Montana

Context Data | Outcomes Data | Federal Comment

Montana [ Context Data ]

A. Context Statistics

General Child Population (Census Bureau)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Total children under 18 years	228,309	220,207	218,777	215,774
Race/Ethnicity (%)1
Alaska Native/American Indian	9.2	9.4	9.1	9.3
Asian	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.6
Black (non-Hispanic)	0.4	0.5	0.4	0.4
Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander	0.0	<.1	<.1	<.1
Hispanic (of any race)	3.2	3.2	3.0	3.1
White (non-Hispanic)	83.9	83.8	84.5	84.3
Two or more races	2.6	2.4	2.3	2.3
% Child population in poverty	24.7	16.4	18.5	20.2

Child Welfare Summary	2000	2001	2002	2003
Child maltreatment victims2	2,431	1,935	1,995	1,951
Children in foster care on 9/30	2,180	2,008	1,912	1,866
Children adopted	238	275	247	224

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	15,788	69.2 per 1,000	15,032	68.3 per 1,000	17,078	78.1 per 1,000	14,966	69.4 per 1,000
Total child maltreatment victims3	2,431	10.6 per 1,000	1,935	8.8 per 1,000	1,995	9.1 per 1,000	1,951	9.0 per 1,000
Child fatalities	1	0.4 per 100,000	4	1.8 per 100,000	4	1.8 per 100,000	3	1.4 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	8.8	9.4	9.0	9.7
1-5 years	29.1	32.7	33.0	35.0
6-10 years	31.5	28.0	24.9	24.1
11-15 years	24.1	23.0	24.0	22.1
16+ years	3.4	3.7	4.8	3.7
Unknown	3.2	3.2	4.3	5.4
Number	2,431	1,935	1,995	1,951

Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%)4	2000	2001	2002	2003
Alaska Native/American Indian	25.4	21.4	21.8	21.4
Asian	0.3	0.1	0.2	0.0
Black (non-Hispanic)	1.1	0.7	1.3	0.8
Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.1
Hispanic (of any race)	2.6	2.4	3.5	2.9
White (non-Hispanic)	52.3	55.1	52.6	52.5
Two or more races	0.0	1.9	2.5	3.0
Unknown	18.4	18.4	18.1	19.3
Number	2,431	1,935	1,995	1,951

Maltreatment Types of Child Victims (%)5	2000	2001	2002	2003
Emotional abuse	16.0	15.4	0.6	15.5
Medical neglect	2.7	2.0	1.7	1.6
Neglect	43.4	37.3	34.5	38.7
Physical abuse	44.8	53.2	67.6	59.1
Sexual abuse	14.8	14.9	10.3	8.7
Unknown/missing data	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Other	0.4	1.1	11.2	0.3
Number	2,431	1,935	1,995	1,951

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	1,918	1,999	1,886	1,777	1,588	1,506	1,306	1,175	1,327	1,497	1,280	1,087	2,180	2,008	1,912	1,866
Median length of stay (months)	15.9	17.0	17.5	17.4	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	5.1	6.3	7.6	10.1	16.0	16.2	16.5	16.2

	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	4.7	4.5	4.0	4.6	13.7	13.0	14.2	13.9	7.0	6.7	5.2	4.9	4.7	4.1	4.8	4.7
1 year	5.8	5.0	5.4	6.0	6.7	7.2	8.7	8.3	7.2	6.9	6.7	7.2	5.3	5.6	6.2	6.8
2 years	5.6	6.0	5.7	5.8	7.5	6.6	8.0	8.4	7.3	6.1	8.2	7.5	6.1	5.8	6.0	6.8
3 years	4.7	5.3	4.7	5.5	5.4	6.0	7.4	6.6	6.7	6.9	6.6	7.2	5.2	4.8	5.6	5.9
4 years	4.6	4.7	4.9	5.5	4.7	5.2	5.7	5.4	4.4	5.5	5.8	6.2	4.6	4.8	5.5	5.3
5 years	4.1	4.9	4.8	4.4	4.7	5.2	5.1	5.9	4.8	5.3	5.5	5.2	4.8	4.9	4.4	4.6
6 years	4.7	4.5	4.9	4.6	5.5	5.4	4.1	3.9	4.2	4.7	5.0	6.6	4.3	4.9	4.8	3.9
7 years	5.7	5.7	4.5	4.7	5.1	4.7	4.1	4.3	4.6	5.9	4.5	4.7	5.8	4.3	4.6	3.9
8 years	6.3	6.0	5.8	3.9	4.7	5.6	3.4	4.3	5.5	4.7	5.2	3.8	5.7	5.6	3.8	4.1
9 years	5.2	5.8	5.8	5.0	4.7	5.2	5.0	4.6	4.7	5.6	5.0	4.9	5.4	5.9	4.8	4.3
10 years	5.7	5.5	5.2	6.5	5.7	4.4	5.2	5.3	5.0	4.5	5.0	4.3	5.4	5.2	6.4	5.5
11 years	5.7	5.9	6.3	5.1	4.3	4.6	4.5	4.4	4.4	4.5	4.8	4.3	5.7	6.3	4.8	6.4
12 years	5.6	6.4	6.4	6.5	4.9	4.5	4.7	4.4	3.7	4.2	4.8	3.9	6.0	6.0	6.1	5.3
13 years	6.0	5.7	6.6	5.7	4.5	5.2	4.3	4.9	5.2	3.8	5.0	5.2	5.5	6.5	5.9	6.3
14 years	6.2	5.6	6.3	6.6	5.2	5.2	5.0	5.2	5.2	4.7	4.9	5.0	6.0	6.5	6.6	6.1
15 years	6.1	5.7	6.2	6.3	4.8	5.0	4.7	5.0	4.9	4.8	4.7	4.5	5.7	5.9	6.2	6.3
16 years	6.6	5.8	5.9	5.6	4.5	4.4	3.6	3.6	4.0	4.2	3.8	4.1	6.3	5.7	5.6	6.0
17 years	5.4	5.7	5.2	6.2	3.0	2.1	2.2	1.7	5.5	4.9	3.8	5.8	5.6	5.3	6.0	5.5
18 years	0.9	1.5	1.4	1.4	0.4	0.2	<.1	0.0	5.0	5.0	4.5	4.0	1.6	1.6	1.7	2.0
19 years	0.1	0.3	<.1	0.2	<.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.7	0.8	0.9	0.8	0.2	0.1	0.4	0.3
20 years	0.0	0.0	<.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.2	<.1	0.0	<.1	<.1	0.0	<.1
Missing data	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	<.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

	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	29.5	32.7	32.8	31.6	32.4	30.3	27.9	29.8	27.5	30.6	27.4	26.6	32.8	32.5	33.1	33.4
Asian	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.4	<.1	0.2	0.0	0.6	0.1	<.1	<.1	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.2
Black (non-Hispanic)	1.6	1.7	1.1	1.6	1.3	1.1	1.8	1.4	1.6	1.7	1.5	1.7	1.4	1.1	1.4	1.3
Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	<.1	0.0	<.1	0.0	<.1	0.0	<.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Hispanic (of any race)	3.3	4.2	4.1	5.0	4.3	3.9	6.0	5.2	3.6	4.3	4.7	4.0	3.9	3.9	5.1	5.7
White (non-Hispanic)	61.9	58.3	58.6	57.4	55.7	55.7	52.1	52.4	61.0	56.8	57.9	60.5	58.0	57.5	54.7	52.4
Two or more races	0.0	0.0	0.5	1.3	0.0	0.7	3.8	4.4	0.0	0.2	2.3	2.7	0.0	0.3	1.6	2.5
Unknown	3.3	3.0	2.6	2.9	5.9	8.2	8.0	6.6	5.7	6.2	6.2	4.3	3.8	4.5	3.9	4.4
Missing data	<.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	<.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	<.1	0.0	0.0	<.1

D. Characteristics of Children "Waiting for Adoption"6 (AFCARS: Foster Care File)

Waiting for Adoption	2000	2001	2002	2003
Total waiting children	850	748	687	655
Numbers of waiting children whose parents' rights have been terminated	712	624	578	561

Age (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
<1 year	3.4	1.6	2.2	1.2
1 year	5.5	4.8	4.2	4.4
2 years	5.1	4.1	5.8	6.4
3 years	4.6	5.7	4.2	6.1
4 years	4.6	5.6	5.1	4.9
5 years	5.1	4.1	4.1	4.7
6 years	3.9	5.3	4.8	4.1
7 years	5.6	4.0	4.9	3.2
8 years	7.4	7.2	4.5	4.6
9 years	6.7	6.4	5.1	3.7
10 years	5.8	7.0	8.0	5.3
11 years	5.8	6.8	6.3	8.2
12 years	6.6	6.7	7.0	6.7
13 years	6.1	6.6	6.4	8.2
14 years	6.0	5.9	6.4	6.4
15 years	6.5	6.3	6.3	7.5
16 years	5.3	6.4	6.3	6.4
17 years	4.7	4.1	5.8	5.3
18 years	1.3	1.2	2.3	1.5
19 years	0.1	0.0	0.3	0.8
20+ years	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.2
Missing data	—	—	—	—

Race/Ethnicity (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Alaska Native/American Indian	23.5	24.6	25.8	26.7
Asian	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.3
Black (non-Hispanic)	2.6	1.9	2.0	1.5
Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Hispanic (of any race)	4.5	4.5	4.5	6.1
White (non-Hispanic)	65.8	65.5	63.9	60.9
Two or more races	0.0	0.0	1.2	1.2
Unknown	3.3	3.2	2.3	3.2
Missing data	0.1	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	238	275	247	224

Age (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
<1 year	1.3	2.5	0.4	1.3
1 year	12.6	9.5	6.9	11.2
2 years	10.9	8.4	11.7	8.9
3 years	15.5	10.5	8.5	10.7
4 years	5.0	7.6	8.1	8.5
5 years	8.4	6.2	9.3	8.5
6 years	6.3	3.3	8.5	8.0
7 years	5.5	7.3	6.5	7.1
8 years	6.7	7.3	5.7	7.6
9 years	5.5	8.0	10.5	5.4
10 years	4.6	6.9	5.3	3.1
11 years	2.9	5.5	6.9	4.5
12 years	2.9	4.4	3.6	4.5
13 years	3.4	4.0	3.2	3.1
14 years	4.2	2.5	2.4	3.1
15 years	2.1	2.9	1.6	0.9
16 years	0.8	2.5	0.8	2.2
17 years	0.8	0.7	0.0	1.3
18 years	0.4	0.0	0.0	0.0
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	14.3	21.8	18.2	17.0
Asian	0.4	0.0	0.0	0.0
Black (non-Hispanic)	0.4	3.6	2.0	1.8
Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Hispanic (of any race)	6.7	7.3	8.1	4.0
White (non-Hispanic)	71.8	67.3	71.3	73.7
Two or more races	0.0	0.0	0.4	3.6
Unknown	6.3	0.0	0.0	0.0
Missing data	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

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Montana [ 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	86.9	89.4	88.0	90.5
Children with one or more recurrences	13.1	10.6	12.0	9.5
Number	1,112	871	934	814

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	0.19	0.19	0.63	0.18
Children not maltreated while in foster care	99.81	99.81	99.37	99.82
Number	3,221	3,116	2,869	2,705

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	19.3	19.6	18.8	20.8
Guardianship	2.0	2.9	6.5	5.1
Reunification	57.5	58.6	59.4	57.7
Other	8.8	9.2	8.0	9.5
Missing data	12.4	9.8	7.3	7.0
Number	1,327	1,497	1,280	1,087

3.2 Exits of Children with a Diagnosed Disability (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Adoption	38.5	39.2	31.6	38.6
Guardianship	1.5	2.4	3.1	2.3
Reunification	29.2	32.0	36.7	25.0
Other	15.4	19.2	23.5	22.7
Missing data	15.4	7.2	5.1	11.4
Number	65	125	98	88

3.3 Exits of Children Older than Age 12 at Entry into Foster Care (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Adoption	2.2	2.5	0.8	2.3
Guardianship	1.9	1.9	7.2	4.7
Reunification	47.4	46.2	46.6	48.1
Other	29.9	30.3	28.9	28.0
Missing data	18.7	19.1	16.5	16.8
Number	321	314	249	214

3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Children age 12 or younger at entry	18.9	34.3	32.9	38.2
Children older than 12 at entry	81.1	65.7	67.1	61.8
Missing data	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Number	90	99	82	76

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	9.9	13.3	12.5	14.5	12.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	9.5	38.5	26.3	21.1
Guardianship	1.4	4.4	10.5	6.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	10.5
Reunification	64.9	62.9	63.0	59.9	25.0	50.0	0.0	0.0	66.7	34.6	63.2	57.9
Other	5.2	4.6	3.7	11.8	25.0	0.0	0.0	100.0	9.5	19.2	5.3	0.0
Missing data	18.6	14.8	10.3	7.6	37.5	50.0	100.0	0.0	14.3	7.7	5.3	10.5
Number	365	458	351	289	8	2	1	1	21	26	19	19
	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	35.4	31.3	30.0	20.9	22.9	23.4	23.3	24.6
Guardianship	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.1	1.6	1.7	2.3	2.2	1.8	5.4	5.0
Reunification	0.0	100.0	0.0	100.0	52.1	48.4	55.0	69.8	54.1	55.5	53.6	53.6
Other	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.1	10.9	3.3	2.3	11.0	11.5	11.3	9.6
Missing data	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	8.3	7.8	10.0	4.7	9.8	7.8	6.3	7.1
Number	0	1	0	1	48	64	60	43	809	850	741	658
	Unable to Determine				Two or more Races				Missing Data
	2000	2001	2002	2003	2000	2001	2002	2003	2000	2001	2002	2003
Adoption	19.7	4.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.4	31.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Guardianship	2.6	7.5	6.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.4	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Reunification	61.8	78.5	88.6	89.4	0.0	66.7	93.1	58.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Other	5.3	5.4	2.5	4.3	0.0	33.3	0.0	6.9	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Missing data	10.5	4.3	2.5	6.4	0.0	0.0	3.4	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Number	76	93	79	47	0	3	29	29	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.	87.0	84.7	80.5	77.5
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.	9.8	10.9	14.2	15.6
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.	1.4	3.0	3.0	3.8
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.	0.8	0.6	0.9	1.8
48 or more mos.	0.9	0.8	1.3	1.1
Missing data	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.2
Number	763	877	760	627

4.2 Children Re-entering Foster Care (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Children entering care for the first time	68.5	68.5	69.9	69.0
Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode	20.2	19.1	16.1	18.8
Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode	8.9	10.6	12.9	11.4
Missing data	2.4	1.9	1.1	0.8
Number	1,588	1,506	1,306	1,175

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.	10.9	10.2	1.2	3.1
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.	31.3	21.8	32.0	30.1
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.	30.5	27.6	28.2	28.3
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.	13.3	19.0	17.8	17.7
48 or more mos.	13.3	21.4	20.7	20.8
Missing data	0.8	0.0	0.0	0.0
Number	256	294	241	226

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	80.8	81.3	84.1	86.8	57.5	55.2	54.6	68.4	38.9	39.3	33.4	36.5	100.0	100.0	0.0	0.0
Children with 3 or more placements	19.2	18.7	15.9	13.2	42.5	44.8	45.4	31.6	61.1	60.7	66.6	63.5	0.0	0.0	100.0	0.0
Number	1,779	1,746	1,489	1,365	669	629	663	561	1,055	1,129	1,039	1,026	3	1	1	0

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	11.9	11.8	9.4	7.8
Institutions	1.0	0.9	0.4	0.5
Other settings	87.1	87.2	90.3	91.7
Missing data	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Number	1,220	1,166	1,036	928

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Montana [ Federal Comment ]

PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

The following is a discussion of Montana'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

In 2003, 9.5 percent of the children in Montana who were victims of maltreatment during the first 6 months of the year experienced another maltreatment incident within a 6-month period (measure 1.1). Although this percent exceeds the national median of 7.1 percent, it represents a substantial improvement in performance from 2000 to 2003 (-27.5 percent change).

The decline from 2000 to 2003 in the percent of children who were victims of maltreatment recurrence corresponds to a decline in Montana's child victim rate. In 2000, the rate of child maltreatment victims was 10.6 child victims per 1,000 children in the State population. This rate declined to 9.0 child victims per 1,000 children in the population in 2003.

Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care

In 2003, 0.18 percent of the children in foster care in Montana were found to be maltreated by a foster parent or facility staff member (measure 2.1), which is less than the national median of 0.39 percent. There was a slight decline in performance on this measure from 2000 to 2003, but a considerable improvement in performance from 2002 to 2003.

Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care

Montana's performance with regard to achieving permanency for children in foster care cannot be effectively assessed because of missing discharge information for some of the children exiting foster care. For example, 7.0 percent of all children exiting foster care (measure 3.1) did not have reason for discharge information, 11.4 percent of children exiting foster care who had a diagnosed disability (measure 3.2) did not have reason for discharge information, and 16.8 percent of children exiting foster care who were older than age 12 when they entered foster care (measure 3.3) did not have reason for discharge information.

Outcome 4. Reduce time in foster care to reunification without increasing re-entry

Montana's performance in achieving reunifications in a timely manner (measure 4.1) is difficult to assess because 7.0 percent of children exiting foster care did not have discharge reasons.

With regard to re-entries into foster care, in 2003, 18.8 percent of the children entering foster care were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode (measure 4.2). Although this percent exceeds the national median of 9.5 percent, it represents an improvement in performance from 2000 to 2003 (-6.9 percent change). However, there was a decline in performance on this measure from 2002 to 2003 (+16.8 percent change). Also in 2003, 11.4 percent of the children entering foster care were entering more than 12 months after a prior foster care episode. Consequently, 30.2 percent of all children entering foster care in 2003 had been in foster care at a prior time.

Outcome 5. Reduce time in foster care to adoption

In 2003, 33.2 percent of all finalized adoptions in Montana occurred within 24 months of a child's entry into foster care (measure 5.1). Although this percent is higher than the national median of 23.9 percent, it represents a decline in performance on the measure from 2000 to 2003 (-21.3 percent change).

Outcome 6. Increase placement stability

In 2003, 86.8 percent of the children in foster care in Montana for less than 12 months experienced no more than two placement settings (measure 6.1). This percent not only exceeds the national median of 84.2 percent, but also represents improved performance from 2000 to 2003 (+7.4 percent change). Also in 2003, 68.4 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, 8.3 percent of the children entering foster care in Montana who were age 12 or younger were placed in a group home or institution (measure 7.1). This percent is equal to the national median of 8.3 percent and represents an improvement in performance from 2000 to 2003 (-35.7 percent change).

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