Rhode Island

Context Data | Outcomes Data | Federal Comment

Rhode Island [ Context Data ]

A. Context Statistics

General Child Population (Census Bureau)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Total children under 18 years	247,457	244,541	244,355	244,049
Race/Ethnicity (%)1
Alaska Native/American Indian	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6
Asian	2.7	2.8	2.7	2.8
Black (non-Hispanic)	5.5	6.4	5.9	5.9
Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander	0.0	<.1	<.1	<.1
Hispanic (of any race)	14.1	14.4	13.8	14.0
White (non-Hispanic)	72.7	73.2	74.8	74.4
Two or more races	3.3	2.4	2.2	2.2
% Child population in poverty	13.8	11.0	15.2	17.1

Child Welfare Summary	2000	2001	2002	2003
Child maltreatment victims2	3,361	3,319	3,247	3,290
Children in foster care on 9/30	2,302	2,414	2,383	2,357
Children adopted	260	267	256	264

B. Child Maltreatment Data [National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS)]

Overview Maltreatment Information	Number	Rate	Number	Rate	Number	Rate	Number	Rate
	2000		2001		2002		2003
Children subject of an investigated report alleging child maltreatment	11,531	46.6 per 1,000	11,369	46.5 per 1,000	10,772	44.1 per 1,000	10,362	42.5 per 1,000
Total child maltreatment victims3	3,361	13.6 per 1,000	3,319	13.6 per 1,000	3,247	13.3 per 1,000	3,290	13.5 per 1,000
Child fatalities	3	1.2 per 100,000	5	2.0 per 100,000	1	0.4 per 100,000	1	0.4 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	9.8	10.6	10.9	10.6
1-5 years	30.0	28.8	31.0	30.3
6-10 years	30.5	31.1	27.7	27.0
11-15 years	23.9	24.1	24.2	25.3
16+ years	4.8	5.3	5.9	6.7
Unknown	1.0	0.1	0.2	0.1
Number	3,361	3,319	3,247	3,290

Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%)4	2000	2001	2002	2003
Alaska Native/American Indian	1.2	1.2	0.9	0.9
Asian	1.8	2.2	2.1	2.2
Black (non-Hispanic)	14.0	13.2	14.6	12.0
Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.1
Hispanic (of any race)	18.2	19.3	17.7	20.3
White (non-Hispanic)	61.3	59.1	60.0	58.8
Two or more races	1.0	2.7	2.5	3.3
Unknown	2.4	2.2	2.3	2.5
Number	3,361	3,319	3,247	3,290

Maltreatment Types of Child Victims (%)5	2000	2001	2002	2003
Emotional abuse	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.2
Medical neglect	2.3	2.0	1.9	2.2
Neglect	73.9	75.7	76.3	78.5
Physical abuse	19.8	19.7	19.8	17.9
Sexual abuse	7.4	5.9	7.0	6.8
Unknown/missing data	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Other	6.1	5.2	1.7	2.3
Number	3,361	3,319	3,247	3,290

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	2,181	2,122	2,160	2,132	1,409	1,493	1,582	1,567	1,348	1,227	1,378	1,347	2,302	2,414	2,383	2,357
Median length of stay (months)	16.6	16.1	15.6	14.2	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	11.7	10.1	10.2	10.7	15.1	15.5	13.9	13.9

Age (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003	2000	2001	2002	2003	2000	2001	2002	2003	2000	2001	2002	2003
	In Foster Care on 10/1 FY				Entered Foster Care in FY				Exited Foster Care in FY				In Foster Care on 9/30 FY
<1 year	4.8	4.9	4.6	4.4	12.7	12.3	10.9	10.3	4.5	5.1	4.1	4.1	4.9	4.3	4.3	4.3
1 year	5.3	4.2	5.0	4.5	4.0	4.7	4.0	5.4	5.6	5.2	5.8	4.9	4.5	5.1	4.4	4.8
2 years	4.1	4.1	3.8	4.1	3.8	4.2	3.7	3.1	5.5	5.3	4.7	5.5	4.3	4.0	4.0	3.9
3 years	3.9	2.9	3.7	3.9	2.7	3.5	4.2	3.2	3.9	4.0	4.4	3.9	2.9	3.6	3.8	3.4
4 years	3.6	3.3	2.5	3.4	2.3	2.9	3.0	3.1	3.9	3.3	3.1	4.1	3.2	2.6	3.5	3.2
5 years	3.5	2.8	3.1	2.7	3.3	2.5	3.1	3.4	3.9	3.8	2.8	3.4	2.8	3.0	2.7	2.9
6 years	3.9	3.4	2.3	2.8	3.3	2.7	2.3	2.4	3.3	2.6	2.9	2.7	3.3	2.4	2.7	2.8
7 years	3.6	4.0	3.3	2.4	2.7	2.9	2.5	2.2	3.3	2.8	2.8	2.4	3.6	3.4	2.2	2.4
8 years	3.9	3.4	3.9	2.9	2.8	2.5	2.5	1.9	3.9	2.8	2.7	2.2	3.2	3.7	3.0	2.5
9 years	3.7	3.5	3.2	4.2	2.7	2.5	2.4	2.6	2.7	2.9	2.2	2.7	3.4	3.1	4.0	2.7
10 years	4.1	4.4	3.7	3.3	4.0	2.7	3.0	2.6	3.3	3.0	3.0	2.4	4.0	3.4	3.0	3.9
11 years	4.0	4.5	4.1	3.9	3.5	3.3	3.2	3.2	2.6	2.9	2.8	2.8	4.3	3.9	3.6	3.4
12 years	5.3	4.7	4.8	4.4	4.8	4.6	3.9	5.1	4.4	3.3	3.3	3.8	4.6	4.8	4.6	4.8
13 years	5.2	6.9	5.8	5.7	7.9	7.5	8.1	8.9	3.9	5.3	5.0	5.0	6.9	5.5	5.7	5.9
14 years	7.8	7.6	8.6	7.8	10.9	11.3	11.4	10.6	6.1	8.2	8.3	8.0	7.8	8.6	8.0	7.8
15 years	8.0	9.7	9.3	10.0	11.2	11.4	12.4	12.4	8.9	10.1	10.4	10.2	10.0	9.5	10.1	9.5
16 years	8.8	8.4	11.2	10.5	9.5	10.7	9.7	10.8	8.5	8.8	10.0	11.6	8.8	11.5	10.8	10.7
17 years	8.2	8.6	8.0	9.3	7.1	7.0	8.6	7.5	10.2	9.0	11.1	9.7	8.5	8.7	10.0	9.8
18 years	4.8	4.7	4.7	4.6	0.6	0.5	0.8	1.1	7.3	6.1	6.5	5.3	4.8	4.8	4.7	6.3
19 years	2.1	2.7	2.7	2.8	0.1	0.3	0.1	0.2	1.3	2.4	1.4	1.6	2.8	2.5	2.8	3.1
20 years	1.4	1.3	1.7	1.9	0.0	0.0	0.2	<.1	2.2	2.0	2.4	2.9	1.2	1.6	1.8	1.7
Missing data	0.0	<.1	0.0	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.9	1.1	0.2	1.0	<.1	<.1	0.3	0.3

Race/Ethnicity (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003	2000	2001	2002	2003	2000	2001	2002	2003	2000	2001	2002	2003
	In Foster Care on 10/1 FY				Entered Foster Care in FY				Exited Foster Care in FY				In Foster Care on 9/30 FY
Alaska Native/American Indian	1.2	1.2	1.4	1.2	1.2	1.3	1.5	0.7	1.0	1.1	1.2	0.9	1.3	1.3	1.5	1.1
Asian	2.0	1.4	1.7	2.1	1.2	2.2	2.0	2.2	2.0	2.0	1.6	2.5	1.6	1.6	2.0	1.9
Black (non-Hispanic)	22.6	21.4	20.3	19.4	16.3	17.1	16.4	16.0	18.8	18.3	17.1	16.9	20.7	20.5	19.6	18.5
Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	<.1	<.1	<.1	0.0
Hispanic (of any race)	13.4	14.8	15.8	17.8	20.2	17.3	19.0	20.0	18.6	16.1	17.8	19.4	14.7	15.6	16.8	18.3
White (non-Hispanic)	58.0	58.3	57.5	54.7	58.0	58.8	55.8	55.1	56.7	60.1	58.2	56.3	58.7	57.7	55.9	54.1
Two or more races	0.0	1.0	1.7	3.4	0.9	1.3	2.1	3.6	0.2	0.6	1.6	2.5	0.5	1.5	2.0	4.1
Unknown	2.7	1.8	1.5	1.3	2.1	1.9	3.1	1.8	2.6	2.0	2.3	1.0	2.4	1.8	2.1	1.8
Missing data	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.2	0.6	0.0	0.0	0.2	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.2

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

Waiting for Adoption	2000	2001	2002	2003
Total waiting children	388	403	387	306
Numbers of waiting children whose parents' rights have been terminated	201	233	207	163

Age (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
<1 year	0.8	1.2	1.0	1.6
1 year	7.0	6.5	5.9	6.5
2 years	5.7	7.2	9.8	4.9
3 years	5.2	6.7	7.0	7.2
4 years	3.9	4.5	5.7	4.9
5 years	5.7	6.0	3.6	3.6
6 years	5.7	3.7	4.4	5.2
7 years	7.5	6.7	3.1	4.6
8 years	5.4	7.9	5.9	6.5
9 years	6.7	5.5	8.5	4.6
10 years	8.0	5.2	6.5	5.9
11 years	8.5	5.5	6.2	6.9
12 years	8.0	6.9	6.5	7.8
13 years	8.0	7.2	7.5	7.8
14 years	5.7	9.2	7.8	7.8
15 years	4.4	4.5	7.0	7.8
16 years	2.3	3.7	2.1	4.2
17 years	0.5	1.0	1.0	1.3
18 years	1.3	0.2	0.3	0.0
19 years	0.0	0.7	0.0	0.3
20+ years	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.3
Missing data	—	—	—	—

Race/Ethnicity (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Alaska Native/American Indian	0.5	0.7	1.0	1.0
Asian	1.3	0.7	0.8	1.3
Black (non-Hispanic)	27.8	29.8	19.9	20.9
Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander	0.3	0.2	0.3	0.0
Hispanic (of any race)	19.3	15.6	16.0	22.9
White (non-Hispanic)	47.4	50.6	56.8	49.7
Two or more races	0.0	1.2	3.4	3.3
Unknown	3.4	1.0	1.8	1.0
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	260	267	256	264

Age (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
<1 year	2.3	2.6	2.7	2.7
1 year	11.5	12.7	13.3	12.1
2 years	11.9	12.0	10.5	15.5
3 years	11.5	11.6	9.8	11.0
4 years	10.0	6.7	7.8	9.8
5 years	6.5	10.1	7.4	8.3
6 years	6.5	4.5	6.6	2.3
7 years	6.9	6.4	6.3	5.7
8 years	6.5	6.0	7.8	3.8
9 years	5.8	4.5	5.1	6.4
10 years	4.6	8.2	6.6	4.2
11 years	3.5	3.7	3.9	3.4
12 years	4.2	3.7	4.3	3.0
13 years	1.5	3.0	1.6	1.9
14 years	2.7	1.5	3.1	2.7
15 years	2.7	1.5	0.8	2.7
16 years	1.2	0.7	1.2	3.8
17 years	0.0	0.4	0.8	0.4
18 years	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.4
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	0.4	2.2	1.6	0.8
Asian	0.8	2.2	0.4	0.4
Black (non-Hispanic)	25.8	24.3	25.4	17.8
Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Hispanic (of any race)	15.4	13.1	11.7	16.7
White (non-Hispanic)	53.8	46.8	55.1	55.7
Two or more races	1.5	3.0	2.7	7.6
Unknown	2.3	8.2	3.1	1.1
Missing data	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

Rhode Island [ 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	87.6	89.0	89.8	88.9
Children with one or more recurrences	12.4	11.0	10.2	11.1
Number	1,634	1,624	1,532	1,500

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	1.66	1.62	1.10	1.52
Children not maltreated while in foster care	98.34	98.38	98.90	98.48
Number	3,304	3,327	3,443	3,418

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	12.6	13.8	13.7	16.6
Guardianship	3.1	2.9	2.2	2.5
Reunification	59.3	68.8	69.7	64.0
Other	14.5	13.7	13.2	16.9
Missing data	10.4	0.9	1.2	0.0
Number	1,348	1,227	1,378	1,347

3.2 Exits of Children with a Diagnosed Disability (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Adoption	13.5	12.4	10.3	15.4
Guardianship	4.2	3.3	1.3	2.5
Reunification	51.4	64.5	65.5	60.2
Other	18.1	19.4	22.0	22.0
Missing data	12.7	0.4	0.9	0.0
Number	259	242	232	364

3.3 Exits of Children Older than Age 12 at Entry into Foster Care (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Adoption	0.5	0.0	0.3	1.4
Guardianship	0.7	1.6	1.5	1.7
Reunification	58.3	72.4	72.7	66.9
Other	25.8	24.2	23.4	30.0
Missing data	14.7	1.8	2.1	0.0
Number	563	561	662	647

3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Children age 12 or younger at entry	17.1	18.2	17.7	20.0
Children older than 12 at entry	81.7	80.5	82.3	78.8
Missing data	1.2	1.3	0.0	1.2
Number	82	77	62	85

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	7.7	15.4	11.8	16.7	0.0	12.5	4.5	2.9	18.9	21.9	16.6	16.3
Guardianship	15.4	0.0	0.0	25.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	5.1	3.6	2.1	0.4
Reunification	61.5	53.8	70.6	50.0	81.5	70.8	72.7	76.5	53.9	58.9	64.7	65.6
Other	7.7	30.8	17.6	8.3	14.8	16.7	22.7	20.6	14.6	14.3	15.7	17.6
Missing data	7.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	7.5	1.3	0.9	0.0
Number	13	13	17	12	27	24	22	34	254	224	235	227

	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	11.2	10.1	15.5	16.5	11.5	12.2	12.3	16.2
Guardianship	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.4	2.0	2.0	0.4	2.6	3.1	2.5	3.8
Reunification	100.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	61.8	74.2	69.0	65.5	59.0	70.4	71.3	63.4
Other	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	12.7	13.1	10.6	17.6	15.4	13.6	13.0	16.6
Missing data	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	12.0	0.5	2.9	0.0	11.4	0.7	0.9	0.0
Number	1	0	0	0	251	198	245	261	764	737	802	759

	Unable to Determine				Two or more Races				Missing Data
	2000	2001	2002	2003	2000	2001	2002	2003	2000	2001	2002	2003
Adoption	14.3	20.8	9.4	15.4	0.0	0.0	31.8	47.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Guardianship	2.9	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Reunification	65.7	70.8	81.3	69.2	100.0	71.4	50.0	41.2	0.0	0.0	66.7	0.0
Other	11.4	8.3	6.3	15.4	0.0	0.0	18.2	11.8	0.0	0.0	33.3	0.0
Missing data	5.7	0.0	3.1	0.0	0.0	28.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Number	35	24	32	13	3	7	22	34	0	0	3	7

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.	63.3	68.8	66.1	68.3
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.	19.8	17.2	17.5	20.3
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.	5.6	4.3	7.7	7.0
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.	3.0	2.7	3.0	1.6
48 or more mos.	1.8	3.6	3.0	1.9
Missing data	6.6	3.4	2.6	0.9
Number	800	844	960	862

4.2 Children Re-entering Foster Care (%)	2000	2001	2002	2003
Children entering care for the first time	66.7	64.8	68.0	60.3
Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode	20.8	20.9	19.2	20.3
Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode	11.1	13.2	11.5	13.1
Missing data	1.4	1.1	1.3	6.3
Number	1,409	1,493	1,582	1,567

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.	7.6	12.4	8.5	9.8
At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos.	30.0	31.4	36.5	40.6
At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos.	24.1	24.9	23.3	21.4
At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos.	16.5	13.6	11.1	10.7
48 or more mos.	20.6	16.6	18.5	16.5
Missing data	1.2	1.2	2.1	0.9
Number	170	169	189	224

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	72.6	78.8	82.2	71.1	55.1	55.1	60.3	57.6	33.4	32.5	33.9	27.1	100.0	100.0	100.0	85.7
Children with 3 or more placements	27.4	21.2	17.8	28.9	44.9	44.9	39.7	42.4	66.1	66.8	65.9	72.9	0.0	0.0	0.0	14.3
Number	1,653	1,710	1,797	1,786	742	739	793	833	1,187	1,151	1,134	1,066	8	15	18	14

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	15.8	17.5	18.9	18.9
Institutions	1.2	1.9	0.8	0.5
Other settings	82.9	80.7	80.3	80.6
Missing data	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Number	726	756	762	756

Rhode Island [ Federal Comment ]

PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

The following is a discussion of Rhode Island'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, 11.1 percent of the children in Rhode Island 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 an improvement in performance from 2000 (-10.5 percent change).

In 2003, the rate of child maltreatment victims in Rhode Island was 13.5 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 Rhode Island were found to be maltreated by a foster parent or facility staff member (measure 2.1). Although this percentage exceeds the national median of 0.39 percent, it represents an improvement in performance on the measure from 2000 to 2003 (-7.2 percent change).

Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care

In 2003, 83.1 percent of children exiting foster care in Rhode Island (measure 3.1) were discharged to a permanent home, which is less than the national median of 86.3 percent. Also, 78.1 percent of children exiting foster care who had a diagnosed disability (measure 3.2) were discharged to a permanent home, which is slightly less than the national median of 79.5 percent. Furthermore, 70.0 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 is less than the national median of 72.2 percent.

In 2003, 20.0 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). Although this percent is less than the national median of 29.6 percent, performance on this measure declined from 2000 to 2003 (+17.0 percent change).

Some of the children who exit foster care at age 18 or older are discharged for reasons other than emancipation. In 2003, for example, 132 children exiting foster care were age 18 or older at the time of exit. However, only 85 children were reported as having a discharge reason of 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.) White (non-Hispanic) children exiting foster care were as likely to be discharged to a permanent home (83.4 percent) as were Black (non-Hispanic) children exiting foster care (82.3 percent) and Hispanic children exiting foster care (82.4 percent). However, the percent of Black (non-Hispanic) children in the foster care population (18.5 percent) exceeded the percent of Black (non-Hispanic) children in the State's child population (5.9 percent).

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

In 2003, 68.3 percent of reunifications in Rhode Island 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 (+7.9 percent change). Also in 2003, 3.5 percent of reunifications occurred after the child had been in foster care for at least 36 months, which is equal to the national median.

In 2003, 20.3 percent of the children entering foster care in Rhode Island were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode (measure 4.2), which exceeds the national median of 9.5 percent. There was no change in performance on this measure from 2000 to 2003. In addition, 13.1 percent of the children entering foster care were re-entering more than 12 months after a prior foster care episode. Consequently, 33.4 percent of all children entering foster care in 2003 had been in foster care at a prior time.

One factor that may explain the rate of foster care re-entry is that in Rhode Island, 19.6 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 State re-entry percentages and the percent of children entering foster care who were age 16 and older.

Outcome 5. Reduce time in foster care to adoption

In 2003, 50.4 percent of finalized adoptions in Rhode Island 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 from 2000 (+34.1 percent change).

Outcome 6. Increase placement stability

In 2003, 71.1 percent of the children in foster care for less than 12 months experienced no more than two placement settings (measure 6.1), which is less than the national median of 84.2 percent. Also in 2003, 57.6 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.

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

In 2003, 19.4 percent of the children entering foster care in Rhode Island who were age 12 or younger were placed in a group home or institution (measure 7.1). This percentage not only exceeds the national median of 8.3 percent, but also represents a decline in performance on this measure from 2000 to 2003 (+14.1 percent change).