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Home > Statistics & Research > Child Welfare Outcomes 2002 > Chapter Six > South Carrolina

South Carolina

Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment | Federal Comment

South Carolina [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population (Census Bureau) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total children under 18 years 955,930 983,824 988,687 979,163 Race/ethnicity (%)1, 2         Alaska Native/American Indian 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 Asian N/A 0.9 0.9 1 Asian/Pacific Islander 1 N/A N/A N/A Black 36 36.4 36.1 36.1 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A N/A 0 0 Hispanic 1.9 2.8 3 3.1 White 60.8 58 58.3 58 Two or more races N/A 1.4 1.4 1.4 Other N/A 0.2 0 0 % Child population in poverty 18 17.8 23 19.2 Child Welfare Summary 1999 2000 2002 2002 Child maltreatment victims3 9,580 11,246 11,199 10,738 Children in foster care on 9/30 4,545 4,525 4,774 4,818 Children adopted 456 378 384 344

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 39,902 38,844 36,836 30,937 41.7 per 1,000 39.5 per 1,000 37.3 per 1,000 31.6 per 1,000 Child maltreatment victims 9,580 11,246 11,199 10,738 10.0 per 1,000 11.4 per 1,000 11.3 per 1,000 11.0 per 1,000 Child fatalities 13 20 16 13 1.4 per 100,000 2.0 per 100,000 1.6 per 100,000 1.3 per 100,000

Age of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 8.2 8.1 10.7 10.7 1-5 years 26.9 28.2 28.3 27 6-10 years 31.3 29.9 29.1 26.9 11-15 years 24.9 26.2 26.2 25.2 16+ years 8.7 6 5.2 4.8 Unknown / Missing data 0 1.7 0.4 5.4 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 9,580 11,246 11,199 10,738 Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.2 Black 45.9 45.6 43.9 41 Hispanic 1.5 1.7 2.3 2.8 White 52.6 52.3 50.7 50.9 Two or more races 0.2 -- 1.9 2.6 Total %4 101.7 100 100 100 Number 9,580 11,246 11,199 10,738 Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Emotional Abuse 0.5 0.6 2.9 2.2 Medical Neglect 4.1 4 3.9 3.4 Neglect 54.8 53 68.1 64.8 Physical Abuse 13.7 13.6 33.4 33.4 Sexual Abuse 6.3 5.4 8.1 8.8 Unknown / Missing data 0.1 8.9 -- -- Other 67.7 70 0.2 0.4 Total %5 147.2 155.5 116.6 113 Number 9,580 11,246 11,199 10,738

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) 4,475 2,923 2,853 4,545 7,398 FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 4,491 3,172 3,137 4,525 7,663 FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 4,476 3,405 3,107 4,774 7,881 FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 4,688 3,537 3,407 4,818 8,225 Median Length of Stay (Months)   FY1999 (10/1/98 - 9/30/99) 24.8 N/A 6.2 20.2 N/A FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 20.3 N/A 5.4 20.4 N/A FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 21.2 N/A 4.6 19.2 N/A FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 19.4 N/A 5 18.4 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 4.9 4.5 5 4.7 14.4 15.4 13.9 14.1 6.7 7 7.1 5.8 4.5 5.2 4.7 5.2 1-5 years 23.1 22 21.6 22.5 24 25.7 26.1 25.4 27.3 28.4 28.8 27.3 22.1 21.7 22.4 23.3 6-10 years 24.5 23.2 23.1 20.6 24.5 26.2 24.4 23.6 25 24.9 25.1 24.6 23.3 22.9 20.8 18.7 11-15 years 30.1 32.1 31.7 31.9 31 27.6 28.9 29.2 24.1 23.5 23.5 25.1 32.3 31.7 32.1 31 16-18 years 15.6 16.2 16.8 18.3 6 5 6.6 6.8 14.2 13.8 13.6 14.3 16 16.6 18.1 19.3 19+ years 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.9 -- -- 0 0.1 2.3 2 1.6 2 1.8 1.8 1.9 2.3 Unknown / Missing data -- 0 0 0.1 0 0.1 0.1 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.4 1 0 0 0.1 0.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 4,475 4,491 4,476 4,688 2,923 3,172 3,405 3,537 2,853 3,137 3,107 3,407 4,545 4,525 4,774 4,818 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 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.3 0 0.4 0 0 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.1 Asian N/A 0.2 0.2 0.2 N/A 0.4 0.2 0.2 N/A 0.4 0.3 0.2 N/A 0.2 0.2 0.2 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.2 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 62.9 62.7 61.2 60 55 52 52.7 49.2 55.2 54.3 53.6 54 62.6 61.1 60.1 56.3 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- 0 N/A 0 0.1 0 N/A 0 0 0 N/A -- 0 0 Hispanic 1 1.1 1.4 1.4 1.5 2.7 2.9 3.7 1.3 2.2 2.9 2.5 1.1 1.4 1.5 2.3 White 35.6 35.6 36.8 37.7 42.8 44.2 43.1 45 42.8 42.6 42.5 41.7 35.8 36.9 37.5 40.2 Two or more races N/A 0 0.3 0.4 N/A 0.6 0.5 0.9 N/A 0.3 0.3 0.9 N/A 0.3 0.5 0.5 Unknown / Missing data 0 -- -- 0 0 0 0 0.9 0.1 0 0 0.5 -- -- -- 0.4 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 4,475 4,491 4,476 4,688 2,923 3,172 3,405 3,537 2,853 3,137 3,107 3,407 4,545 4,525 4,774 4,818

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 2,199 2,201 2,157 1,961 Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) 853 820 753 554 Age of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 2.9 3 2.8 2.9 1-5 years 29.8 27.1 28.4 30.5 6-10 years 30.5 29.8 26.7 24.4 11-15 years 32.1 32.8 34 34.1 16+ years 4.2 6.6 7.1 6.9 Unknown / Missing data 0.5 0.6 1 1.3 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,199 2,201 2,157 1,961 Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0.4 0.1 0.1 0 Asian N/A 0.1 0 -- Asian/Pacific Islander 0 N/A N/A N/A Black 65.1 63.1 63 60.7 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 0.9 1 1.3 1.5 White 33.4 35.3 35 37.3 Two or more races N/A 0.3 0.4 0.4 Unknown / Missing data 0 -- -- 0 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,199 2,201 2,157 1,961

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 2.2 2.1 2.9 1.7 1-5 years 43.9 47.1 43.2 44.8 6-10 years 38.2 32.3 32 34.6 11-15 years 14 17.5 17.7 16.9 16+ years 1.8 1.1 4.2 2 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 456 378 384 344 Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian -- 0.3 0.5 -- Asian N/A 0.3 -- 0.3 Asian/Pacific Islander -- N/A N/A N/A Black 61.4 63.5 58.3 60.5 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 0.7 1.3 1.8 1.7 White 36.6 34.7 39.1 36 Two or more races N/A -- 0.3 1.5 Unknown / Missing data 1.3 -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 456 378 384 344

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South 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 -- -- 96.6 96.1 Children with one or more recurrences -- -- 3.4 3.9 Total % -- -- 100 100 Number -- -- 6,028 5,275

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 -- -- 0.5 0.5 Children not maltreated while in foster care -- -- 99.5 99.5 Total % -- -- 100 100 Number -- -- 7,194 7,355

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 16.1 13.2 13.1 10.5 Guardianship 0.9 0.8 1 0.9 Reunification 72.4 75.5 73.9 71.2 Other 10.6 10.4 8.9 9.2 Missing data 0 0.1 3.1 8.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,853 3,137 3,107 3,407 Percent Exits from Foster Care 1999 2000 2001 2002   3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 36.1 28.3 29.5 20.8 Guardianship 0.5 1 -- 0.6 Reunification 36.9 33.2 36.2 29.8 Other 26.5 37.5 32.9 40.5 Missing data -- -- 1.4 8.3 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 377 304 210 168 3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.4 Guardianship 1 0.7 1.4 1.6 Reunification 72.6 71.4 70.6 67.4 Other 25.9 27.1 23.7 21.8 Missing data -- 0.1 3.4 8.9 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 700 720 725 831 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children age 12 or younger at entry 35.1 37.6 35 38.8 Children older than 12 at entry 64.9 62.4 65 61.2 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 242 271 214 250

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 50 11.1 22.2 -- N/A 9.1 -- 14.3 -- N/A N/A N/A 17.6 15.2 14.5 11.2 N/A -- -- -- Guardianship -- -- -- -- N/A -- 11.1 -- -- N/A N/A N/A 0.9 0.5 1 0.7 N/A -- -- -- Reunification -- 77.8 77.8 33.3 N/A 72.7 77.8 71.4 -- N/A N/A N/A 11.2 11.5 9.4 10.4 N/A 100 66.7 66.7 Other 50 11.1 -- 50 N/A 18.2 11.1 14.3 -- N/A N/A N/A -- -- 2.9 9.1 N/A -- -- -- Missing data -- -- -- 16.7 N/A -- -- -- N/A -- 33.3 33.3 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 2 9 9 6 N/A 11 9 7 10 N/A N/A N/A 1,576 1,702 1,666 1,840 N/A 2 3 3     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 7.9 8.7 9 8.1 14.5 11 11.8 9.6 66.7 -- -- -- N/A -- 12.5 17.2 -- -- -- -- Guardianship -- -- -- 1.2 0.9 1.2 1.1 1.3 -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Reunification 86.8 87 86.5 80.2 74.5 78.3 75 73.7 33.3 100 100 100 100 100 87.5 79.3 -- -- -- -- Other 5.3 4.3 3.4 4.7 10 9.4 8.9 8.1 -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Missing data -- -- 1.1 5.8 0.1 0.1 3.3 7.3 -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- 3.4 -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 -- -- -- -- Number 38 69 89 86 1,220 1,335 1,322 1,420 3 1 1 16 4 8 8 29 -- -- -- --

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. 82.4 81.8 82.1 79.3 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 10.1 12.4 12.2 12.9 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 3.1 2.8 3.1 3.7 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 1.7 0.9 1.1 1.6 48 or more mos. 2.5 1.9 1.2 2.2 Missing data 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,066 2,370 2,296 2,425 4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children entering care for the first time 85 85 84.3 82.9 Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode 5.6 6.9 6.5 5.3 Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode 8.7 7.9 8 8.3 Missing data 0.7 0.2 1.1 3.6 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,923 3,172 3,405 3,537

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. 2.2 3.4 3.4 3.1 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 9.1 12.6 10.5 12.3 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 20 23.4 23.8 23 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 25.2 18.1 23.3 24.6 48 or more mos. 43.5 42.5 38.5 37 Missing data -- -- 0.5 -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 460 414 408 357

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 77.4 22.6 -- 100 3,343 2000 75.9 24.1 -- 100 3,634 2001 76 24 0 100 3,832 2002 77.8 22.1 0 100 4,030 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 1999 51.3 48.4 0.3 100 1,198 2000 42.1 57.9 -- 100 1,226 2001 37.4 62.6 -- 100 1,282 2002 41.7 58.3 -- 100 1,388 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 1999 38.4 61.6 -- 100 659 2000 36.3 63.7 -- 100 813 2001 27.7 72.3 -- 100 804 2002 24.6 75.4 -- 100 809 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 1999 32.3 67.7 -- 100 567 2000 26.5 73.5 -- 100 464 2001 25 75 -- 100 563 2002 23.3 76.7 -- 100 572 48 or more mos. 1999 30.2 69.7 0 100 1,617 2000 24.8 75.1 0 100 1,520 2001 21.4 78.5 0 100 1,387 2002 19.4 80.6 -- 100 1,404 Missing data 1999 92.9 7.1 -- 100 14 2000 83.3 16.7 -- 100 6 2001 92.3 7.7 -- 100 13 2002 86.4 4.5 9.1 100 22

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 3.6 3.9 3.4 5.9 Institutions 18.3 13.4 17 28.7 Other settings 78.1 82.6 79.5 65.1 Missing data -- 0.1 0.1 0.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,045 2,346 2,512 2,593

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South Carolina [ State Comment ]

Mary C. Williams, Director
Division of Human Services
South Carolina Department of Social Services
808-898-7832

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

• The data in Section D were found to include duplicates, thereby bringing our total in the adoption file (285) closer to the foster care file (293).
  


• Data for outcome measure 7.1 indicating an increase in the number of children under the age of 12 entering care are accurate. The agency notes the increase and has begun assessing the issue.
  

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South Carolina [ Federal Comment ]

The following discussion focuses on South Carolina’s performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. The South Carolina’s 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 South Carolina’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, South Carolina’s rate of maltreatment recurrence within 6 months was 3.9 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 declined from 2001 (the first year that the State reported data for the measure) to 2002 (+14.7 percent change). However, the State met the national standard in both years.

Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
In CY 2002, South Carolina’s incidence of maltreatment in foster care was 0.46 percent, which meets the national standard (0.57 percent or less), but is more than the national median (0.39 percent). Performance on this measure improved from 2001 (the first year that the State reported data for the measure) to 2002 (-9.8 percent change).

Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In FY 2002, 82.6 percent of children exiting foster care in South Carolina were discharged to a permanent home (which is less than the national median of 86.1 percent); 51.2 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 69.3 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 less than the national median of 72.0 percent). In addition, 38.8 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. South Carolina’s performance on all of the measures for outcome 3 declined from FY 1999 to FY 2002. These findings suggest that the State is experiencing challenges in achieving permanency for children exiting foster care.

Outcome 4. Reduce time to reunification without increasing re-entry
In FY 2002, the percentage of all reunifications in South Carolina occurring within 12 months of a child’s entry into foster care was 79.3, which is more than 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.

Also in FY 2002, the percentage of entries into foster care that were re-entries within 12 months of discharge from a prior foster care episode was 5.3, which is less than the national standard (8.6 percent or less) and the national median (9.9 percent). Performance on this measure improved slightly from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (-6.3 percent change). South Carolina was the only States to meet the national standard for both the percentage of reunifications occurring within 12 months and the percentage of children re-entering foster care within 12 months of a prior episode. The State had a relatively high percentage of reunifications occurring within 12 months of a child’s entry into foster care and a relatively low rate of entries into foster care that were re-entries within 12 month of a prior episode.

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 15.4, 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. South Carolina’s performance on this measure exhibited no change from FY 2000 to FY 2002.

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 77.8, which is less than both the national standard (86.7 percent or more) and the national median (84.1 percent). South Carolina’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 34.7, which is the highest in the nation and is 4 times the national median of 8.6 percent. Performance on this measure declined from FY 1999 to FY 2002.

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