New Mexico
Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment | Federal Comment
New Mexico [ Context Data ]
A. Context Statistics
| General Child Population (Census Bureau) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total children under 18 years | 506,687 | 500,834 | 502,288 | 502,034 |
| Race/Ethnicity (%)1 | ||||
| Alaska Native/American Indian | 11.7 | 11.7 | 11.6 | 11.6 |
| Asian | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.7 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | 0.0 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 50.9 | 50.8 | 50.1 | 50.2 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 32.5 | 32.9 | 34.0 | 33.8 |
| Two or more races | 2.1 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 |
| % Child population in poverty | 23.5 | 25.4 | 24.4 | 26.9 |
| Child Welfare Summary | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child maltreatment victims2 | 6,288 | 6,929 | 6,273 | 6,238 |
| Children in foster care on 9/30 | 1,912 | 1,757 | 1,885 | 2,127 |
| Children adopted | 347 | 369 | 275 | 220 |
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 | 20,956 | 41.4 per 1,000 | 23,314 | 46.5 per 1,000 | 22,997 | 45.8 per 1,000 | 25,259 | 50.3 per 1,000 |
| Total child maltreatment victims3 | 6,288 | 12.4 per 1,000 | 6,929 | 13.8 per 1,000 | 6,273 | 12.5 per 1,000 | 6,238 | 12.4 per 1,000 |
| Child fatalities | 6 | 1.2 per 100,000 | 5 | 1.0 per 100,000 | 4 | 0.8 per 100,000 | 4 | 0.8 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 | 7.5 | 8.0 | 8.1 | 9.0 |
| 1-5 years | 25.6 | 25.7 | 27.1 | 26.8 |
| 6-10 years | 30.4 | 30.8 | 29.7 | 28.6 |
| 11-15 years | 25.5 | 24.0 | 25.1 | 24.7 |
| 16+ years | 4.8 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Unknown | 6.1 | 6.5 | 5.1 | 5.9 |
| Number | 6,288 | 6,929 | 6,273 | 6,238 |
| Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%)4 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Native/American Indian | 10.4 | 10.5 | 9.3 | 8.0 |
| Asian | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 2.7 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0.1 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 48.2 | 46.5 | 47.2 | 46.6 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 30.4 | 29.1 | 28.4 | 28.8 |
| Two or more races | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.8 |
| Unknown | 6.2 | 8.9 | 9.9 | 11.8 |
| Number | 6,288 | 6,929 | 6,273 | 6,238 |
| Maltreatment Types of Child Victims (%)5 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emotional abuse | 6.6 | 6.9 | 3.9 | 5.5 |
| Medical neglect | 2.3 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 2.4 |
| Neglect | 63.4 | 64.5 | 67.7 | 67.6 |
| Physical abuse | 33.5 | 32.1 | 33.9 | 32.2 |
| Sexual abuse | 6.0 | 6.6 | 6.1 | 6.2 |
| Unknown/missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Other | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Number | 6,288 | 6,929 | 6,273 | 6,238 |
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 | 1,731 | 1,613 | 1,441 | 1,534 | 1,780 | 1,887 | 1,968 | 1,928 | 1,716 | 1,754 | 1,606 | 1,412 | 1,912 | 1,757 | 1,885 | 2,127 |
| Median length of stay (months) | 18.2 | 16.5 | 15.1 | 12.9 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 17.5 | 15.7 | 12.1 | 12.1 |
| In Foster Care on 10/1 FY | Entered Foster Care in FY | Exited Foster Care in FY | In Foster Care on 9/30 FY | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
| <1 year | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 11.5 | 11.8 | 12.0 | 13.6 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 6.7 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 6.2 |
| 1 year | 5.4 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 6.8 | 8.5 | 8.1 | 7.4 | 6.6 | 7.7 | 8.4 | 5.6 | 5.9 | 6.8 | 7.0 |
| 2 years | 4.5 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.7 | 6.6 | 6.8 | 7.8 | 6.9 | 6.6 | 6.8 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 6.0 | 7.1 |
| 3 years | 6.4 | 4.3 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 7.8 | 7.4 | 6.2 | 7.2 | 8.4 | 7.9 | 4.1 | 5.5 | 6.2 | 5.7 |
| 4 years | 5.9 | 5.1 | 4.6 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 6.7 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 6.3 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 5.6 | 6.0 |
| 5 years | 5.5 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 5.3 | 6.5 | 5.7 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.1 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 5.6 |
| 6 years | 6.9 | 5.3 | 4.4 | 3.5 | 5.6 | 6.0 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 6.4 | 7.0 | 5.4 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 4.8 |
| 7 years | 7.2 | 6.0 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 3.9 |
| 8 years | 6.2 | 6.9 | 5.6 | 5.0 | 5.7 | 6.1 | 5.4 | 4.6 | 5.2 | 6.6 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 6.7 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 4.0 |
| 9 years | 5.6 | 6.9 | 6.0 | 5.2 | 5.8 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 6.1 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 6.0 | 5.1 | 4.0 |
| 10 years | 5.5 | 5.7 | 6.5 | 5.4 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 5.2 | 6.5 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 5.4 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 4.7 |
| 11 years | 5.3 | 6.6 | 5.2 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 4.2 | 6.3 | 4.8 | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| 12 years | 5.3 | 5.5 | 7.6 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 5.4 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 6.9 | 4.6 | 5.6 |
| 13 years | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.7 | 5.1 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 5.1 | 3.5 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 6.3 | 4.8 |
| 14 years | 5.6 | 6.3 | 6.9 | 7.3 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 6.0 | 6.2 | 6.6 | 6.0 |
| 15 years | 5.5 | 5.9 | 6.7 | 6.1 | 4.8 | 3.1 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 6.6 |
| 16 years | 5.2 | 6.5 | 5.6 | 7.0 | 3.5 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 5.1 | 6.3 | 5.4 |
| 17 years | 3.2 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 5.3 | 5.7 |
| 18 years | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 1.7 |
| 19 years | 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 |
| 20 years | 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 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | <.1 | 0.0 | <.1 | 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 | 6.5 | 7.4 | 9.2 | 9.9 | 9.7 | 16.1 | 11.8 | 9.1 | 10.8 | 14.9 | 13.4 | 11.9 | 6.6 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 7.5 |
| Asian | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | <.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.2 | <.1 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 7.7 | 7.3 | 6.5 | 6.1 | 4.8 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 5.5 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 6.5 | 6.9 | 5.8 | 5.0 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | 0.0 | <.1 | <.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | <.1 | 0.2 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 55.2 | 53.8 | 55.4 | 54.0 | 49.3 | 47.0 | 45.9 | 46.4 | 48.7 | 45.7 | 45.8 | 46.0 | 54.7 | 54.5 | 52.5 | 52.0 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 28.9 | 29.6 | 26.3 | 27.0 | 32.6 | 27.9 | 30.5 | 31.7 | 31.4 | 30.8 | 28.9 | 29.7 | 30.2 | 26.6 | 28.2 | 29.8 |
| Two or more races | 1.0 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 2.4 |
| Unknown | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | <.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 4.6 | 0.2 | <.1 | 2.5 | 3.6 | <.1 | <.1 | 0.4 | 1.9 |
D. Characteristics of Children "Waiting for Adoption"6 (AFCARS: Foster Care File)
| Waiting for Adoption | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total waiting children | 822 | 668 | 514 | 580 |
| Numbers of waiting children whose parents' rights have been terminated | 22 | 14 | 8 | 4 |
| Age (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <1 year | 1.8 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 3.1 |
| 1 year | 5.6 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 6.4 |
| 2 years | 6.3 | 5.5 | 6.2 | 7.2 |
| 3 years | 5.4 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 5.7 |
| 4 years | 6.8 | 5.1 | 7.0 | 7.2 |
| 5 years | 6.6 | 5.5 | 4.3 | 6.7 |
| 6 years | 6.2 | 6.0 | 4.1 | 4.7 |
| 7 years | 7.3 | 6.9 | 5.1 | 3.4 |
| 8 years | 9.0 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 5.7 |
| 9 years | 8.4 | 9.0 | 6.4 | 6.0 |
| 10 years | 6.2 | 8.1 | 8.2 | 6.9 |
| 11 years | 7.4 | 5.2 | 8.0 | 6.9 |
| 12 years | 6.7 | 8.4 | 6.4 | 8.1 |
| 13 years | 6.7 | 6.3 | 8.2 | 6.0 |
| 14 years | 5.2 | 6.0 | 6.8 | 7.6 |
| 15 years | 2.8 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 5.9 |
| 16 years | 1.3 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 2.4 |
| 17 years | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| 18 years | 0.0 | 0.1 | 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 | 6.1 | 7.0 | 9.9 | 6.9 |
| Asian | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 7.9 | 8.7 | 7.8 | 6.4 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 56.2 | 57.2 | 54.5 | 56.9 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 28.0 | 24.6 | 24.3 | 26.9 |
| Two or more races | 1.6 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 2.1 |
| Unknown | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
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 | 347 | 369 | 275 | 220 |
| Age (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <1 year | 1.4 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 6.4 |
| 1 year | 6.1 | 6.8 | 9.5 | 7.7 |
| 2 years | 9.5 | 8.9 | 11.3 | 10.0 |
| 3 years | 9.2 | 8.7 | 9.5 | 10.0 |
| 4 years | 11.8 | 6.2 | 8.4 | 5.0 |
| 5 years | 10.1 | 6.8 | 8.0 | 4.5 |
| 6 years | 6.3 | 10.3 | 6.9 | 5.9 |
| 7 years | 9.5 | 6.8 | 2.5 | 5.0 |
| 8 years | 7.8 | 8.9 | 7.6 | 4.5 |
| 9 years | 8.9 | 8.9 | 7.3 | 8.6 |
| 10 years | 5.5 | 7.6 | 8.4 | 7.3 |
| 11 years | 3.5 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 3.6 |
| 12 years | 2.6 | 6.0 | 3.3 | 4.1 |
| 13 years | 3.7 | 4.1 | 3.3 | 4.5 |
| 14 years | 2.0 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 5.5 |
| 15 years | 1.7 | 1.4 | 3.6 | 3.2 |
| 16 years | 0.3 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 2.7 |
| 17 years | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.4 |
| 18 years | 0.0 | 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 | 0.6 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 8.6 |
| Asian | 3.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 4.3 | 5.7 | 7.3 | 6.4 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 59.1 | 55.8 | 55.6 | 53.2 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 30.3 | 33.6 | 30.2 | 29.5 |
| Two or more races | 1.7 | 1.1 | 3.6 | 1.8 |
| Unknown | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
New Mexico [ 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 | 91.5 | 92.3 | 93.1 | 92.4 |
| Children with one or more recurrences | 8.5 | 7.7 | 6.9 | 7.6 |
| Number | 2,986 | 2,891 | 2,889 | 2,883 |
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 | — | <.1 | 1.53 | 1.52 |
| Children not maltreated while in foster care | — | 99.94 | 98.47 | 98.48 |
| Number | — | 3,083 | 3,015 | 3,148 |
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 | 14.1 | 15.7 | 16.2 | 16.2 |
| Guardianship | 4.2 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 3.8 |
| Reunification | 74.7 | 73.1 | 67.7 | 69.6 |
| Other | 6.0 | 7.6 | 6.2 | 4.8 |
| Missing data | 1.0 | 1.0 | 6.9 | 5.5 |
| Number | 1,716 | 1,754 | 1,606 | 1,412 |
| 3.2 Exits of Children with a Diagnosed Disability (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption | 21.1 | 30.8 | 19.4 | 31.3 |
| Guardianship | 3.0 | 4.8 | 7.1 | 3.8 |
| Reunification | 69.9 | 54.8 | 53.1 | 46.3 |
| Other | 6.0 | 5.8 | 12.2 | 15.0 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 3.8 | 8.2 | 3.8 |
| Number | 133 | 104 | 98 | 80 |
| 3.3 Exits of Children Older than Age 12 at Entry into Foster Care (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.5 |
| Guardianship | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 4.5 |
| Reunification | 77.1 | 76.3 | 79.4 | 79.1 |
| Other | 16.9 | 17.4 | 11.9 | 11.8 |
| Missing data | 0.7 | 1.5 | 4.9 | 4.1 |
| Number | 284 | 270 | 243 | 220 |
| 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children age 12 or younger at entry | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9.1 | 50.0 |
| Children older than 12 at entry | 100.0 | 100.0 | 90.9 | 50.0 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Number | 26 | 13 | 11 | 22 |
| 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 | 8.6 | 6.5 | 7.4 | 11.9 | 0.0 | 11.1 | 0.0 | 66.7 | 18.9 | 28.1 | 28.8 | 36.0 |
| Guardianship | 3.8 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Reunification | 65.9 | 69.1 | 63.7 | 54.2 | 50.0 | 77.8 | 100.0 | 33.3 | 68.4 | 66.7 | 62.7 | 56.0 |
| Other | 21.1 | 22.5 | 22.3 | 11.3 | 50.0 | 11.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8.4 | 5.3 | 3.4 | 6.0 |
| Missing data | 0.5 | 0.0 | 5.6 | 19.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.1 | 0.0 |
| Number | 185 | 262 | 215 | 168 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 95 | 57 | 59 | 50 |
| |
||||||||||||
| 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 | 16.0 | 19.7 | 20.5 | 19.7 | 13.8 | 14.6 | 14.4 | 13.8 |
| Guardianship | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.7 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 5.1 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 2.6 |
| Reunification | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 74.6 | 73.1 | 63.6 | 68.2 | 77.0 | 75.6 | 73.5 | 74.5 |
| Other | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.9 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 6.5 | 3.7 | 5.0 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 9.1 | 4.0 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 5.4 | 4.0 |
| Number | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 836 | 802 | 736 | 650 | 538 | 541 | 464 | 420 |
| |
||||||||||||
| Unable to Determine | Two or more Races | Missing Data | ||||||||||
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | |
| Adoption | 0.0 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9.8 | 25.8 | 11.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Guardianship | 0.0 | 5.3 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 0.0 |
| Reunification | 100.0 | 78.9 | 82.5 | 95.3 | 87.1 | 68.3 | 58.1 | 73.1 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 90.0 | 90.2 |
| Other | 0.0 | 13.2 | 14.0 | 2.3 | 12.9 | 14.6 | 9.7 | 3.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.0 | 0.0 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.3 | 6.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 0.0 |
| Number | 25 | 38 | 57 | 43 | 31 | 41 | 31 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 40 | 51 |
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. | 81.8 | 90.1 | 90.5 | 86.6 |
| At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. | 5.5 | 5.7 | 3.7 | 4.9 |
| At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.7 |
| At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. | 0.2 | 0.5 | <.1 | 0.3 |
| 48 or more mos. | <.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.7 |
| Missing data | 10.4 | 3.2 | 5.5 | 6.8 |
| Number | 1,282 | 1,283 | 1,088 | 983 |
| 4.2 Children Re-entering Foster Care (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children entering care for the first time | 86.9 | 86.1 | 84.8 | 85.6 |
| Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode | 8.7 | 8.4 | 9.5 | 8.4 |
| Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode | 2.2 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 5.9 |
| Missing data | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.2 |
| Number | 1,780 | 1,887 | 1,968 | 1,928 |
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. | 2.9 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 6.1 |
| At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. | 16.9 | 25.4 | 30.4 | 27.9 |
| At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. | 67.4 | 32.6 | 29.6 | 28.4 |
| At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. | 6.6 | 33.7 | 12.3 | 11.8 |
| 48 or more mos. | 0.0 | 3.6 | 18.8 | 20.5 |
| Missing data | 6.2 | 3.3 | 6.5 | 5.2 |
| Number | 242 | 276 | 260 | 229 |
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 | 95.6 | 88.0 | 87.5 | 87.4 | 99.6 | 58.0 | 51.7 | 56.3 | 99.8 | 49.3 | 43.7 | 40.9 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Children with 3 or more placements | 4.4 | 12.0 | 12.5 | 12.6 | 0.4 | 42.0 | 48.3 | 43.7 | 0.2 | 50.7 | 56.3 | 59.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Number | 1,946 | 2,001 | 2,109 | 2,035 | 478 | 579 | 511 | 682 | 1,036 | 869 | 765 | 724 | 51 | 51 | 24 | 21 |
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 | 12.2 | 15.6 | 10.4 | 9.7 |
| Institutions | 2.1 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 2.2 |
| Other settings | 85.8 | 81.2 | 87.0 | 88.1 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Number | 1,411 | 1,567 | 1,597 | 1,552 |
New Mexico [ State Comment ]
Dorian Dodson, Director
Protective Services
Children, Youth and Families Department
The following are New Mexico's comments on the State's data presented in Child Welfare Outcomes 2003: Report to Congress.
New Mexico has unique practices to harmonize the requirements of state law and federal mandates, while serving diverse communities that are not only rural, but also involve urban settings, as well. New Mexico's population requires us to address needs specific to multicultural populations, as well as sovereignty issues with Tribal governments.
Section C (Children in Foster Care): New Mexico is monitoring the issue of the difference of 351 children (dropped cases) and has made changes in its mapping and online applications to minimize the occurrence of similar situations in the future. AFCARS resubmitted data reflects these changes as of FFY 2004.
Section D (Children Waiting to be Adopted): New Mexico has experienced some issues in entering information regarding termination of parental rights in the SACWIS system over the years. An online modification has been made in the current SACWIS' system, and the information is now being collected in a timely and responsive manner. Additionally, TPR dates for mother and father have been "under-reported" historically by AFCARS for NM due to the inability of the SACWIS system to capture termination dates for parents when the termination of parental rights occurred thru the following events: 1) relinquishment of parent, 2) father with no protected liberty interest and 3) mother or father deceased. There was also a mapping issue for terminations, which is being corrected so that data are being collected from the CCA legal status entries. FACTS Release 3.4.0 (implemented June 2005) also provided a summary "Child Freed" window where attorneys or workers can view the data recorded in legal status windows without having to open each screen. Mapping changes for AFCARS submittals are anticipated to be completed by October 1, 2005. NM will resubmit AFCARS data retro to FFY 2004 after mapping changes are implemented. A change request is now being processed to produce a report to allow CCA's to enter missing data. The TPR dates for mother and father from the AFCARS adoption file are reliable, but reflect only those children who have been adopted, not children who have been freed for adoption.
Outcome Measure 2.1 (Maltreatment in Foster Care): New Mexico has identified enhancements to its SACWIS system in the online mode and will be making modifications to its NCANDS mapping to more accurately capture this data.
Outcome Measure 3.4 (Exits to Emancipation): The number associated with this outcome is relatively small; however New Mexico is now aggressively monitoring the number of children being emancipated from foster care and has seen a marked reduction in numbers subsequent to this reporting period.
Outcome Measure 5.1 (Time to Adoption): Subsequent to this reporting period, New Mexico has engaged in significant efforts to reduce the percentage of adoptions with children in foster care for periods of time greater than 48 months. It is anticipated that in the future, data will reflect a more positive trend because of improvements in capturing relevant data and persistent monitoring on the part of NM.
New Mexico [ Federal Comment ]
PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT
The following is a discussion of New Mexico'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, 7.6 percent of the children in New Mexico 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 is about equal to the national median of 7.1 percent, it represents an improvement in performance from 2000 (-10.6 percent change).
In 2003, the rate of child maltreatment victims in New Mexico was 12.4 child victims per 1,000 children in the State population, which is higher than the national median of 10.6 child victims per 1,000 children in the population. This rate did not change from 2000 to 2003.
Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
In 2003, 1.54 percent of the children in foster care in New Mexico were found to be maltreated by a foster parent or facility staff member (measure 2.1). Change in performance on this measure is difficult to assess because of potential data quality issues in 2000 and 2001.
Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In 2003, 89.6 percent of children exiting foster care in New Mexico (measure 3.1) were discharged to a permanent home, which exceeds the national median of 86.3 percent. Also, 81.4 percent of children exiting foster care who had a diagnosed disability (measure 3.2) were discharged to a permanent home, which exceeds the national median of 79.5 percent. Furthermore, 84.1 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 also exceeds the national median of 72.2 percent.
In 2003, 50.0 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 percent not only exceeds the national median of 29.6 percent, but also represents a decline in performance from 2000, when none of the children exiting to emancipation entered foster care when they were age 12 or younger. These data are difficult to interpret because New Mexico has very few children exiting to emancipation (22) and only eight children exiting foster care were age 18 or older at the time of exit.
There were no real differences with regard to exits to permanency as a function of children's race or ethnicity (measure 3.5). (This was assessed only when a particular race or ethnicity accounted for at least 10 percent of the exits from foster care.) White (non-Hispanic) children exiting foster care were as likely to be discharged to a permanent home (90.9 percent) as were Hispanic children exiting foster care (93.0 percent).
Outcome 4. Reduce time in foster care to reunification without increasing re-entry
In 2003, 86.6 percent of reunifications in New Mexico occurred within 12 months of a child's entry into foster care (measure 4.1). Although this percent exceeds the national median of 72.0 percent, it represents a slight decline in performance from 2000 (-5.9 percent change). Also in 2003, 1.0 percent of reunifications occurred after the child had been in foster care for at least 36 months, which is less than the national median of 3.5 percent.
With regard to re-entries into foster care, in 2003, 8.4 percent of the children entering foster care were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode (measure 4.2), which is less than the national median of 9.5 percent. There was no change in performance on this measure from 2000 to 2003. In addition, only 5.9 percent of the children entering foster care were re-entering more than 12 months after a prior foster care episode. Consequently, only 14.3 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, 34.0 percent of finalized adoptions in New Mexico occurred within 24 months of a child's entry into foster care (measure 5.1). This percent not only exceeds the national median of 23.9 percent, but represents an improvement in performance on this measure from 2000 to 2003 (+71.8 percent change).
Outcome 6. Increase placement stability
In 2003, 87.4 percent of the children in foster care in New Mexico who were in care for less than 12 months experienced no more than two placement settings (measure 6.1), which exceeds the national median of 84.2 percent. However, in that year, 56.3 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 is less than the national median of 59.1 percent. There was a 31.1 percent decline in placement stability for children in foster care from 12 to 24 months compared to children in foster care for less than 12 months.
Outcome 7. Reduce placements of young children in group homes and institutions
In 2003, 11.9 percent of the children entering foster care who were age 12 or younger were placed in a group home or institution (measure 7.1). Although this percent exceeds the national median of 8.3 percent, it represents an improvement in performance on this measure from 2000 to 2003 (-16.8 percent change).
