167 1,197 Children adopted 143 108 145 137

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 6,926 6,985 6,963 7,089 43.3 per 1,000 45.4 per 1,000 46.0 per 1,000 48.3 per 1,000 Child maltreatment victims -- 1,383 1,359 1,493 -- per 1,000 9.0 per 1,000 9.0 per 1,000 10.2 per 1,000 Child fatalities 0 0 1 2 0.0 per 100,000 0.0 per 100,000 0.7 per 100,000 1.4 per 100,000

Age of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 6.9 6.6 6 6 1-5 years 26.3 26.8 28.8 31.4 6-10 years 33.6 32.8 30.8 27.2 11-15 years 28 26.5 26.7 28.3 16+ years 5.3 7.3 7.7 7.2 Unknown / Missing data 0 -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number -- 1,383 1,359 1,493 Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 26.2 21.3 21.2 19.3 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.7 Black 3.5 3.1 3.8 3.8 Hispanic 3.3 2 1.8 3.8 White 68.8 73.8 72 73.2 Two or more races 0.8 -- -- -- Total %4 103.3 100.3 100 100.8 Number -- 1,383 1,359 1,493 Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Emotional Abuse 48.3 53.1 52.5 52.3 Medical Neglect 4.3 2.6 1.7 3.6 Neglect 64 61 58.3 64.6 Physical Abuse 12.5 18.9 18.4 22.6 Sexual Abuse 7.2 6.5 8.2 9.2 Unknown / Missing data 0 1.4 3.2 -- Other 136.3 -- -- -- Total %5 272.6 143.5 142.3 152.3 Number -- 1,383 1,359 1,493

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) 1,002 954 825 1,131 1,956 FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 974 1,006 851 1,129 1,980 FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 982 1,013 828 1,167 1,995 FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 1,017 1,044 864 1,197 2,061 Median Length of Stay (Months)   FY1999 (10/1/98 - 9/30/99) 11 N/A 8 10.8 N/A FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 10.9 N/A 6.4 10.8 N/A FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 11 N/A 7.1 10.2 N/A FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 10.5 N/A 6.6 10.5 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 5.9 5.4 4.2 3.5 12.4 12 8.8 10.1 2.5 4.7 3 2.7 8 6.8 5.4 6 1-5 years 13.5 14.4 15.7 16.2 16.7 14 16.3 18.3 16 14.9 16.8 16.9 16.6 16.3 16.9 19 6-10 years 20.6 19.9 17.9 18.2 15.6 15.6 15.8 13.1 15.6 15.2 13 12.4 19.5 17.4 17.7 15.5 11-15 years 33.6 34.7 35.9 35.2 35.4 36.7 36.4 35.6 26.7 29.1 26.8 28.7 32.9 34.9 35 34.7 16-18 years 25.7 24.8 25.3 26.5 19.9 21.7 22.6 22.9 38.2 35.4 39.4 38.3 22.5 23.6 24.5 24.5 19+ years 0.7 0.7 0.9 0.4 -- -- -- -- 1 0.7 0.8 1 0.5 0.8 0.4 0.4 Unknown / Missing data -- -- 0.1 -- -- -- 0.1 -- -- -- 0.1 -- -- 0.1 0.1 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 1,002 974 982 1,017 954 1,006 1,013 1,044 825 851 828 864 1,131 1,129 1,167 1,197 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 33.9 33.1 32.8 31.1 28 28.2 27.1 26.1 30.7 29.7 27.7 27.1 31.3 31.3 31.5 29.7 Asian N/A 0.8 0.4 0.7 N/A 0.5 0.7 0.5 N/A 0.2 -- -- N/A 1 0.9 1 Asian/Pacific Islander 0 N/A N/A N/A 0.2 N/A N/A N/A 0.2 N/A N/A N/A 0 N/A N/A N/A Black 1.8 2.4 1.6 3.2 2.3 1.8 3.5 2.4 1.6 2.2 2.2 2.9 2.4 1.9 2.8 2.8 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- 0 N/A -- 0.2 0 N/A -- 0.1 0.2 N/A -- 0 -- Hispanic 3.1 2.5 3.1 3 5 4.2 2.7 5.4 5.3 3.9 3 4.1 3.1 2.9 2.7 4.3 White 59.5 60.3 60.2 58.3 63.4 62.1 63 61.7 61.3 61.8 64.7 63 61.5 60.8 59.4 57.9 Two or more races N/A 0.9 1.8 3.5 N/A 3.2 2.9 3.8 N/A 2.1 2.3 2.8 N/A 2 2.4 4.3 Unknown / Missing data -- 0.1 0.1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0 0 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 1,002 974 982 1,017 954 1,006 1,013 1,044 825 851 828 864 1,131 1,129 1,167 1,197

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 409 343 322 340 Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) 370 262 191 228 Age of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 18.8 14.9 13.7 14.7 1-5 years 31.1 32.1 28.3 28.8 6-10 years 29.3 22.4 24.5 22.6 11-15 years 19.1 25.9 27 28.5 16+ years 1.2 4.4 5.9 5 Unknown / Missing data 0.5 0.3 0.6 0.3 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 409 343 322 340 Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 24.7 26.2 31.4 27.9 Asian N/A 2.6 1.6 1.5 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.2 N/A N/A N/A Black 4.2 2.9 3.1 3.8 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 3.4 3.8 2.5 3.5 White 65.3 62.4 59.3 55.6 Two or more races N/A 2 2.2 7.6 Unknown / Missing data 2.2 -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 409 343 322 340

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 48.3 42.6 27.6 37.2 1-5 years 32.2 33.3 32.4 35.8 6-10 years 14 18.5 21.4 14.6 11-15 years 4.2 4.6 13.1 10.9 16+ years 1.4 0.9 5.5 1.5 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 143 108 145 137 Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 4.9 10.2 23.4 9.5 Asian N/A -- -- -- Asian/Pacific Islander -- N/A N/A N/A Black -- 3.7 4.8 5.8 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 7 4.6 4.1 7.3 White 14.7 78.7 66.2 65.7 Two or more races N/A 2.8 1.4 11.7 Unknown / Missing data 0.7 -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 143 108 145 137

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North Dakota [ 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 -- -- -- -- Children with one or more recurrences -- -- -- -- Total % -- -- -- -- Number -- -- -- --

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 -- -- -- -- Children not maltreated while in foster care -- -- -- -- Total % -- -- -- -- Number -- -- -- --

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 6.1 5.2 10.6 7.8 Guardianship 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.6 Reunification 70.1 70.9 60.5 66.7 Other 19.4 18.4 24.5 23.4 Missing data 4.2 5.1 4.1 1.6 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 825 851 828 864 Percent Exits from Foster Care 1999 2000 2001 2002   3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 3.5 85.4 72.8 7.2 Guardianship -- -- -- 0.5 Reunification 68.8 9.8 16.5 62.5 Other 21.9 -- 9.7 28.7 Missing data 5.8 4.9 1 1.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 398 41 103 432 3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 0.4 -- 0.9 0.4 Guardianship 0.4 0.9 0.4 0.8 Reunification 66.7 67 60.3 65.3 Other 26.1 25.1 35.8 32.1 Missing data 6.2 7.1 2.6 1.3 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 448 463 464 476 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children age 12 or younger at entry -- -- 10.9 17.2 Children older than 12 at entry 100 100 89.1 82.8 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 42 43 46 58

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 5.1 4 9.2 4.7 N/A -- -- -- -- N/A N/A N/A -- -- 16.7 4 N/A -- -- -- Guardianship -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- -- N/A N/A N/A -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- Reunification 64.4 63.2 52.4 62.4 N/A 100 -- -- -- N/A N/A N/A 15.4 31.6 11.1 32 N/A -- 100 100 Other 25.7 22.9 32.8 31.2 N/A -- -- -- -- N/A N/A N/A 7.7 5.3 -- -- N/A -- -- -- Missing data 4.7 9.9 5.7 1.7 N/A -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 N/A 100 -- -- 100 N/A N/A N/A 100 100 100 100 N/A -- 100 100 Number 253 253 229 234 N/A 2 -- -- 2 N/A N/A N/A 13 19 18 25 N/A -- 1 2     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 6.8 -- 16 5.7 6.7 6.1 11.2 8.6 -- -- -- -- N/A 11.1 -- 25 -- -- -- -- Guardianship -- -- -- -- 0.4 0.8 0.4 0.9 -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Reunification 77.3 81.8 60 60 71.5 73.4 63.4 68.8 -- -- -- -- 100 88.9 63.2 70.8 -- -- -- -- Other 15.9 9.1 16 34.3 17 17.1 22.2 19.9 -- -- -- -- N/A -- 15.8 4.2 -- -- -- -- Missing data -- 9.1 8 -- 4.3 2.7 2.8 1.8 -- -- -- -- N/A -- 21.1 -- -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 -- -- -- -- 100 100 100 100 -- -- -- -- Number 44 33 25 35 506 526 536 544 -- -- -- -- 7 18 19 24 -- -- -- --

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. 73.2 81.4 80.8 80.9 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 20.8 13.9 15.4 13 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 3.8 2.7 3 3.8 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 2.1 1.3 0.2 1 48 or more mos. -- 0.7 0.4 0.7 Missing data 0.2 -- 0.2 0.5 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 578 603 501 576 4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children entering care for the first time 70.4 71.3 66.2 67.5 Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode 16.5 19.4 19 19.5 Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode 9.1 7 10.2 9.7 Missing data 4 2.4 4.6 3.3 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 954 1,006 1,013 1,044

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. 22 11.4 11.4 9 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 22 15.9 25 28.4 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 14 36.4 20.5 28.4 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 42 15.9 22.7 19.4 48 or more mos. -- 20.5 20.5 14.9 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 50 44 88 67

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 88.8 11.2 -- 100 1,140 2000 87.1 12.6 0.3 100 1,210 2001 81.2 14.4 4.3 100 1,220 2002 84.5 15.2 0.2 100 1,236 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 1999 69.9 30.1 -- 100 428 2000 63.5 36.2 0.3 100 359 2001 59.7 40.3 -- 100 352 2002 62.6 37.4 -- 100 398 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 1999 67.4 32.6 -- 100 138 2000 54.5 45.5 -- 100 167 2001 49 51 -- 100 143 2002 47.5 52.5 -- 100 179 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 1999 63.3 36.7 -- 100 147 2000 61 39 -- 100 77 2001 49 51 -- 100 102 2002 35.7 64.3 -- 100 70 48 or more mos. 1999 69 31 -- 100 100 2000 58.3 40.5 1.2 100 163 2001 52 46.9 1.1 100 175 2002 42.7 57.3 -- 100 171 Missing data 1999 100 -- -- 100 3 2000 50 -- 50 100 4 2001 -- -- 100 100 3 2002 100 -- -- 100 7

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 1.4 1 1.7 3.3 Institutions 5.2 8.8 5.7 9 Other settings 93.2 90.2 92.4 87.5 Missing data 0.2 -- 0.2 0.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 497 489 459 513

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North Dakota [ Federal Comment ]

The following discussion focuses on North Dakota’s performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. The North Dakota 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 Dakota’s performance on the Report to Congress Outcomes is provided in Child Welfare Outcomes 2000.<br>
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
North Dakota’s performance on outcome 1 cannot be assessed as part of the Federal Comment section because the State does not provide data to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) to calculate this outcome. To ensure data consistency across States, only data submitted through NCANDS are presented for this outcome in the Report to Congress. However, the State provided 1999 data for this outcome for its CFSR using an alternative source. For that year, the State reported that 11.7 percent of the children who were the subject of a substantiated or indicated child maltreatment report during the first 6 months of the year experienced another substantiated or indicated child maltreatment report within 6 months of the first report. The national standard for this measure is 6.1 percent or fewer.

Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
North Dakota’s performance on outcome 2 cannot be evaluated as part of the Federal Comment section because the State does not provide data to NCANDS for calculating this outcome. In order to ensure data consistency across States, only data submitted through the NCANDS system are presented for this outcome in the Report to Congress. However, the State provided 1999 data for this outcome for its CFSR using an alternative source. For that year, the State reported that 0.44 percent of the children in foster care for the first 9 months of the calendar year were victims of maltreatment by foster parents or facility staff members. The national standard for this measure is 0.57 percent or fewer.

Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In FY 2002, 75 percent of children exiting foster care in North Dakota were discharged to a permanent home (which is less than the national median of 86.1 percent); 70.0 percent of children with a diagnosed disability who exited from foster care were discharged to a permanent home (which is less than the national median of 79.8 percent); and 66.6 percent of children exiting foster care who were older than age 12 at entry into foster care exited to a permanent home (which is less than the national median of 72.0 percent). However, only 17.2 percent of the children emancipated from foster care were age 12 or younger when they entered foster care (which is less than the national median of 26.9 percent). North Dakota’s performance on the measures for outcome 3 exhibited no change from FY 1999 to FY 2002. These findings suggest that North Dakota continues to experience challenges with regard to finding permanent homes for children exiting foster care. However, a relatively small percentage of those children who exit foster care to emancipation appear 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 Dakota occurring within 12 months of a child’s entry into foster care was 80.9, 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 improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (+10.5 percent change).

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 Dakota’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 Dakota, 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 19.5, which is considerably more than both the national standard (8.6 percent or less) and the national median (9.9 percent). In addition, performance on this measure declined from FY 1999 to 2002 (+18.7 percent change). Thus, while North Dakota had a relatively high percentage of reunifications in FY 2002 within 12 months of entry into foster care, the State also had a relatively high percentage of children entering foster care in FY 2002 who were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode.

The cross-State analyses also found a substantial positive relationship between performance on the measure of foster care re-entry 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 who were re-entering with 12 months of a prior episode. For North Dakota, both the percentage of children entering foster care who were age 16 and older (26.9 percent) and the incidence of foster care re-entry (19.5 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 behaviors (or through the juvenile justice system) rather than as a result of maltreatment, and they may leave the foster care system before behavior problems are fully resolved. This is particularly relevant to North Dakota, because this 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 37.4. However, this percentage is difficult to interpret, because there was a substantial discrepancy between the number of finalized adoptions the State provided in its AFCARS Adoption data submission (137 adoptions) and the number of exits from foster care to a finalized adoption provided in the State’s AFCARS Foster Care data submission (67 exits from foster care to a finalized adoption). Thus, over 50 percent of the children reported to the AFCARS Adoption Data Base are not accounted for in “time to adoption” assessed by outcome measure 5.1. This discrepancy also was found in prior years.

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 84.5, which does not meet the national standard (86.7 percent or more), but is about equal to the national median (84.1 percent). North Dakota exhibited no change in performance on this measure 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 12.3, which is more than the national median of 8.6 percent. North Dakota’s performance on this measure declined substantially from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (+85.0 percent change).

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