Georgia
Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment | Federal Comment
Georgia [ Context Data ]
A. Context Statistics
| General Child Population (Census Bureau) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total children under 18 years | 2,178,949 | 2,232,608 | 2,266,258 | 2,296,759 |
| Race/Ethnicity (%)1 | ||||
| Alaska Native/American Indian | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Asian | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 34.1 | 33.8 | 33.3 | 33.1 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | 0.0 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 6.3 | 6.7 | 6.9 | 7.4 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 55.5 | 55.6 | 56.0 | 55.6 |
| Two or more races | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| % Child population in poverty | 16.4 | 19.5 | 16.0 | 17.7 |
| Child Welfare Summary | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child maltreatment victims2 | 30,806 | 36,744 | 41,206 | 43,923 |
| Children in foster care on 9/30 | 11,204 | 13,175 | 13,149 | 13,578 |
| Children adopted | 1,091 | 1,001 | 1,135 | 1,091 |
B. Child Maltreatment Data [National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS)]
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overview Maltreatment Information | Number | Rate | Number | Rate | Number | Rate | Number | Rate |
| Children subject of an investigated report alleging child maltreatment | 92,254 | 42.3 per 1,000 | 114,653 | 51.3 per 1,000 | 126,677 | 55.9 per 1,000 | 121,269 | 52.8 per 1,000 |
| Total child maltreatment victims3 | 30,806 | 14.1 per 1,000 | 36,744 | 16.5 per 1,000 | 41,206 | 18.2 per 1,000 | 43,923 | 19.1 per 1,000 |
| Child fatalities | 45 | 2.1 per 100,000 | 48 | 2.2 per 100,000 | 51 | 2.2 per 100,000 | 49 | 2.1 per 100,000 |
1 Race/ethnicity data for 2001, 2002, and 2003 represent population estimates. Back
2 A child victim is defined as a child who is the subject of a substantiated or indicated maltreatment report. Back
3 Children with more than one report of substantiated or indicated maltreatment may be counted more than once. Back
| Age of Child Victims (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <1 year | 7.2 | 10.0 | 10.3 | 10.4 |
| 1-5 years | 30.4 | 31.0 | 31.6 | 32.2 |
| 6-10 years | 31.6 | 30.2 | 29.1 | 27.9 |
| 11-15 years | 24.3 | 24.0 | 23.9 | 23.9 |
| 16+ years | 6.0 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.4 |
| Unknown | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 1.3 |
| Number | 30,806 | 36,744 | 41,206 | 43,923 |
| Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%)4 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Native/American Indian | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Asian | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 46.2 | 44.4 | 42.0 | 41.4 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0.0 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 5.9 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 46.9 | 48.4 | 50.3 | 49.6 |
| Two or more races | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Unknown | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 2.7 |
| Number | 30,806 | 36,744 | 41,206 | 43,923 |
| Maltreatment Types of Child Victims (%)5 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emotional abuse | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 3.5 |
| Medical neglect | 4.9 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Neglect | 68.9 | 72.4 | 74.6 | 79.6 |
| Physical abuse | 12.3 | 11.1 | 9.6 | 9.9 |
| Sexual abuse | 7.5 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| Unknown/missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Other | 8.1 | 9.1 | 11.3 | 4.3 |
| Number | 30,806 | 36,744 | 41,206 | 43,923 |
4 Percentages may total more than 100 because Hispanics may be counted by Hispanic ethnicity and race. Back
5 Percentages may total more than 100 because children can be victims of more than one type of maltreatment. Back
C. Characteristics of Children in Foster Care [Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS): Foster Care File]
| In Foster Care on 10/1 FY | Entered Foster Care in FY | Exited Foster Care in FY | In Foster Care on 9/30 FY | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | |
| Total Number | 8,832 | 11,363 | 12,812 | 12,955 | 7,028 | 9,065 | 9,766 | 10,568 | 4,657 | 7,250 | 9,431 | 9,946 | 11,204 | 13,175 | 13,149 | 13,578 |
| Median length of stay (months) | 21.6 | 16.3 | 15.4 | 14.9 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7.7 | 6.2 | 8.1 | 7.7 | 15.2 | 15.6 | 15.1 | 13.8 |
| In Foster Care on 10/1 FY | Entered Foster Care in FY | Exited Foster Care in FY | In Foster Care on 9/30 FY | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
| <1 year | 5.9 | 6.6 | 6.1 | 6.4 | 18.1 | 16.3 | 16.3 | 16.0 | 6.8 | 7.2 | 6.6 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 6.3 | 6.2 |
| 1 year | 6.2 | 7.3 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 6.9 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 6.7 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 7.7 |
| 2 years | 5.9 | 5.8 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 5.9 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.8 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 7.6 | 5.8 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 7.3 |
| 3 years | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.8 | 6.4 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 5.9 | 6.7 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 7.2 | 5.3 | 5.7 | 6.4 | 6.2 |
| 4 years | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 5.6 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 4.9 | 6.4 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 5.2 | 5.8 |
| 5 years | 5.4 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.7 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.7 |
| 6 years | 5.5 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 6.1 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| 7 years | 6.2 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 5.1 | 6.3 | 5.6 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.4 |
| 8 years | 6.1 | 5.4 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 5.3 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 4.5 |
| 9 years | 5.8 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 5.8 | 5.1 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 5.6 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.0 |
| 10 years | 5.5 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| 11 years | 6.1 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| 12 years | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 5.1 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 5.8 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| 13 years | 6.1 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.7 |
| 14 years | 6.5 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 6.1 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 6.0 | 5.6 | 6.0 | 5.9 |
| 15 years | 7.1 | 6.3 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 5.2 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 4.3 | 5.7 | 5.1 | 6.3 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 6.3 |
| 16 years | 4.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 5.4 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 6.0 |
| 17 years | 0.7 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 3.3 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.5 |
| 18 years | 0.0 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | <.1 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 1.5 |
| 19 years | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | <.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| 20 years | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | <.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Missing data | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | 0.2 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | 0.0 | <.1 |
| In Foster Care on 10/1 FY | Entered Foster Care in FY | Exited Foster Care in FY | In Foster Care on 9/30 FY | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race/Ethnicity (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
| Alaska Native/American Indian | 0.2 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | 0.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | 0.5 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 |
| Asian | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 59.7 | 58.0 | 55.4 | 53.2 | 52.1 | 48.7 | 47.3 | 46.6 | 53.0 | 50.9 | 50.0 | 49.0 | 57.7 | 55.5 | 53.3 | 51.1 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | 0.0 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | 0.0 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 5.8 | 3.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 5.3 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 33.6 | 35.3 | 37.6 | 40.0 | 40.1 | 42.9 | 44.8 | 43.8 | 38.9 | 40.6 | 41.8 | 42.2 | 35.5 | 37.6 | 40.0 | 41.3 |
| Two or more races | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 3.0 |
| Unknown | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
D. Characteristics of Children "Waiting for Adoption"6 (AFCARS: Foster Care File)
| Waiting for Adoption | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total waiting children | 2,860 | 4,185 | 3,200 | 2,498 |
| Numbers of waiting children whose parents' rights have been terminated | 1,482 | 2,122 | 1,827 | 1,437 |
| Age (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <1 year | 3.9 | 6.4 | 3.9 | 2.2 |
| 1 year | 7.1 | 9.5 | 8.3 | 5.3 |
| 2 years | 5.9 | 8.4 | 9.5 | 9.0 |
| 3 years | 6.2 | 7.0 | 7.6 | 8.5 |
| 4 years | 5.9 | 6.3 | 5.8 | 5.9 |
| 5 years | 6.4 | 6.4 | 5.6 | 5.8 |
| 6 years | 6.3 | 6.4 | 5.7 | 5.3 |
| 7 years | 6.7 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 5.4 |
| 8 years | 7.7 | 5.8 | 5.0 | 5.4 |
| 9 years | 7.5 | 6.6 | 5.1 | 5.2 |
| 10 years | 6.7 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 4.7 |
| 11 years | 6.0 | 5.8 | 6.4 | 6.5 |
| 12 years | 6.8 | 4.6 | 5.7 | 6.8 |
| 13 years | 5.3 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 6.3 |
| 14 years | 4.1 | 3.8 | 5.6 | 5.4 |
| 15 years | 3.7 | 2.9 | 4.1 | 5.7 |
| 16 years | 2.2 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 3.4 |
| 17 years | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 2.2 |
| 18 years | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.0 |
| 19 years | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| 20+ years | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Missing data | — | — | — | — |
| Race/Ethnicity (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Native/American Indian | <.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Asian | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | <.1 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 60.3 | 54.7 | 54.3 | 53.8 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | 0.0 | <.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 2.7 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 30.9 | 37.3 | 37.7 | 39.0 |
| Two or more races | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.9 |
| Unknown | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
6 There is no Federal definition for a child waiting to be adopted. The definition used in the table above includes children who have a goal of adoption and/or whose parental rights have been terminated. It excludes children 16 years old and older whose parental rights have been terminated and who have a goal of emancipation. A State's own definition may differ from that used here. Furthermore, some numbers in this table may be lower than the numbers reported in the prior Child Welfare Outcomes reports. Only children with terminations prior to the end of the fiscal year of interest are included in the current table. Back
E. Characteristics of Children Adopted (AFCARS: Adoption File)
| Adoptions | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total children adopted | 1,091 | 1,001 | 1,135 | 1,091 |
| Age (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <1 year | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 0.8 |
| 1 year | 6.2 | 7.2 | 6.5 | 7.3 |
| 2 years | 9.5 | 12.3 | 12.0 | 13.0 |
| 3 years | 8.7 | 9.1 | 10.1 | 11.8 |
| 4 years | 7.1 | 9.3 | 8.0 | 8.2 |
| 5 years | 7.0 | 7.4 | 7.8 | 8.6 |
| 6 years | 9.7 | 5.6 | 7.0 | 5.5 |
| 7 years | 8.2 | 9.5 | 6.9 | 6.3 |
| 8 years | 7.7 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 5.6 |
| 9 years | 8.1 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 5.8 |
| 10 years | 6.9 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 6.0 |
| 11 years | 5.4 | 4.9 | 6.0 | 4.9 |
| 12 years | 5.2 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.7 |
| 13 years | 2.3 | 3.8 | 2.7 | 4.0 |
| 14 years | 2.6 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 3.0 |
| 15 years | 1.7 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 1.9 |
| 16 years | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2.2 |
| 17 years | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.1 |
| 18 years | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| 19 years | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 20+ years | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Missing data | — | — | — | — |
| Race/Ethnicity (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Native/American Indian | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Asian | 0.2 | 0.8 | <.1 | <.1 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 55.6 | 49.6 | 50.1 | 51.0 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 2.1 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 4.7 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 35.9 | 34.9 | 37.2 | 36.9 |
| Two or more races | 4.1 | 7.5 | 6.4 | 5.8 |
| Unknown | 2.0 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.6 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Georgia [ Outcomes Data ]
1. Reduce Recurrence of Child Abuse and/or Neglect (NCANDS)
| 1.1 Recurrence of Maltreatment Within 6 Months (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children without a recurrence | — | — | — | — |
| Children with one or more recurrences | — | — | — | — |
| Number | — | — | — | — |
2. Reduce the Incidence of Child Abuse and/or Neglect in Foster Care (NCANDS and AFCARS: Foster Care File, Jan.-Sept.)
| 2.1 Maltreatment in Foster Care (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children maltreated while in foster care | — | — | — | — |
| Children not maltreated while in foster care | — | — | — | — |
| Number | — | — | — | — |
3. Increase Permanency for Children in Foster Care (AFCARS: Foster Care File)
| 3.1 Exits of Children from Foster Care (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption | 23.5 | 13.6 | 12.4 | 10.8 |
| Guardianship | 2.5 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.9 |
| Reunification | 66.5 | 76.9 | 75.5 | 77.8 |
| Other | 7.4 | 5.9 | 7.8 | 9.4 |
| Missing data | <.1 | 1.7 | 2.2 | <.1 |
| Number | 4,657 | 7,250 | 9,431 | 9,946 |
| 3.2 Exits of Children with a Diagnosed Disability (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption | 42.0 | 22.4 | 22.7 | 18.5 |
| Guardianship | 2.3 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 1.6 |
| Reunification | 43.2 | 62.0 | 57.2 | 62.1 |
| Other | 12.4 | 8.1 | 13.1 | 17.9 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 5.5 | 4.9 | 0.0 |
| Number | 474 | 787 | 1,314 | 1,542 |
| 3.3 Exits of Children Older than Age 12 at Entry into Foster Care (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption | 1.2 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 0.6 |
| Guardianship | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Reunification | 76.4 | 81.6 | 76.0 | 74.3 |
| Other | 19.9 | 13.8 | 17.4 | 22.6 |
| Missing data | 0.2 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 0.0 |
| Number | 833 | 1,242 | 1,864 | 1,969 |
| 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children age 12 or younger at entry | 28.6 | 41.1 | 45.0 | 40.5 |
| Children older than 12 at entry | 71.4 | 58.0 | 55.0 | 59.5 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Number | 56 | 112 | 318 | 402 |
| 3.5 Exits by Race/Ethnicity (%) | Alaska Native/Am. In. | Asian | Black (non-Hispanic) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | |
| Adoption | 57.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 35.3 | 18.2 | 3.0 | 6.5 | 24.3 | 13.2 | 12.9 | 11.0 |
| Guardianship | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.1 | 0.0 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 2.4 |
| Reunification | 33.3 | 100.0 | 83.3 | 75.0 | 58.8 | 75.8 | 87.9 | 78.3 | 65.4 | 77.1 | 73.6 | 77.6 |
| Other | 9.5 | 0.0 | 16.7 | 25.0 | 5.9 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 15.2 | 6.9 | 5.4 | 8.3 | 9.0 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | <.1 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 0.0 |
| Number | 21 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 17 | 33 | 33 | 46 | 2,469 | 3,691 | 4,712 | 4,872 |
| |
||||||||||||
| Native Hawaiian/Other Pac. Is. | Hispanic (of any race) | White (non-Hispanic) | ||||||||||
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | |
| Adoption | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 17.9 | 14.8 | 11.9 | 10.2 | 22.2 | 13.0 | 11.4 | 10.3 |
| Guardianship | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.6 |
| Reunification | 0.0 | 50.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 75.7 | 77.9 | 79.7 | 80.6 | 67.8 | 77.3 | 77.6 | 78.0 |
| Other | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 6.5 | 7.9 | 8.3 | 6.8 | 7.6 | 10.1 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 1.8 | <.1 |
| Number | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 173 | 330 | 428 | 532 | 1,810 | 2,941 | 3,946 | 4,202 |
| |
||||||||||||
| Unable to Determine | Two or more Races | Missing Data | ||||||||||
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | |
| Adoption | 33.3 | 14.5 | 7.8 | 4.9 | 21.5 | 29.5 | 21.5 | 22.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Guardianship | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Reunification | 55.0 | 78.2 | 86.3 | 83.6 | 69.2 | 64.2 | 64.5 | 71.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Other | 6.7 | 7.3 | 5.9 | 11.5 | 6.5 | 3.6 | 6.4 | 5.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 4.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Number | 60 | 55 | 51 | 61 | 107 | 193 | 251 | 222 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
4. Reduce Time to Reunification Without Increasing Re-entry (AFCARS Foster Care File)
| 4.1 Time to Reunification (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 12 mos. | 75.9 | 75.4 | 73.1 | 73.5 |
| At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. | 14.4 | 16.7 | 17.4 | 17.0 |
| At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. | 4.2 | 3.8 | 5.4 | 5.7 |
| At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. | 2.2 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.7 |
| 48 or more mos. | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.1 |
| Missing data | <.1 | <.1 | 0.1 | <.1 |
| Number | 3,097 | 5,574 | 7,117 | 7,742 |
| 4.2 Children Re-entering Foster Care (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children entering care for the first time | 87.6 | 87.7 | 85.9 | 86.0 |
| Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode | 6.1 | 6.0 | 7.2 | 7.9 |
| Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode | 5.8 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| Missing data | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.6 |
| Number | 7,028 | 9,065 | 9,766 | 10,568 |
5. Reduce Time in Foster Care to Adoption (AFCARS Foster Care File)
| 5.1 Time to Adoption (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 12 mos. | 2.7 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 2.4 |
| At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. | 14.9 | 15.4 | 14.7 | 14.7 |
| At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. | 22.9 | 25.8 | 28.4 | 33.2 |
| At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. | 18.8 | 19.5 | 21.9 | 22.4 |
| 48 or more mos. | 40.6 | 36.0 | 32.8 | 27.3 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Number | 1,093 | 989 | 1,167 | 1,076 |
6. Increase Placement Stability (AFCARS Foster Care File)
| 6.1 Number of Placements by Time in Care (%) | In Care less than 12 Months | In Care at Least 12 Months but less than 24 Months | In Care for 24 Months or Longer | Missing Time in Care | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | |
| Children with 2 or fewer placements | 94.3 | 91.5 | 90.7 | 91.3 | 75.8 | 79.6 | 79.7 | 74.8 | 47.1 | 49.3 | 54.4 | 55.1 | 100.0 | 92.9 | 90.9 | 92.9 |
| Children with 3 or more placements | 5.7 | 8.5 | 9.3 | 8.7 | 24.2 | 20.4 | 20.3 | 25.2 | 52.9 | 50.7 | 45.6 | 44.9 | 0.0 | 7.1 | 9.1 | 7.1 |
| Number | 7,512 | 10,154 | 11,351 | 12,390 | 2,841 | 4,104 | 4,469 | 4,445 | 5,496 | 6,156 | 6,703 | 6,632 | 11 | 14 | 55 | 56 |
7. Reduce Placements of Young Children in Group Homes or Institutions (AFCARS Foster Care File)
| 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 (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group homes | 2.1 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 4.1 |
| Institutions | 3.0 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.2 |
| Other settings | 94.9 | 95.0 | 94.3 | 93.7 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| Number | 5,477 | 6,040 | 6,939 | 8,170 |
Georgia [ State Comment ]
Steven E. Love, Acting Division Director
Division of Family and Children Service
Georgia Department of Human Resources
The following are Georgia's comments on the State data presented in Child Welfare Outcomes 2003: Report to Congress.
Georgia continues to rely on legacy computer systems in order to meet the federal reporting requirements. It is our goal to provide consistent and accurate data. Georgia will continue to update and improve the legacy data system in order to stay current with federal requirements to provide consistent and accurate data.
Georgia did not provide data that could be used to calculate outcome measures 1.1 and 2.1. Georgia does not have a Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS) that allows for tracking of "unique" children receiving child protective services.
Georgia [ Federal Comment ]
PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT
The following is a discussion of Georgia's performance on the national outcomes established for the Report to Congress. The discussion focuses on the State's performance in 2003 and on change in performance over time. Change over time was determined by calculating the percent change in performance from 2000 to 2003. A percent change that was less than 5.0 in either direction (i.e., positive or negative) was considered to represent "no change in performance."
Outcome 1. Reduce recurrence of child abuse and/or neglect
Georgia's performance on outcome 1 cannot be assessed because the State does not provide data to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) for calculating this outcome. To ensure consistency across States, the Report to Congress presents only data submitted through NCANDS.
However, Georgia provided data to NCANDS to calculate the number of child victims in the State. There was a considerable increase in the rate of child victims in Georgia from 2000 (14.1 child victims per 1,000 in the population) to 2003 (19.1 child victims per 1,000 in the population).
Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
Georgia's performance on outcome 2 cannot be assessed because the State does not provide data to NCANDS for calculating this outcome. To ensure consistency across States, the Report to Congress presents only data submitted through NCANDS.
Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In 2003, 90.5 percent of children exiting foster care in Georgia were discharged to a permanent home (measure 3.1), which exceeds the national median of 86.3 percent. Also, 82.2 percent of children exiting care who had a diagnosed disability were discharged to a permanent home (measure 3.2), which exceeds the national median of 79.5 percent. Finally, 77.4 percent of the children exiting foster care who were older than age 12 when they entered foster care (measure 3.3) were discharged to a permanent home, which exceeds the national median of 72.2 percent.
With regard to ensuring that children who are emancipated from foster care (either through legal action or because they reach the age of majority) do not spend most of their formative years in foster care, in 2003, 40.5 percent of the children reported as emancipated from foster care (either through legal action or because they reach the age of majority) entered foster care when they were age 12 or younger (measure 3.4). This exceeds the national median of 29.6 percent and is one of the highest percentages in the nation. Change in performance on this measure over time cannot be appropriately assessed because of the large differences in the numbers of children reported as exiting to emancipation.
In Georgia, many of the children who are reported as emancipated are discharged from foster care prior to their 18th birthday. In 2003, for example, 219 of the children exiting foster care were age 18 or older at the time of exit. However, 402 children were reported as exiting to emancipation.
There were no differences with regard to exits to permanency as a function of children's race or ethnicity. Black (non-Hispanic) children exiting foster care were as likely to be discharged to a permanent home (91.0 percent) as were Hispanic children (92.1 percent) or White children (89.9 percent). However, the percent of Black children in the foster care population in 2003 (51.1 percent) exceeded the percent of Black children in the State's child population (33.1 percent).
Outcome 4. Reduce time in foster care to reunification without increasing re-entry
In 2003, 73.5 percent of all reunifications occurred within 12 months of a child's entry into foster care, which is slightly higher than the national median of 72.0 percent (measure 4.1). Performance with regard to this measure did not change from 2000 to 2003. Also in 2003, 3.8 percent of reunifications occurred after the child had been in foster care for at least 36 months, which is about equal to the national median of 3.5 percent.
In 2003, 7.9 percent of the children entering foster care in Georgia were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode (measure 4.2). Although this is less than the national median of 9.5 percent, performance on this measure declined from 2000 to 2003 (+29.5 percent change).
Outcome 5. Reduce time in foster care to adoption
In 2003, 17.6 percent of all finalized adoptions in Georgia occurred within 24 months of a child's entry into foster care, which is less than the national median of 23.9 percent (measure 5.1). Performance on this measure did not change from 2000 to 2003.
Outcome 6. Increase placement stability
Georgia's performance with regard to placement stability exceeded the national median. In 2003, 91.3 percent of the children in foster care in the State for less than 12 months experienced no more than two placement settings, which exceeds the national median of 84.2 percent (measure 6.1). In addition, 74.8 percent of the children in foster care for at least 12 months, but less than 24 months, experienced no more than two placement settings, which exceeds the national median of 59.1 percent.
Outcome 7. Reduce placements of young children in group homes and institutions
In 2003, 6.3 percent of the children entering foster care in Georgia who were age 12 or younger were placed in a group home or institution (measure 7.1). Although this percent is less than the national median of 8.3 percent, performance on this measure declined from 2000 to 2003 (+23.5 percent change).
