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Home > Statistics & Research > Child Welfare Outcomes 2002 > Chapter Six > Texas

Texas

Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment | Federal Comment

Texas [ Context Data ]

A. Key Context Statistics

General Population (Census Bureau) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total children under 18 years 5,719,234 5,977,298 6,027,691 6,102,316 Race/ethnicity (%)1, 2         Alaska Native/American Indian 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 Asian N/A 2.4 2.5 2.5 Asian/Pacific Islander 2.7 N/A N/A N/A Black 12.3 12.4 12.4 12.2 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A N/A 0 0 Hispanic 39.1 40.5 41.3 41.9 White 45.7 42.6 42.2 41.7 Two or more races N/A 1.6 1.3 1.3 Other N/A 0.1 0 0 % Child population in poverty 22 22.9 21.1 21.6 Child Welfare Summary 1999 2000 2002 2002 Child maltreatment victims3 39,488 45,800 44,623 48,808 Children in foster care on 9/30 16,326 18,190 19,739 21,353 Children adopted 2,054 2,045 2,319 2,297

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 170,834 193,966 197,838 210,375 29.9 per 1,000 32.5 per 1,000 32.8 per 1,000 34.5 per 1,000 Child maltreatment victims 39,488 45,800 44,623 48,808 6.9 per 1,000 7.7 per 1,000 7.4 per 1,000 8.0 per 1,000 Child fatalities 143 177 206 206 2.5 per 100,000 3.0 per 100,000 3.4 per 100,000 3.4 per 100,000

Age of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 10.7 11.3 12.5 12 1-5 years 33 30.3 34.6 35.1 6-10 years 31.3 26.2 28.9 28.1 11-15 years 21.1 18.5 20.4 20.6 16+ years 3.9 3 3.4 4.1 Unknown / Missing data 0 10.8 0.1 0.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 39,488 45,800 44,623 48,808 Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.4 Black 24.5 20.4 19.4 18.7 Hispanic 33.7 36.6 38.7 39.3 White 73.2 38.7 37.6 37.5 Two or more races 0.5 2 2.1 2.4 Total %4 133.7 100 100 100 Number 39,488 45,800 44,623 48,808 Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Emotional Abuse 3.5 3.4 3 2.5 Medical Neglect 5.1 4.7 4.9 4.8 Neglect 59.6 59.3 60.6 61.7 Physical Abuse 29.3 28.2 27.7 26.9 Sexual Abuse 14.9 14.6 14.8 15.4 Unknown / Missing data 0 -- -- -- Other 3.5 1.4 1.1 0.9 Total %5 115.9 111.6 112.1 112.2 Number 39,488 45,800 44,623 48,808

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) 15,582 8,938 8,200 16,326 24,520 FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 16,303 9,869 7,989 18,190 26,172 FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 17,914 10,680 8,858 19,739 28,594 FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 18,695 11,766 9,108 21,353 30,461 Median Length of Stay (Months)   FY1999 (10/1/98 - 9/30/99) 20.1 N/A 15.8 14.5 N/A FY2000 (10/1/99 - 9/30/00) 15.8 N/A 13.6 13.6 N/A FY2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01) 14.4 N/A 14 13.5 N/A FY2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02) 13.6 N/A 13.7 13.2 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 5.2 6.8 7 7.2 20.1 20.7 20.7 20.9 5.2 5.6 5.5 5.6 7 7.4 7.4 7.6 1-5 years 26.3 26.3 27.7 29.2 31.4 32.5 33.2 33.4 34.1 36.1 38.7 40.5 26.8 28.3 29.4 30.1 6-10 years 26.1 25.4 24.7 23 22.8 22.6 21.4 20.8 22.6 23.3 22.5 20.7 25.5 24.7 23.1 22.6 11-15 years 28.9 29 28.6 28.5 20.3 20.2 20.3 19.7 17.5 17.1 16 15.3 28.5 27.9 28.3 27.8 16-18 years 13.5 12.5 11.9 12 5.4 3.9 4.4 5.2 20 17.6 17.3 17.9 12.1 11.6 11.8 11.8 19+ years 0.1 0 0 -- -- -- -- -- 0.5 0.2 0 -- 0 0 0 -- Unknown / Missing data -- -- 0 -- 0 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- 0 -- 0 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 15,582 16,303 17,914 18,695 8,938 9,869 10,680 11,766 8,200 7,989 8,858 9,108 16,326 18,190 19,739 21,353 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 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.4 0 0 0.4 0.4 0.3 0 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.2 Asian N/A 0.2 0.2 0.3 N/A 0.4 0.5 0.4 N/A 0.4 0.4 0.4 N/A 0.3 0.3 0.3 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.1 N/A N/A N/A 0.5 N/A N/A N/A 0.3 N/A N/A N/A 0.2 N/A N/A N/A Black 31.8 30.2 29.1 27.8 26.8 25.4 24.6 25.5 30.1 27.6 27 25.8 29.9 28.7 27.6 27.4 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A 0 0 0 N/A 0 0 0 N/A 0 0 0 N/A 0 0 0 Hispanic 32.4 33.5 33.8 35.1 35.9 35.3 37.6 36.6 33.3 34.3 35.7 35.4 33.8 34.1 35 35.8 White 32.5 32.7 33 33.1 33 34.4 33.3 33 32.7 33.7 32.7 34.4 32.7 33.1 33.3 32.5 Two or more races N/A 2.4 2.8 2.8 N/A 3.3 3 3.4 N/A 2.6 3 3.1 N/A 2.7 2.8 3 Unknown / Missing data 1 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.9 0.9 1 1.4 1 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 15,582 16,303 17,914 18,695 8,938 9,869 10,680 11,766 8,200 7,989 8,858 9,108 16,326 18,190 19,739 21,353

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 6,616 7,200 7,931 8,517 Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) 5,067 5,483 6,104 6,531 Age of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Under 1 Year 4.3 4.6 5 5.3 1-5 years 29.7 30.5 31.2 32 6-10 years 33.1 31.3 29.2 27.5 11-15 years 29.1 29.4 30.2 30.6 16+ years 3.8 4.2 4.3 4.6 Unknown / Missing data -- 0 -- 0 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 6,616 7,200 7,931 8,517 Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.3 Asian N/A 0.2 0.2 0.3 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.2 N/A N/A N/A Black 32.6 31 30.9 30 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- -- -- Hispanic 32.8 34 33.3 35.2 White 30.4 30.8 31.3 30.5 Two or more races N/A 2.9 3.2 3.3 Unknown / Missing data 3.5 0.8 0.7 0.5 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 6,616 7,200 7,931 8,517

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 2.9 3.2 3.8 3 1-5 years 49.2 52.6 54.6 57.7 6-10 years 32.1 30.2 28.8 26.5 11-15 years 14.6 12.7 11.6 11.2 16+ years 1.2 1.3 1.1 1.7 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,054 2,045 2,319 2,297 Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Alaska Native/American Indian 0.2 0.5 0.2 -- Asian N/A 0.1 0.1 0.2 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.2 N/A N/A N/A Black 30 25.9 23.7 25.4 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander N/A -- 0 -- Hispanic 35.4 37 38.5 36.7 White 30.5 31.6 32 33.1 Two or more races N/A 3.3 4.4 3.8 Unknown / Missing data 3.7 1.6 0.9 0.9 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,054 2,045 2,319 2,297

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Texas [ 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 95.7 95.8 95.8 95.9 Children with one or more recurrences 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 20,929 22,290 22,414 24,467

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 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 Children not maltreated while in foster care 99.7 99.7 99.7 99.8 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 22,791 24,147 26,378 28,098

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 27 25.5 25.8 24.7 Guardianship -- -- -- -- Reunification 48 51.5 51.1 57.2 Other 8.5 6.2 4.3 4.6 Missing data 16.5 16.8 18.8 13.5 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 8,200 7,989 8,858 9,108 Percent Exits from Foster Care 1999 2000 2001 2002   3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 31.4 32 33.2 31.8 Guardianship -- -- -- -- Reunification 40.7 40.2 40.1 44.5 Other 12.8 9.7 7 7.7 Missing data 15.2 18.1 19.7 15.9 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,936 2,107 2,326 2,484 3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Adoption 1.3 2 1.1 1.9 Guardianship -- -- -- -- Reunification 28.8 34 31.2 38 Other 20.9 17.6 12.9 14 Missing data 49 46.5 54.8 46.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 1,489 1,427 1,507 1,656 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children age 12 or younger at entry 56.4 52.9 50.2 46.9 Children older than 12 at entry 43.6 47.1 49.8 53.1 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 569 365 259 288

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 13.8 37.9 14.8 -- N/A 9.1 8.8 11.4 4 N/A N/A N/A 24.5 23.5 22.7 24.2 N/A -- 100 -- Guardianship -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- -- N/A N/A N/A -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- Reunification 48.3 48.3 63 77.8 N/A 84.8 76.5 71.4 -- N/A N/A N/A 7.9 6.4 5.2 5 N/A 100 -- 83.3 Other 20.7 3.4 7.4 -- N/A -- -- -- 4 N/A N/A N/A 18.1 20.3 22 16.6 N/A -- -- 16.7 Missing data 17.2 10.3 14.8 22.2 N/A 6.1 14.7 17.1 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 29 29 27 9 N/A 33 34 35 25 N/A N/A N/A 2,470 2,202 2,395 2,349 N/A 2 1 6     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 30.4 27.8 28 25.7 25.6 24.5 25.1 23.8 43.2 35.3 28.8 32.8 27.7 29.9 37.1 29.1 14.3 -- -- -- Guardianship -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- N/A -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Reunification 45.6 50.4 49.2 57.8 48.8 53.9 53.7 58.2 38.9 35.3 50.7 50 57.4 55 50.2 63.2 9.5 -- -- 20 Other 8.1 5.5 3.9 3.9 10 7.1 4.3 5.3 5.3 2.9 1.4 4.7 3.4 2.4 2.6 1.4 -- -- -- -- Missing data 15.9 16.3 18.9 12.7 15.7 14.5 16.9 12.7 12.6 26.5 19.2 12.5 11.5 12.8 10.1 6.3 76.2 100 100 80 Total % 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Number 2,730 2,740 3,158 3,224 2,682 2,694 2,900 3,131 95 68 73 64 148 211 267 285 21 10 3 5

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. 60.6 64.4 60.7 62.9 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 25.1 26.7 31.3 32.3 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 5.6 3.4 3.2 2.2 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 3.3 1.1 1.1 0.9 48 or more mos. 5.3 4.3 3.4 1.6 Missing data 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 3,938 4,115 4,524 5,206 4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) 1999 2000 2001 2002 Children entering care for the first time 96.4 95.9 92.1 90.9 Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode 1.3 1.5 2.7 2.3 Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode 1.1 1.5 2 2.5 Missing data 1.2 1 3.2 4.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 8,938 9,869 10,680 11,766

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. 7.1 7.9 9.1 7 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 29.2 36 42.2 43.1 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 20.8 23.3 23.2 30.3 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 16 13.2 10.1 9.1 48 or more mos. 26.9 19.7 15.3 10.5 Missing data -- -- -- -- Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 2,211 2,038 2,285 2,252

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 73.3 26.7 0 100 10,684 2000 71.2 28.8 -- 100 11,845 2001 70.9 28.7 0.4 100 12,887 2002 70.3 25.4 4.3 100 14,088 At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. 1999 42.7 57.3 -- 100 4,593 2000 44.5 55.5 -- 100 5,805 2001 42.3 57.7 0 100 6,759 2002 42.1 57.3 0.6 100 7,359 At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. 1999 27.2 72.8 -- 100 2,491 2000 23.1 76.9 -- 100 2,336 2001 25.1 74.9 -- 100 2,839 2002 22.9 76.9 0.2 100 3,265 At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. 1999 22.4 77.6 -- 100 1,537 2000 18.7 81.3 -- 100 1,505 2001 13.3 86.7 -- 100 1,485 2002 15.6 84.4 -- 100 1,740 48 or more mos. 1999 10.6 89.4 -- 100 5,175 2000 9.6 90.4 -- 100 4,644 2001 8.4 91.6 -- 100 4,589 2002 8.2 91.8 0 100 3,938 Missing data 1999 77.5 22.5 -- 100 40 2000 62.2 37.8 -- 100 37 2001 37.1 60 2.9 100 35 2002 62 8.5 29.6 100 71

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 3.5 3.5 5.4 Institutions 9 9.1 8.6 9.9 Other settings 83.8 84 85.2 83.6 Missing data 4.1 3.4 2.7 1.2 Total % 100 100 100 100 Number 7,122 8,008 8,521 9,483

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Texas [ State Comment ]

Joyce James, Assistant Commissioner
Child Protective Services
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
512-438-4800

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

• Although the data for outcome measures 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 indicate a substantial percentage of missing data with respect to “reason for discharge” information reported to AFCARS, there has been significant improvement in the percentage of missing data for these outcome measures since 1998. The Texas data show a history of missing discharge reasons, ranging from 13.4 percent to 18.7 percent for FY1998 through FY2002. The most recent data (2003), however, show that Texas has reduced this to 8 percent. As of September 2003, the reason for discharge data field was moved to a new location to make it more visible to caseworkers. It is now a required entry at case closure so we believe the percentage will continue to improve in future submissions.
  
  
• The data for outcome measure 3.4 indicate that 46.9 percent of children emancipated from foster care in FY2002 were age 12 or younger at the time of entry into foster care. The national median for this measure is 26.9 percent. Texas permanency legislation was passed in 1998. Youth emancipating from foster care after having entered care at age 12 or younger are now exiting foster care. Future years will reflect the impact of permanency legislation with anticipated significant decreases in this percentage.
  
  

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Texas [ Federal Comment ]

The following discussion focuses on Texas’ performance with regard to each of the outcomes assessed in the Child Welfare Outcomes Annual Reports to Congress. The Texas 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 Texas’ 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, Texas’ rate of maltreatment recurrence within 6 months was 4.1 percent, which is less than the national standard (6.1 percent or less) and the national median (7.5 percent). Performance on this measure exhibited no change from 1999 to 2002.

Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
In CY 2002, Texas’ incidence of maltreatment in foster care was 0.19 percent, which is less than the national standard (0.57 percent or less) and the national median (0.39 percent). Performance on this measure improved from 1999 to 2002 (-31.3 percent change).

Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In FY 2002, 81.9 percent of children exiting foster care in Texas were discharged to a permanent home (which is less than the national median of 86.1 percent), and 76.3 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). In addition, 46.9 percent of the children emancipated from foster care were age 12 or younger at the time they entered foster care, which is considerably more than the national median of 26.9 percent. The State’s performance with regard to the percentage of children exiting foster care to a permanent home who were older than age 12 when they entered foster care cannot be assessed, because 46.1 percent of the exits of these children did not have “reason for discharge” information. Although the data indicate that Texas is not consistently successful in achieving permanency for children exiting foster care, the State’s performance generally improved from FY 1999 to FY 2002 on the measures used to assess outcome 3.

Outcome 4. Reduce time to reunification without increasing re-entry
In FY 2002, the percentage of all reunifications in Texas occurring within 12 months of a child’s entry into foster care was 62.9, which is less than 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 State variation in performance on this measure and State variation in the percentage of children entering foster care who were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode, Texas’ performance with regard to reunifications within 12 months must be considered in the context of its re-entry rate. For Texas, the percentage of children entering foster care in FY 2002 who were re-entering within 12 months of a prior foster care episode was 2.3 percent, which is the second lowest in the Nation. Thus, while Texas had a relatively low percentage of reunifications within 12 months, the State also had a low rate of re-entry into foster care within 12 months.

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 50.1, which is more than 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. Texas’ performance on this measure improved from FY 2000 to FY 2002 (+14.4 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 70.3, which is less than the national standard (86.7 percent or more) and the national median (84.1 percent). Texas’ 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 15.3, which is more than the national median of 8.6 percent. In addition, Texas’ performance on this measure declined from FY 1999 to FY 2002 (+26.7 percent change).

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