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Home > Statistics & Research > Child Welfare Outcomes 2002

Pennsylvania

Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment | Federal Comment

Pennsylvania [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population (Census Bureau) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total children under 18 years 2,852,520 2,896,337 2,880,499 2,863,452 Race/ethnicity (%)1, 2         Alaska Native/American Indian 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 Asian N/A 1.9 2 2 Asian/Pacific Islander 2.1 N/A N/A N/A Black 12.2 12.7 13 13.1 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A N/A 0 0 Hispanic 4.3 5.1 5.2 5.2 White 81.3 78.2 78.1 77.8 Two or more races N/A 1.8 1.6 1.7 Other N/A 0.2 0 0 % Child population in poverty 13 10.6 14 13.6 Child Welfare Summary 1999 2000 2002 2002 Child maltreatment victims3 5,076 5,002 4,784 5,057 Children in foster care on 9/30 22,690 21,631 21,237 21,434 Children adopted 1,454 1,712 1,564 2,020

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 22,437 22,694 23,012 24,330 7.9 per 1,000 7.8 per 1,000 8.0 per 1,000 8.5 per 1,000 Child maltreatment victims 5,076 5,002 4,784 5,057 1.8 per 1,000 1.7 per 1,000 1.7 per 1,000 1.8 per 1,000 Child fatalities 50 38 47 49 1.8 per 100,000 1.3 per 100,000 1.6 per 100,000 1.7 per 100,000

Age of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 0.6 5.6 5.4 5.1 1-5 years 21 21.5 21.1 22.3 6-10 years 28.3 29.4 29.5 26.8 11-15 years 32.5 32.8 33.5 34 16+ years 17.6 10.5 10.5 11.8 Unknown / Missing data 0 0.2 -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 5,076 5,002 4,784 5,057 Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0 -- -- -- Asian/Pacific Islander 0 -- -- -- Black 0 -- -- -- Hispanic 0 -- -- -- White 0 -- -- -- Two or more races 0 -- -- -- Total %4 0 100 100 100 Number 5,076 5,002 4,784 5,057 Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Emotional Abuse 2 2 2 1.6 Medical Neglect 2.4 2.9 2.8 2.9 Neglect 3.8 3.6 3.5 3.9 Physical Abuse 62.1 37.6 37.9 38.3 Sexual Abuse 80.4 49.9 48.6 54.3 Unknown / Missing data 0 0 1 0.7 Other 1.8 6.3 6.4 -- Total %5 152.5 102.3 102.2 101.7 Number 5,076 5,002 4,784 5,057

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) 21,809 13,299 12,419 22,690 35,108 FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 21,322 12,235 11,926 21,631 33,557 FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 20,544 12,420 11,730 21,237 32,964 FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 19,849 13,616 12,031 21,434 33,465 Median Length of Stay (Months)   FY1999 (10/1/98 - 9/30/99) 20.5 N/A 10.3 19.2 N/A FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 20.3 N/A 10.5 19.9 N/A FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 20.8 N/A 9.9 20.1 N/A FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 19.8 N/A 10 16.7 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 3.4 3.4 3 3.1 10.7 10.6 10.1 10.3 3.1 3.4 3.4 3.1 3.9 3.2 3.1 3.9 1-5 years 21.1 21 20.4 20.2 18.8 18.5 16.7 18 18.9 18.6 18.5 19 20.5 20.5 19.4 19.8 6-10 years 23.9 24.2 23.6 22.2 16.8 17 15.8 15.4 16.7 17.5 16.8 16 23.4 23.3 21.5 20.1 11-15 years 30.7 31.6 33.1 33.3 34.6 36.2 38.3 36.7 26.9 27.7 29.5 28.6 31.3 33.1 34.1 33.7 16-18 years 19.5 18.3 18.4 19.6 18.9 17.6 19 19.4 31.6 30.1 29 30.3 19.3 18.4 20.1 20.9 19+ years 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.6 0.1 0.1 0 0.2 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.9 1.5 1.5 1.7 1.6 Unknown / Missing data 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0 0 0 0 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 21,809 21,322 20,544 19,849 13,299 12,235 12,420 13,616 12,419 11,926 11,730 12,031 22,690 21,631 21,237 21,434 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 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0 0 0.2 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 Asian N/A 0.5 0.4 0.4 N/A 0.3 0.6 0.4 N/A 0.5 0.6 0.5 N/A 0.4 0.4 0.4 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.5 N/A N/A N/A 0.7 N/A N/A N/A 0.7 N/A N/A N/A 0.5 N/A N/A N/A Black 52.4 53.3 52.4 51.3 40.9 40.2 38.8 39.9 42.6 42.9 41.3 40.4 51 51.6 50.6 50.1 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 10.7 8.5 8.9 8.2 11.1 9.2 9.5 10.6 10.5 8.2 9.2 9.4 11 9.1 9.2 9.1 White 36 37.3 37.7 39.6 46.9 49.4 50.2 48.1 45.6 47.7 48.2 48.8 37.1 38.4 39.2 39.9 Two or more races N/A -- 0 0 N/A 0 0.2 0.2 N/A 0 0.1 0.1 N/A 0 0 0.1 Unknown / Missing data 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 21,809 21,322 20,544 19,849 13,299 12,235 12,420 13,616 12,419 11,926 11,730 12,031 22,690 21,631 21,237 21,434

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 4,891 5,210 4,808 4,240 Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) 846 1,008 942 916 Age of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 2.1 1.6 1.5 2.3 1-5 years 32.1 30.6 30.3 30.8 6-10 years 37.5 36.7 35 31.6 11-15 years 24.1 26.4 27.7 29.4 16+ years 3.6 4 4.8 5.3 Unknown / Missing data 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.7 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 4,891 5,210 4,808 4,240 Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0 0 0.1 0.1 Asian N/A 0.5 0.4 0.4 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.4 N/A N/A N/A Black 54.3 57.2 55.7 54.5 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 12.4 9.5 10.3 8.3 White 32.4 32.3 33 36 Two or more races N/A 0 0 0.1 Unknown / Missing data 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 4,891 5,210 4,808 4,240

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 0.6 0.9 1 1-5 years 43.6 40.3 43 41.5 6-10 years 38.2 38.5 33.4 34.7 11-15 years 14.9 18 19.4 20 16+ years 2.3 2.5 3.3 2.9 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,454 1,712 1,564 2,020 Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0 0 0.1 0.3 Asian N/A 0.2 0.6 0.4 Asian/Pacific Islander 0 N/A N/A N/A Black 57.4 55.6 45.7 53.1 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 4.7 6.5 9.1 7.5 White 36.5 37 44.1 38 Two or more races N/A -- 0.2 0.3 Unknown / Missing data 1.2 0.6 0.2 0.3 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,454 1,712 1,564 2,020

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Pennsylvania [ 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 97.5 96.5 97.2 97.1 Children with one or more recurrences 2.5 3.5 2.8 2.9 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,522 2,606 2,421 2,492

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 -- 0.2 0.2 0.4 Children not maltreated while in foster care -- 99.8 99.8 99.7 Total % -- 100 100 100 Number -- 30,739 30,568 30,735

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 12.4 13.9 14.9 16.3 Guardianship 1 1.1 1.3 1.2 Reunification 71.2 70.8 67.8 68.5 Other 15 14 15.8 13.8 Missing data 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 12,419 11,926 11,730 12,031 Percent Exits from Foster Care 1999 2000 2001 2002   3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 16.7 19.4 20.5 21.9 Guardianship 1.3 1.8 1.6 1.5 Reunification 60.3 58.7 54.8 54 Other 21.6 20 23 22.4 Missing data 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,526 2,396 2,317 2,430 3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 0.2 0.5 0.6 0.5 Guardianship 1 0.9 1.3 1.1 Reunification 77 77.6 74.1 77.8 Other 21.3 20.6 23.9 20.5 Missing data 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 5,761 5,295 5,251 5,520 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children age 12 or younger at entry 30.6 31.5 32.9 32.8 Children older than 12 at entry 68.9 68.5 67.1 67.2 Missing data 0.4 -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 702 688 680 740

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 -- 12.5 18.2 25 N/A 6.6 15.1 11.7 3.3 N/A N/A N/A 16.4 17.1 17.3 21.2 N/A -- -- -- Guardianship -- 12.5 -- -- N/A -- 4.1 -- -- N/A N/A N/A 1.1 1.4 1.7 1.2 N/A -- -- -- Reunification 87.5 75 63.6 70 N/A 68.9 60.3 66.7 25 N/A N/A N/A 17.9 16.7 20.3 17.7 N/A -- -- -- Other 12.5 -- 18.2 5 N/A 24.6 20.5 21.7 -- N/A N/A N/A 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.1 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 -- -- -- Number 16 8 11 20 N/A 61 73 60 92 N/A N/A N/A 5,296 5,116 4,839 4,862 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 10 13.8 13.9 11.9 9.5 11.1 13.2 13.1 13.3 14.5 6 10 N/A -- 20 33.3 -- -- -- -- Guardianship 1.2 1 0.9 0.5 0.9 0.9 1.1 1.3 2.2 -- -- 1.4 N/A -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Reunification 68.9 68.3 64 72 78.2 76.8 74.4 75.1 77.8 73.7 85.1 77.1 N/A 100 80 66.7 -- -- -- -- Other 19.5 16.7 20.2 15.4 11.2 11.1 11.3 10.3 6.7 10.5 9 11.4 N/A -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Missing data 0.4 0.2 0.9 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 -- 1.3 -- -- N/A -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 N/A 100 100 100 -- -- -- -- Number 1,302 978 1,076 1,129 5,668 5,686 5,649 5,875 45 76 67 70 N/A 1 15 15 -- -- -- --

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. 67.1 67.7 69.3 70.1 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 19.7 18.9 17.8 16.3 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 5.6 5.4 5.3 6.1 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 2.5 2.8 2.8 2.8 48 or more mos. 4.7 4.9 4.4 4.4 Missing data 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.3 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 8,844 8,443 7,950 8,246 4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children entering care for the first time 74.6 71.8 70.7 66.5 Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode 18 19.3 20.3 23.5 Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode 7.2 8.7 8.9 9.9 Missing data 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 13,299 12,235 12,420 13,616

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 2.1 2.1 2.3 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 15.2 14.3 16.8 16.8 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 21.1 24.8 24 27.5 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 18.1 19.6 17.6 19 48 or more mos. 43.4 39.2 39.5 34.4 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,543 1,655 1,750 1,963

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 85.1 14.9 0 100 15,210 2000 84.2 15.8 0 100 14,127 2001 85.2 14.8 -- 100 14,073 2002 85 14.9 0 100 15,306 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 1999 65.3 34.7 -- 100 6,593 2000 62.5 37.5 -- 100 6,415 2001 62.2 37.8 -- 100 6,074 2002 63.4 36.6 -- 100 6,055 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 1999 55.4 44.6 -- 100 3,695 2000 54.2 45.8 -- 100 3,784 2001 53.7 46.3 -- 100 3,778 2002 55.2 44.8 -- 100 3,813 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 1999 48.8 51.2 -- 100 2,466 2000 48.4 51.6 -- 100 2,417 2001 47.7 52.3 -- 100 2,505 2002 48.4 51.6 -- 100 2,451 48 or more mos. 1999 35.2 64.7 0 100 7,050 2000 32.7 67.2 0 100 6,772 2001 32.4 67.6 0 100 6,483 2002 36.1 63.9 0 100 5,728 Missing data 1999 96.8 3.2 -- 100 94 2000 100 -- -- 100 42 2001 100 -- -- 100 51 2002 98.2 0.9 0.9 100 112

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 4.3 3.8 4.1 3.9 Institutions 8.5 8.9 8.4 7.3 Other settings 87.2 87.3 87.5 88.8 Missing data -- -- -- 0 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 6,987 6,549 6,204 6,884

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Pennsylvania [ State Comment ]

Wayne Stevenson, Deputy Secretary
Children, Youth and Families
Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
717-787-4756

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

Data on the race/ethnicity of child maltreatment victims are not available because Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law prohibits the collection of this information.

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Pennsylvania [ Federal Comment ]

The following discussion focuses on Pennsylvania’s performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. The Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania’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, Pennsylvania’s rate of maltreatment recurrence within 6 months was 2.9, which is less than both the national standard (6.1 percent or less) and the national median (7.5 percent). However, Pennsylvania’s performance on this measure declined from 1999 to 2002 (+16.0 percent change).

The cross-State analyses found a substantial positive relationship between 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 Pennsylvania, both the incidence of maltreatment recurrence (2.9 percent) and the rate of child victims (1.8 per 1,000 in the population) were in the bottom quartile of the State rankings. In fact, Pennsylvania’s rate of child victims was the lowest in the nation.

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 who experienced neglect. States with a relatively low percentage of child victims experiencing neglect tended to have a relatively low percentage of maltreatment recurrence. For Pennsylvania, both the incidence of maltreatment recurrence (2.9 percent) and the percentage of child victims experiencing neglect (3.9 percent, which is the lowest in the Nation) were in the bottom quartile of the State rankings. These findings suggest that a State’s definitions and laws pertaining to what constitutes maltreatment may be related to the State’s performance on the measure of maltreatment recurrence. For example, Pennsylvania does not define child neglect as maltreatment unless it is determined to be “severe neglect.” Although the State responds to reports of neglect with an assessment of risk, it does not report incidents of neglect to NCANDS as maltreatment if they do not meet the criteria of severity.

Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
In CY 2002, Pennsylvania’s incidence of maltreatment in foster care was 0.35 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 declined from 2000 (the first year the State reported these data) to 2002 (+45.8 percent change).

Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In FY 2002, 86.1 percent of children exiting foster care in Pennsylvania were discharged to a permanent home (which is equal to the national median of 86.1 percent), and 79.3 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). However, 77.4 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 32.8 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. Pennsylvania’s performance on the measures assessing permanency for children exiting foster care did not change from FY 1999 to FY 2002. However, the State’s performance with regard to the percentage of children emancipated from foster care who were age 12 or younger when they entered foster care declined from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (+7.2 percent change). These findings suggest that although the State is generally successful in ensuring that children exiting foster care are discharged to permanent homes, almost one-third of children emancipated from foster care may be said to have grown up in the system.

Outcome 4. Reduce time to reunification without increasing re-entry
In FY 2002, the percentage of all reunifications in Pennsylvania occurring within 12 months of a child’s entry into foster care was 70.1, which does not meet the national standard (76.2 percent or more), but is more than 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 analyses found a substantial positive relationship between performance on this measure and the percentage of children entering foster care who were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode, Pennsylvania’s performance in FY 2002 with regard to reunifications within 12 months must be considered in the context of its re-entry rate. For Pennsylvania, 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 23.5, which is more than the national standard (8.6 percent or less) and twice as much as the national median (9.9 percent). Thus, although Pennsylvania had a relatively high (above the national median) percentage of reunifications occurring within 12 months of the child’s entry into foster care, the State also had a very high percentage of children entering foster care who were reentering 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 reentry 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 in FY 2002 who were re-entering with 12 months of a prior episode. For Pennsylvania, both the percentage of children entering foster care who were age 16 and older (19.6 percent) and the incidence of foster care re-entry (23.5 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 their behavior problems are fully resolved.

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 19.1, 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. Pennsylvania’s performance on this measure improved from FY 2000 to FY 2002 (+16.7 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 85.0, which does not meet the national standard (86.7 percent or more), but is more than the national median (84.1 percent). Pennsylvania’s 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 11.2, which is more than the national median of 8.6 percent. Pennsylvania’s performance on this measure improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (-12.7 percent change).

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