Pennsylvania
Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment | Federal Comment
Pennsylvania [ Context Data ]
A. Context Statistics
| General Child Population (Census Bureau) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total children under 18 years | 2,914,624 | 2,879,868 | 2,854,389 | 2,830,694 |
| Race/Ethnicity (%)1 | ||||
| Alaska Native/American Indian | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Asian | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 2.0 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 12.7 | 13.0 | 12.4 | 12.5 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | 0.0 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 5.1 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 4.9 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 78.2 | 78.1 | 79.1 | 78.8 |
| Two or more races | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.7 |
| % Child population in poverty | 11.0 | 14.0 | 13.8 | 15.5 |
| Child Welfare Summary | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child maltreatment victims2 | 5,002 | 4,784 | 5,057 | 4,571 |
| Children in foster care on 9/30 | 21,631 | 21,319 | 21,410 | 21,768 |
| Children adopted | 1,712 | 1,564 | 2,020 | 1,946 |
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 | 22,694 | 7.8 per 1,000 | 23,012 | 8.0 per 1,000 | 24,330 | 8.5 per 1,000 | 23,601 | 8.3 per 1,000 |
| Total child maltreatment victims3 | 5,002 | 1.7 per 1,000 | 4,784 | 1.7 per 1,000 | 5,057 | 1.8 per 1,000 | 4,571 | 1.6 per 1,000 |
| Child fatalities | 38 | 1.3 per 100,000 | 48 | 1.7 per 100,000 | 49 | 1.7 per 100,000 | 46 | 1.6 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 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 5.4 |
| 1-5 years | 21.5 | 21.1 | 22.3 | 20.2 |
| 6-10 years | 29.4 | 29.5 | 26.8 | 26.9 |
| 11-15 years | 32.8 | 33.5 | 34.0 | 35.3 |
| 16+ years | 10.5 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 12.1 |
| Unknown | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Number | 5,002 | 4,784 | 5,057 | 4,571 |
| Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%)4 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Native/American Indian | — | — | — | — |
| Asian | — | — | — | — |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | — | — | — | — |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | N/A | N/A | N/A | — |
| Hispanic (of any race) | — | — | — | — |
| White (non-Hispanic) | — | — | — | — |
| Two or more races | — | — | — | — |
| Unknown | — | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Number | 5,002 | 4,784 | 5,057 | 4,571 |
| Maltreatment Types of Child Victims (%)5 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emotional abuse | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.4 |
| Medical neglect | 2.9 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.6 |
| Neglect | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| Physical abuse | 37.6 | 37.9 | 38.3 | 36.6 |
| Sexual abuse | 49.9 | 48.6 | 54.3 | 57.2 |
| Unknown/missing data | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Other | 6.3 | 6.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Number | 5,002 | 4,784 | 5,057 | 4,571 |
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 | 21,322 | 20,152 | 19,750 | 19,744 | 12,235 | 13,509 | 13,684 | 13,981 | 11,926 | 12,345 | 12,024 | 11,957 | 21,631 | 21,319 | 21,410 | 21,768 |
| Median length of stay (months) | 20.3 | 19.2 | 19.5 | 17.9 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 10.5 | 8.2 | 9.6 | 9.4 | 19.9 | 18.3 | 16.7 | 15.8 |
| 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 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 10.6 | 9.7 | 10.3 | 10.5 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| 1 year | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.6 |
| 2 years | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.5 |
| 3 years | 4.0 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 3.8 |
| 4 years | 4.0 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.6 |
| 5 years | 4.4 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| 6 years | 4.6 | 4.6 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.3 |
| 7 years | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 3.4 |
| 8 years | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.5 |
| 9 years | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.0 |
| 10 years | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 4.5 |
| 11 years | 5.1 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 4.7 |
| 12 years | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| 13 years | 6.1 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 6.2 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 6.6 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.3 | 6.4 |
| 14 years | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 9.5 | 9.9 | 9.8 | 10.1 | 6.9 | 7.3 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 7.7 |
| 15 years | 7.7 | 8.2 | 8.6 | 8.8 | 11.0 | 13.1 | 11.8 | 12.4 | 8.9 | 10.9 | 9.2 | 9.7 | 8.5 | 8.8 | 9.2 | 9.6 |
| 16 years | 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.9 | 9.3 | 10.8 | 11.3 | 11.7 | 11.6 | 10.8 | 10.9 | 11.4 | 11.0 | 8.3 | 9.2 | 9.7 | 10.0 |
| 17 years | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 8.1 | 6.2 | 8.1 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 11.2 | 11.2 | 11.3 | 12.6 | 7.3 | 7.8 | 8.2 | 8.8 |
| 18 years | 2.7 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 8.1 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 6.7 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 3.0 |
| 19 years | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.0 | <.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | <.1 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| 20 years | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| Missing data | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.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 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Asian | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 53.3 | 52.4 | 51.1 | 49.8 | 40.2 | 42.3 | 40.1 | 39.0 | 42.9 | 43.1 | 40.5 | 39.5 | 51.6 | 51.3 | 50.1 | 48.5 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | 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 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 8.5 | 8.0 | 8.1 | 7.3 | 9.2 | 8.8 | 10.6 | 9.1 | 8.2 | 8.8 | 9.2 | 7.9 | 9.1 | 8.0 | 9.1 | 8.2 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 37.3 | 38.7 | 39.8 | 40.0 | 49.4 | 47.5 | 47.9 | 47.6 | 47.7 | 46.6 | 48.9 | 50.2 | 38.4 | 39.7 | 39.9 | 39.3 |
| Two or more races | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | <.1 | <.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Unknown | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 3.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 3.3 |
| 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 | 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 | 5,203 | 5,240 | 4,231 | 4,159 |
| Numbers of waiting children whose parents' rights have been terminated | 996 | 941 | 899 | 942 |
| Age (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <1 year | 1.6 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 2.4 |
| 1 year | 5.4 | 5.6 | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| 2 years | 6.2 | 7.3 | 6.2 | 6.9 |
| 3 years | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.7 | 6.3 |
| 4 years | 6.1 | 7.3 | 6.3 | 6.4 |
| 5 years | 6.4 | 5.9 | 6.4 | 6.1 |
| 6 years | 7.5 | 6.0 | 5.6 | 5.4 |
| 7 years | 7.3 | 7.2 | 5.7 | 5.4 |
| 8 years | 7.1 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 5.3 |
| 9 years | 7.5 | 7.3 | 6.5 | 6.6 |
| 10 years | 7.3 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 6.5 |
| 11 years | 6.8 | 6.7 | 6.5 | 6.4 |
| 12 years | 5.9 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| 13 years | 5.6 | 5.3 | 5.9 | 5.9 |
| 14 years | 4.1 | 4.4 | 5.9 | 5.5 |
| 15 years | 4.1 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 5.3 |
| 16 years | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 4.2 |
| 17 years | 1.5 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| 18 years | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.8 |
| 19 years | <.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| 20+ years | <.1 | 0.0 | <.1 | <.1 |
| Missing data | — | — | — | — |
| Race/Ethnicity (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Native/American Indian | <.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Asian | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 57.3 | 59.6 | 54.5 | 50.8 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 9.5 | 7.6 | 8.3 | 9.6 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 32.2 | 31.9 | 36.1 | 35.4 |
| Two or more races | <.1 | <.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Unknown | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 3.5 |
| 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 | 1,712 | 1,564 | 2,020 | 1,946 |
| Age (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <1 year | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.9 |
| 1 year | 5.4 | 7.2 | 6.6 | 6.7 |
| 2 years | 9.1 | 11.4 | 10.0 | 8.3 |
| 3 years | 9.6 | 8.8 | 9.3 | 9.8 |
| 4 years | 7.5 | 7.1 | 7.8 | 8.3 |
| 5 years | 8.7 | 8.4 | 7.8 | 8.6 |
| 6 years | 8.5 | 7.2 | 7.6 | 7.8 |
| 7 years | 7.9 | 6.3 | 7.1 | 5.7 |
| 8 years | 7.9 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.5 |
| 9 years | 7.2 | 6.7 | 6.2 | 6.7 |
| 10 years | 7.0 | 6.6 | 7.1 | 5.9 |
| 11 years | 5.5 | 5.0 | 6.1 | 6.1 |
| 12 years | 4.1 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 5.3 |
| 13 years | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.8 |
| 14 years | 2.8 | 3.3 | 2.7 | 4.3 |
| 15 years | 2.0 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 |
| 16 years | 1.4 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.6 |
| 17 years | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.9 |
| 18 years | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| 19 years | 0.0 | <.1 | 0.0 | <.1 |
| 20+ years | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Missing data | — | — | — | — |
| Race/Ethnicity (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Native/American Indian | <.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Asian | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 55.6 | 45.7 | 53.1 | 52.5 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 6.5 | 9.1 | 7.5 | 6.5 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 37.0 | 44.1 | 38.0 | 40.0 |
| Two or more races | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Unknown | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Pennsylvania [ 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 | 96.5 | 97.2 | 97.1 | 96.9 |
| Children with one or more recurrences | 3.5 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.1 |
| Number | 2,606 | 2,421 | 2,492 | 2,166 |
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 | 0.25 | 0.24 | 0.35 | 0.16 |
| Children not maltreated while in foster care | 99.75 | 99.76 | 99.65 | 99.84 |
| Number | 30,739 | 31,051 | 30,711 | 31,086 |
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 | 13.9 | 14.3 | 16.6 | 16.0 |
| Guardianship | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 2.3 |
| Reunification | 70.8 | 67.6 | 68.1 | 67.6 |
| Other | 14.0 | 16.7 | 13.8 | 14.0 |
| Missing data | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Number | 11,926 | 12,345 | 12,024 | 11,957 |
| 3.2 Exits of Children with a Diagnosed Disability (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption | 19.4 | 19.9 | 22.4 | 21.4 |
| Guardianship | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.7 |
| Reunification | 58.7 | 55.4 | 53.4 | 54.0 |
| Other | 20.0 | 22.9 | 22.3 | 22.6 |
| Missing data | <.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Number | 2,396 | 2,404 | 2,420 | 2,056 |
| 3.3 Exits of Children Older than Age 12 at Entry into Foster Care (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| Guardianship | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Reunification | 77.6 | 71.9 | 77.2 | 76.0 |
| Other | 20.6 | 26.1 | 20.9 | 22.1 |
| Missing data | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 |
| Number | 5,295 | 5,928 | 5,576 | 5,526 |
| 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children age 12 or younger at entry | 31.5 | 30.3 | 31.4 | 29.6 |
| Children older than 12 at entry | 68.5 | 69.7 | 68.6 | 70.4 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Number | 688 | 692 | 742 | 844 |
| 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 | 12.5 | 15.4 | 30.0 | 25.0 | 6.6 | 12.9 | 11.5 | 12.5 | 17.1 | 16.0 | 21.5 | 20.8 |
| Guardianship | 12.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 2.7 |
| Reunification | 75.0 | 53.8 | 65.0 | 56.3 | 68.9 | 56.5 | 67.2 | 60.4 | 64.6 | 60.9 | 59.4 | 59.3 |
| Other | 0.0 | 30.8 | 5.0 | 18.8 | 24.6 | 27.1 | 21.3 | 25.0 | 16.7 | 21.5 | 17.5 | 17.0 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Number | 8 | 13 | 20 | 16 | 61 | 85 | 61 | 48 | 5,116 | 5,326 | 4,866 | 4,728 |
| |
||||||||||||
| 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 | 13.8 | 13.4 | 11.7 | 10.4 | 11.1 | 13.1 | 13.6 | 13.4 |
| Guardianship | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.9 |
| Reunification | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 68.3 | 64.0 | 72.2 | 69.3 | 76.8 | 74.3 | 74.4 | 73.8 |
| Other | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 16.7 | 20.8 | 15.3 | 17.4 | 11.1 | 11.4 | 10.4 | 10.9 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | <.1 | 0.3 | <.1 |
| Number | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 978 | 1,086 | 1,110 | 946 | 5,686 | 5,752 | 5,882 | 5,999 |
| |
||||||||||||
| Unable to Determine | Two or more Races | Missing Data | ||||||||||
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | |
| Adoption | 14.5 | 5.9 | 10.0 | 6.7 | 0.0 | 20.0 | 33.3 | 15.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Guardianship | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 3.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Reunification | 73.7 | 85.3 | 77.1 | 72.2 | 100.0 | 80.0 | 66.7 | 84.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Other | 10.5 | 8.8 | 11.4 | 17.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Missing data | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Number | 76 | 68 | 70 | 194 | 1 | 15 | 15 | 26 | 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. | 67.7 | 71.9 | 70.9 | 72.9 |
| At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. | 18.9 | 16.8 | 16.4 | 15.9 |
| At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. | 5.4 | 4.9 | 5.6 | 5.2 |
| At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. | 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 2.4 |
| 48 or more mos. | 4.9 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 3.3 |
| Missing data | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Number | 8,443 | 8,340 | 8,189 | 8,087 |
| 4.2 Children Re-entering Foster Care (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children entering care for the first time | 71.8 | 65.0 | 66.1 | 68.2 |
| Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode | 19.3 | 25.6 | 23.8 | 22.6 |
| Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode | 8.7 | 9.2 | 10.0 | 9.1 |
| Missing data | <.1 | 0.1 | <.1 | <.1 |
| Number | 12,235 | 13,509 | 13,684 | 13,981 |
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. | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 2.7 |
| At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. | 14.3 | 17.6 | 16.9 | 15.5 |
| At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. | 24.8 | 24.1 | 28.4 | 25.6 |
| At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. | 19.6 | 17.7 | 18.6 | 21.8 |
| 48 or more mos. | 39.2 | 38.4 | 33.5 | 34.4 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Number | 1,655 | 1,770 | 2,001 | 1,909 |
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 | 84.2 | 86.4 | 85.3 | 85.9 | 62.5 | 64.9 | 63.8 | 65.0 | 41.9 | 46.0 | 45.1 | 44.5 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 95.5 | 100.0 |
| Children with 3 or more placements | 15.8 | 13.6 | 14.7 | 14.1 | 37.5 | 35.1 | 36.2 | 34.9 | 58.1 | 54.0 | 54.9 | 55.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.8 | 0.0 |
| Number | 14,127 | 15,341 | 15,392 | 15,841 | 6,415 | 6,194 | 6,054 | 6,415 | 12,973 | 12,057 | 11,856 | 11,390 | 42 | 69 | 132 | 79 |
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 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 3.4 |
| Institutions | 8.9 | 9.0 | 7.3 | 6.4 |
| Other settings | 87.3 | 86.8 | 88.7 | 90.1 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | <.1 | 0.0 |
| Number | 6,549 | 6,463 | 6,899 | 6,995 |
Pennsylvania [ State Comment ]
Charles Tyrrell, Director
Office of Children, Youth and Families Department of Public Welfare
The following are Pennsylvania's comments on the State's data presented in Child Welfare Outcomes 2003: Report to Congress.
Section B (Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims): Data on the race/ethnicity of child maltreatment victims are not available because Pennsylvania's Child Protective Services Law prohibits the collection of this information.
Section C (Children In Foster Care): AFCARS data indicate that there were fewer children in care on October 1, 2002 than on September 30, 2002. We believe this is due to the way the federal annual data files are constructed in that only a child's most recent placement episode is included and therefore a child who is counted as in care on 9/30/02 will not be counted as in care on 10/1/02 if the child exits and re-enters care within the FFY. For example, a child removed from home on August 10, 2002 and discharged from placement on December 10, 2002 would be counted as in placement on 9/30/02. If the same child was again removed from home on January 10, 2002, he would not be counted on 10/1/02 even though he was in care at that time.
Section D (Children Waiting to Be Adopted): AFCARS data indicate that as of 9/30/03, parental rights had been terminated for 23 percent of the 4,159 children waiting to be adopted. We believe the AFCARS foster care data does not provide an accurate account of the number of children waiting to be adopted who have had termination of parental rights (TPR). A separate report that is produced from the Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption Network System indicates that for the period ending 9/30/03 there were 3,598 children with a goal of adoption and of those 2,045 (57 percent) had a TPR completed, 1,356 (38 percent) had a TPR pending, and 91 (3 percent) had a TPR appeal. A delay in entering the TPR dates into AFCARS by county child welfare agencies may be contributing to the discrepancies between the two sets of data. The state continues to work to improve the quality of the AFCARS data in this area.
Outcome Measure 3.4 (Exits to Emancipation): Pennsylvania is committed to providing permanency for all children in placement regardless of age. In addition to the 844 children age 18 and over discharged to emancipation, there were 400 children age 18 and over discharged to one of the four permanency options of reunification, other relatives, adoption or legal custodian (guardianship) in FFY 2003.
Outcome Measure 4.2 (Re-Entry into Foster Care): Pennsylvania had identified this measure as an area needing improvement and addressed it in our Program Improvement Plan. Pennsylvania exceeded its PIP goal in this area, showing a 3 percent improvement by 2003 and a 3.7 percent improvement by 2004.
Pennsylvania [ Federal Comment ]
PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT
The following is a discussion of Pennsylvania'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, 3.1 percent of the children in Pennsylvania 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 is less than the national median of 7.1 percent, and represents an improvement in performance from 2000 to 2003 (-11.4 percent change).
Pennsylvania's performance on this measure is difficult to compare to other States, however, because Pennsylvania is the only State whose definition of child maltreatment does not include child neglect, unless it is severe neglect. Consequently, Pennsylvania does not submit information to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System regarding child neglect incidents. This may explain Pennsylvania's very low child maltreatment victim rate of 1.6 child victims per 1,000 children in the population.
Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
In 2003, 0.16 percent of the children in foster care in Pennsylvania were found to be maltreated by a foster parent or facility staff member (measure 2.1). This percentage is less than the national median of 0.39 percent, and represents an improvement in performance from 2000 to 2003 (-36.0 percent change).
Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In 2003, 85.9 percent of all children exiting foster care in Pennsylvania (measure 3.1) were discharged to a permanent home, which is about equal to the national median of 86.3 percent. Also, 77.1 percent of children exiting 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. However, 77.7 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.
In 2003, 29.6 percent of the children reported as emancipated from foster care entered foster care when they were age 12 or younger (measure 3.4). This is equal to the national median of 29.6 percent and represents an improvement in performance from 2000 (-6.0 percent change).
Many of the children who are age 18 and older when they exit foster care have discharge reasons other than emancipation. In 2003, for example, 1,124 children exiting foster care were age 18 or older at the time of exit. However, only 844 children were reported as emancipated.
There were some 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 more likely to be discharged to a permanent home (89.1 percent) than were Black (non-Hispanic) children exiting foster care (82.8 percent). In addition, the percent of Black (non-Hispanic) children in the foster care population (48.5 percent) exceeded the percent of Black (non-Hispanic) children in the State's child population (12.5 percent).
Outcome 4. Reduce time in foster care to reunification without increasing re-entry
In 2003, 72.9 percent of reunifications in Pennsylvania occurred within 12 months of a child's entry into foster care (measure 4.1). This percent is about equal to the national median of 72.0 percent and represents an improvement in performance from 2000 (+7.6 percent change). However, 5.7 percent of reunifications occurred after the child had been in foster care for at least 36 months, which exceeds the national median of 3.5 percent.
In 2003, 22.6 percent of the children entering foster care in Pennsylvania were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode (measure 4.2). This percent not only exceeds the national median of 9.5 percent, but also represents a decline in performance from 2000 to 2003 (+17.1 percent change). In addition, 9.1 percent of the children entering foster care were entering more than 12 months after a prior foster care episode. Consequently, 31.7 percent of all children entering foster care in 2003 had been in foster care at a prior time.
One explanation for the relatively high rate of foster care re-entry may be that in Pennsylvania, 19.4 percent of the children entering foster care in 2003 were age 16 and older at the time of entry. A cross-State analysis found a substantial positive relationship between a State's re-entry percentage and the percent of children entering foster care in the State who were age 16 and older.
Outcome 5. Reduce time in foster care to adoption
In 2003, 18.2 percent of finalized adoptions in Pennsylvania occurred within 24 months of a child's entry into foster care (measure 5.1). Although this percent is lower than the national median of 23.9 percent, it represents an improvement in performance from 2000 (+11.0 percent change).
Outcome 6. Increase placement stability
In 2003, 85.9 percent of the children in foster 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. Also in 2003, 65.0 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, 9.8 percent of the children entering foster care in Pennsylvania who were age 12 or younger were placed in a group home or institution (measure 7.1). Although this percentage exceeds the national median of 8.3 percent, it represents a performance improvement from 2000 (-22.8 percent change).
