North Carolina

Context Data | Outcomes Data | Federal Comment

North Carolina [ Context Data ]

A. Context Statistics

General Child Population (Census Bureau)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Total children under 18 years	1,974,101	2,024,074	2,057,281	2,087,443
Race/Ethnicity (%)1
Alaska Native/American Indian	1.5	1.4	1.4	1.4
Asian	1.6	1.7	1.7	1.7
Black (non-Hispanic)	26.2	26.1	25.5	25.3
Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander	0.0	<.1	<.1	<.1
Hispanic (of any race)	6.1	6.5	6.7	7.2
White (non-Hispanic)	62.5	62.6	63.1	62.7
Two or more races	1.8	1.6	1.6	1.7
% Child population in poverty	18.5	16.4	20.6	23.1

Child Welfare Summary	2000	2001	2002	2003
Child maltreatment victims2	36,186	36,601	35,523	32,847
Children in foster care on 9/30	10,847	10,130	9,527	9,534
Children adopted	1,337	1,327	1,324	1,296

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	123,043	62.3 per 1,000	122,354	60.5 per 1,000	127,702	62.1 per 1,000	120,194	57.6 per 1,000
Total child maltreatment victims3	36,186	18.3 per 1,000	36,601	18.1 per 1,000	35,523	17.3 per 1,000	32,847	15.7 per 1,000
Child fatalities	47	2.4 per 100,000	24	1.2 per 100,000	—	— per 100,000	—	— 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	9.5	9.4	9.8	9.9
1-5 years	32.5	33.2	33.3	33.6
6-10 years	31.7	30.4	28.9	27.4
11-15 years	23.0	23.3	24.1	24.9
16+ years	3.4	3.7	3.9	4.1
Unknown	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Number	36,186	36,601	35,523	32,847

Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%)4	2000	2001	2002	2003
Alaska Native/American Indian	1.9	1.7	1.7	1.8
Asian	0.7	0.9	0.9	0.5
Black (non-Hispanic)	36.6	36.2	34.0	33.7
Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.3
Hispanic (of any race)	8.2	7.9	8.4	8.3
White (non-Hispanic)	51.8	52.2	53.7	53.6
Two or more races	0.7	0.8	0.9	1.3
Unknown	0.2	0.3	0.5	0.5
Number	36,186	36,601	35,523	32,847

Maltreatment Types of Child Victims (%)5	2000	2001	2002	2003
Emotional abuse	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.4
Medical neglect	2.1	2.3	2.1	2.1
Neglect	89.9	90.0	90.3	90.3
Physical abuse	3.9	3.7	3.5	3.1
Sexual abuse	3.5	3.4	3.5	3.6
Unknown/missing data	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Other	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.5
Number	36,186	36,601	35,523	32,847

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	9,870	10,068	9,316	9,140	5,458	5,301	5,615	5,461	4,481	5,239	5,404	5,067	10,847	10,130	9,527	9,534
Median length of stay (months)	17.7	16.5	15.8	13.8	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	14.9	14.7	13.7	13.2	16.4	16.3	14.0	14.0

	In Foster Care on 10/1 FY				Entered Foster Care in FY				Exited Foster Care in FY				In Foster Care on 9/30 FY
Age (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003	2000	2001	2002	2003	2000	2001	2002	2003	2000	2001	2002	2003
<1 year	4.3	5.1	5.2	5.9	16.0	15.4	16.3	16.2	4.2	3.8	4.5	4.0	5.1	5.0	5.8	5.6
1 year	5.9	5.8	6.6	6.4	6.9	7.3	6.8	7.4	5.9	6.9	7.8	7.2	5.9	6.4	6.3	7.5
2 years	5.9	5.7	5.9	5.9	5.4	6.0	6.3	6.5	6.8	6.8	7.3	6.7	5.6	5.8	6.0	6.3
3 years	5.2	5.2	5.0	5.2	4.7	5.4	5.3	5.7	6.0	6.1	6.1	6.0	5.2	5.1	5.2	5.8
4 years	4.9	4.5	4.8	4.9	4.4	5.0	5.3	5.7	5.6	6.0	5.6	5.4	4.6	4.9	4.8	5.0
5 years	4.7	4.4	4.1	4.4	4.4	4.7	4.3	4.7	5.4	5.1	5.1	5.6	4.4	4.1	4.4	4.8
6 years	5.2	4.2	4.3	4.0	4.6	4.9	4.8	4.2	5.2	4.8	4.7	4.2	4.2	4.2	4.0	4.2
7 years	5.3	5.1	4.2	4.3	4.8	4.5	4.3	3.5	5.5	4.7	4.5	4.7	5.1	4.2	4.3	3.6
8 years	5.6	5.1	4.7	4.3	4.7	4.4	4.3	3.7	5.0	5.6	4.3	4.3	5.1	4.6	4.3	3.8
9 years	5.2	5.5	5.1	4.7	4.4	4.8	4.4	3.7	4.4	4.6	4.1	4.4	5.4	4.9	4.7	4.1
10 years	5.2	5.1	5.4	5.2	4.7	4.8	4.3	4.0	4.9	5.0	4.6	4.5	5.1	5.5	5.1	4.0
11 years	5.3	5.1	5.2	5.1	4.2	4.4	4.5	4.7	4.1	4.3	4.1	4.8	5.2	5.2	5.1	5.0
12 years	5.3	5.5	5.5	5.4	4.9	4.5	4.4	4.5	3.6	4.1	4.5	4.4	5.4	5.4	5.4	5.0
13 years	5.8	6.1	6.1	5.8	5.8	5.5	5.5	5.4	4.1	4.1	4.3	4.3	6.0	6.1	5.8	5.5
14 years	6.6	6.6	6.6	6.7	7.7	5.9	6.1	6.6	5.7	4.8	5.3	4.8	6.6	6.4	6.6	6.8
15 years	7.0	7.6	7.4	7.1	6.9	6.5	6.4	6.8	5.7	6.5	5.8	5.2	7.5	7.3	7.0	7.7
16 years	6.3	6.5	7.2	7.4	3.8	4.0	4.3	4.0	6.3	5.3	5.8	5.5	6.5	7.1	7.3	7.1
17 years	4.8	4.8	4.9	5.7	1.4	1.6	1.9	2.1	5.6	4.2	5.9	8.9	5.0	5.2	5.7	6.1
18 years	1.0	1.2	1.1	1.2	0.1	0.3	0.4	0.3	4.8	6.2	4.5	3.4	1.5	1.5	1.4	1.1
19 years	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.5	<.1	<.1	0.1	0.2	0.6	0.7	0.6	0.8	0.5	0.6	0.5	0.8
20 years	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.0	0.0	<.1	<.1	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.6	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.2
Missing data	0.2	0.2	<.1	<.1	<.1	<.1	<.1	0.1	0.3	0.2	<.1	0.1	0.2	0.2	<.1	<.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	1.9	2.3	2.1	1.6	3.5	2.6	2.1	2.4	3.0	3.2	2.8	1.6	2.3	2.0	1.7	2.1
Asian	0.3	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.6	0.4	0.4	0.2	0.5	0.4	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.3
Black (non-Hispanic)	50.9	49.3	47.4	44.8	41.5	38.7	38.1	37.4	43.8	43.5	42.5	40.0	49.1	46.8	44.7	43.1
Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.4	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.1	0.2
Hispanic (of any race)	6.2	5.6	5.7	5.7	6.5	8.8	7.4	7.6	7.6	7.6	7.4	7.0	5.8	6.2	5.7	6.1
White (non-Hispanic)	39.9	41.2	42.7	45.1	46.8	47.5	49.6	49.6	44.3	44.2	44.9	48.5	41.6	42.9	45.5	45.9
Two or more races	0.5	1.0	1.7	2.1	1.2	1.7	1.7	1.8	0.4	0.9	1.4	1.9	0.9	1.4	1.9	2.1
Unknown	0.4	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2
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	3,709	3,329	3,130	3,097
Numbers of waiting children whose parents' rights have been terminated	2,084	1,990	1,784	1,793

Age (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
<1 year	2.8	2.7	2.9	2.9
1 year	5.1	5.9	5.8	6.7
2 years	6.6	6.2	5.7	6.9
3 years	6.3	5.8	5.7	6.0
4 years	5.7	5.2	5.4	5.0
5 years	6.0	4.6	4.7	5.2
6 years	5.3	4.9	4.2	4.3
7 years	6.0	4.9	4.8	3.8
8 years	6.5	5.9	4.9	4.7
9 years	7.2	6.5	5.8	4.7
10 years	6.9	7.4	6.7	5.1
11 years	6.6	6.7	6.9	6.7
12 years	6.4	6.7	7.1	6.3
13 years	6.1	7.2	7.1	6.1
14 years	5.1	6.0	7.3	7.5
15 years	4.3	5.1	6.2	7.5
16 years	4.2	4.4	5.0	5.8
17 years	2.4	3.3	3.7	4.4
18 years	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.2
19 years	0.1	0.2	<.1	<.1
20+ years	<.1	<.1	<.1	0.0
Missing data	—	—	—	—

Race/Ethnicity (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Alaska Native/American Indian	1.6	1.5	1.4	1.7
Asian	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.1
Black (non-Hispanic)	53.9	51.9	47.2	44.7
Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander	<.1	<.1	0.1	0.2
Hispanic (of any race)	5.7	5.1	4.8	6.0
White (non-Hispanic)	37.0	39.1	43.3	44.3
Two or more races	1.0	1.6	2.6	2.9
Unknown	0.4	0.4	0.3	<.1
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	1,337	1,327	1,324	1,296

Age (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
<1 year	4.0	4.4	3.3	4.7
1 year	8.4	8.5	11.3	10.3
2 years	10.4	10.6	10.6	11.0
3 years	10.2	9.6	9.8	8.1
4 years	7.8	8.8	7.9	7.5
5 years	8.1	7.9	6.8	8.0
6 years	7.6	6.1	6.1	5.6
7 years	8.2	5.9	5.6	5.0
8 years	5.9	7.0	5.1	5.5
9 years	5.6	6.1	5.4	5.7
10 years	6.3	4.7	6.0	5.0
11 years	4.3	5.6	4.9	5.6
12 years	2.8	4.0	5.0	5.1
13 years	3.3	2.9	3.2	4.0
14 years	2.8	2.9	3.2	3.1
15 years	2.1	2.2	2.4	2.7
16 years	1.0	1.2	2.0	2.0
17 years	0.8	1.1	1.1	1.1
18 years	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.2
19 years	0.0	<.1	0.0	0.0
20+ years	<.1	0.0	0.0	0.0
Missing data	—	—	—	—

Race/Ethnicity (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Alaska Native/American Indian	1.2	1.9	1.4	0.6
Asian	0.5	0.5	0.2	0.4
Black (non-Hispanic)	44.9	48.2	43.9	41.4
Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander	0.0	0.2	0.0	0.0
Hispanic (of any race)	6.7	5.7	6.3	5.0
White (non-Hispanic)	42.9	37.0	40.8	43.4
Two or more races	3.1	5.8	6.8	9.0
Unknown	0.7	0.4	0.3	0.2
Missing data	<.1	0.4	0.3	0.0

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North Carolina [ 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	91.5	91.0	91.8
Children with one or more recurrences	8.5	8.5	9.0	8.2
Number	15,841	16,315	15,834	14,556

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	1.52	1.11	0.95	0.82
Children not maltreated while in foster care	98.48	98.89	99.05	99.18
Number	14,121	13,986	13,710	13,308

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	23.0	25.3	23.2	23.4
Guardianship	8.8	9.6	12.2	10.8
Reunification	57.6	56.0	55.8	54.9
Other	10.6	9.1	8.8	10.9
Missing data	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Number	4,481	5,239	5,404	5,067

3.2 Exits of Children with a Diagnosed Disability (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Adoption	27.0	27.8	23.9	26.9
Guardianship	6.8	11.1	11.5	9.0
Reunification	45.8	44.1	46.3	42.7
Other	20.5	17.0	18.2	21.4
Missing data	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Number	533	583	615	599

3.3 Exits of Children Older than Age 12 at Entry into Foster Care (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Adoption	0.9	2.4	2.6	2.8
Guardianship	5.7	8.2	9.0	8.2
Reunification	68.7	67.9	66.5	62.2
Other	24.7	21.5	21.9	26.8
Missing data	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Number	1,088	1,193	1,240	1,240

3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Children age 12 or younger at entry	28.5	33.8	32.6	30.7
Children older than 12 at entry	71.5	66.2	67.4	69.3
Missing data	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Number	277	302	328	387

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	11.3	19.8	12.6	18.5	5.3	36.4	20.7	25.0	24.4	28.5	26.2	25.3
Guardianship	33.8	29.9	29.8	16.0	5.3	9.1	6.9	5.0	7.9	9.8	12.3	12.0
Reunification	43.6	46.1	48.3	56.8	78.9	54.5	69.0	65.0	55.9	50.8	52.1	50.4
Other	11.3	4.2	9.3	8.6	10.5	0.0	3.4	5.0	11.9	10.9	9.4	12.3
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
Number	133	167	151	81	19	11	29	20	1,963	2,277	2,297	2,028
	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	57.1	0.0	27.3	21.4	23.1	16.8	16.9	22.6	22.4	21.7	21.9
Guardianship	0.0	14.3	0.0	0.0	7.0	9.3	9.0	6.5	8.3	8.2	11.7	10.3
Reunification	75.0	28.6	100.0	72.7	60.7	61.2	67.9	68.6	59.8	61.0	57.8	57.2
Other	25.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	10.9	6.5	6.3	7.9	9.3	8.4	8.8	10.6
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
Number	4	7	12	11	341	399	399	354	1,984	2,318	2,428	2,460
	Unable to Determine				Two or more Races				Missing Data
	2000	2001	2002	2003	2000	2001	2002	2003	2000	2001	2002	2003
Adoption	47.1	36.4	27.3	37.5	25.0	40.8	37.7	45.4	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Guardianship	17.6	0.0	27.3	25.0	20.0	0.0	7.8	10.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Reunification	17.6	63.6	45.5	25.0	50.0	55.1	46.8	41.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Other	17.6	0.0	0.0	12.5	5.0	4.1	7.8	3.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
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
Number	17	11	11	16	20	49	77	97	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.	59.2	60.0	60.2	64.0
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.	23.1	24.5	25.1	23.4
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.	9.1	7.9	7.7	6.5
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.	4.3	3.2	3.1	2.9
48 or more mos.	4.0	4.1	3.7	3.1
Missing data	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.1
Number	2,579	2,932	3,017	2,784

4.2 Children Re-entering Foster Care (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Children entering care for the first time	97.5	97.7	97.6	96.9
Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode	1.3	1.1	1.2	1.4
Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode	1.3	1.1	1.2	1.6
Missing data	0.0	<.1	<.1	<.1
Number	5,458	5,301	5,615	5,461

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.	6.2	5.0	6.3	5.9
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.	21.3	24.6	25.3	28.8
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.	28.1	25.5	27.3	28.2
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.	19.0	20.1	17.2	15.9
48 or more mos.	25.5	24.8	23.9	21.3
Missing data	0.0	<.1	0.0	0.0
Number	1,029	1,326	1,252	1,185

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	57.7	59.5	57.7	52.3	38.9	33.4	37.1	30.2	30.6	25.2	18.0	14.4	84.6	91.3	92.9	97.4
Children with 3 or more placements	42.3	40.5	42.3	47.7	61.1	66.6	62.9	69.8	69.4	74.8	82.0	85.6	15.4	8.7	7.1	2.6
Number	6,312	6,343	6,707	6,525	3,329	3,548	3,325	3,574	5,674	5,455	4,885	4,463	13	23	14	39

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	3.3	3.0	2.8	2.9
Institutions	3.6	3.0	4.7	5.0
Other settings	93.0	93.9	92.5	92.1
Missing data	0.1	<.1	0.0	0.0
Number	3,963	3,968	4,130	3,965

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North Carolina [ Federal Comment ]

PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

The following is a discussion of North Carolina'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, 8.2 percent of the children in North Carolina 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). This exceeds the national median of 7.1 percent. There was no change in performance on this measure from 2000 to 2003.

The relatively high percentage of children experiencing maltreatment recurrence in 2003 corresponds to a relatively high rate of child maltreatment victims. In 2003, the child maltreatment victim rate in North Carolina was 15.7 child victims per 1,000 children in the State population, which exceeds the national median of 10.6 child victims per 1,000 children in the population. However, the 2003 rate represents a decrease from the 2000 rate of 18.3 child victims per 1,000 children in the State population.

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

In 2003, 0.82 percent of the children in foster care in North Carolina were found to be maltreated by a foster parent or facility staff member (measure 2.1). Although this percent exceeds the national median of 0.39 percent, it represents an improvement in performance from 2000 to 2003 (-46.1 percent change).

Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care

In 2003, 89.1 percent of children exiting foster care (measure 3.1) were discharged to a permanent home, which exceeds the national median of 86.3 percent. However, 78.6 percent of children exiting foster care who had a diagnosed disability (measure 3.2) were discharged to a permanent home, which is about equal to the national median of 79.5 percent, and 73.2 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 is about equal to the national median of 72.2 percent.

With regard to ensuring that children 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, 30.7 percent of the children reported as emancipated from foster care entered foster care when they were age 12 or younger (measure 3.4). This percent is close to the national median of 29.6 percent, but represents a decline in performance on this measure from 2000 to 2003 (+7.7 percent change).

Some children who are reported as exits to emancipation appear to be discharged from foster care prior to their 18th birthday. In 2003, for example, 243 children exiting foster care were age 18 or older at the time of exit. However, 387 children were reported as exiting to emancipation.

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.) In 2003, White (non-Hispanic) children exiting foster care were about as likely to be discharged to a permanent home (89.4 percent) as were Black (non-Hispanic) children exiting foster care (87.7 percent). However, the percent of Black (non-Hispanic) children in the foster care population (43.1 percent) exceeded the percent of Black (non-Hispanic) children in the State's child population (25.3 percent).

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

In 2003, 64.0 percent of reunifications in North Carolina occurred within 12 months of a child's entry into foster care (measure 4.1). Although this percent is less than the national median of 72.0 percent, it represents an improvement in performance from 2000 to 2003 (+8.1 percent change). Also in 2003, 6.0 percent of reunifications occurred after the child had been in foster care for at least 36 months. This percent exceeds the national median of 3.5 percent, but represents an improvement in performance from 2000 to 2003 (-27.7 percent change).

Although North Carolina had a relatively low percent of reunifications in 2003 occurring within 12 months of a child's entry into foster care, the State also had a very low percent of children re-entering foster care. In 2003, 1.4 percent of the children entering foster care in North Carolina were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode (measure 4.2). This percent is less than the national median of 9.5 percent. In addition, only 1.6 percent of the children entering foster care were entering more than 12 months after a prior foster care episode. Consequently, only 3.0 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, 34.7 percent of finalized adoptions in North Carolina 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 also represents an improvement in performance from 2000 to 2003 (+26.2 percent change).

Outcome 6. Increase placement stability

In 2003, only 52.3 percent of the children in foster care for less than 12 months experienced no more than two placement settings (measure 6.1). This percent not only is lower than the national median of 84.2 percent, but also represents a decline in performance on this measure from 2000 to 2003 (-9.4 percent change). Also in 2003, only 30.2 percent of the children in foster care for at least 12 months, but less than 24 months, experienced no more than two placement settings. This percent is less than the national median of 59.1 percent for children in foster care for 12 to 24 months.

Outcome 7. Reduce placements of young children in group homes and institutions

In 2003, 7.9 percent of the children entering foster care in North Carolina who were age 12 or younger were placed in a group home or institution (measure 7.1). Although this percentage is less than the national median of 8.3 percent, it represents a decline in performance on this measure from 2000 to 2003 (+14.5 percent change).

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