Washington
Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comment | Federal Comment
Washington [ Context Data ]
A. Context Statistics
| General Child Population (Census Bureau) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total children under 18 years | 1,513,185 | 1,509,420 | 1,505,174 | 1,496,581 |
| Race/Ethnicity (%)1 | ||||
| Alaska Native/American Indian | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.7 |
| Asian | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.1 | 5.2 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 3.7 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 11.7 | 12.0 | 11.9 | 12.3 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 71.5 | 71.2 | 72.2 | 71.8 |
| Two or more races | 5.5 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 |
| % Child population in poverty | 13.8 | 13.7 | 14.1 | 19.1 |
| Child Welfare Summary | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child maltreatment victims2 | 7,095 | 6,010 | 4,673 | 6,020 |
| Children in foster care on 9/30 | 8,945 | 9,101 | 9,669 | 9,213 |
| Children adopted | 1,141 | 1,204 | 1,077 | 1,315 |
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 | 38,070 | 25.2 per 1,000 | 35,491 | 23.5 per 1,000 | 28,718 | 19.1 per 1,000 | 47,713 | 31.9 per 1,000 |
| Total child maltreatment victims3 | 7,095 | 4.7 per 1,000 | 6,010 | 4.0 per 1,000 | 4,673 | 3.1 per 1,000 | 6,020 | 4.0 per 1,000 |
| Child fatalities | 14 | 1.0 per 100,000 | 16 | 1.1 per 100,000 | 9 | 0.6 per 100,000 | 9 | 0.6 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 | 11.6 | 12.0 | 14.1 | 13.6 |
| 1-5 years | 32.5 | 34.3 | 34.4 | 34.5 |
| 6-10 years | 31.6 | 29.0 | 27.5 | 25.7 |
| 11-15 years | 19.8 | 20.0 | 19.8 | 21.1 |
| 16+ years | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 3.4 |
| Unknown | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.6 |
| Number | 7,095 | 6,010 | 4,673 | 6,020 |
| Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%)4 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Native/American Indian | 6.6 | 6.7 | 7.4 | 7.0 |
| Asian | 2.5 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 1.3 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 8.8 | 8.3 | 9.5 | 9.3 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0.5 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 12.9 | 13.3 | 11.7 | 14.3 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 66.5 | 66.2 | 66.1 | 63.8 |
| Two or more races | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Unknown | 2.7 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 3.8 |
| Number | 7,095 | 6,010 | 4,673 | 6,020 |
| Maltreatment Types of Child Victims (%)5 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emotional abuse | 6.4 | 7.0 | 5.3 | 1.1 |
| Medical neglect | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 0.7 |
| Neglect | 71.0 | 72.0 | 73.1 | 78.2 |
| Physical abuse | 21.7 | 21.4 | 21.3 | 19.8 |
| Sexual abuse | 7.0 | 6.7 | 6.9 | 7.6 |
| Unknown/missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Other | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Number | 7,095 | 6,010 | 4,673 | 6,020 |
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 | 8,484 | 8,266 | 9,339 | 9,320 | 7,590 | 7,273 | 6,704 | 6,196 | 7,129 | 6,438 | 6,374 | 6,303 | 8,945 | 9,101 | 9,669 | 9,213 |
| Median length of stay (months) | 16.8 | 16.2 | 15.6 | 15.8 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 3.6 | 4.1 | 7.8 | 11.2 | 15.9 | 15.4 | 16.3 | 16.3 |
| 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 | 6.2 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 7.3 | 14.5 | 15.3 | 17.2 | 18.2 | 5.6 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 6.7 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.6 |
| 1 year | 7.3 | 7.4 | 8.0 | 8.7 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 6.3 | 6.0 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 6.9 | 7.4 | 7.8 | 8.5 | 8.6 |
| 2 years | 6.6 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 7.6 | 5.4 | 6.0 | 5.3 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 7.2 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 7.4 | 7.8 |
| 3 years | 6.6 | 6.2 | 6.8 | 6.6 | 5.5 | 5.1 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 6.0 | 5.4 | 6.0 | 6.7 | 6.2 | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.5 |
| 4 years | 6.0 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 6.3 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.9 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 6.3 | 5.7 | 6.4 | 6.4 |
| 5 years | 5.6 | 5.3 | 5.9 | 5.0 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 5.0 | 5.6 |
| 6 years | 5.4 | 4.9 | 5.1 | 5.6 | 4.6 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 5.6 | 4.6 |
| 7 years | 5.2 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.8 |
| 8 years | 6.0 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.1 |
| 9 years | 5.2 | 5.5 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 5.4 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.2 |
| 10 years | 5.1 | 4.7 | 5.3 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 4.3 |
| 11 years | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.4 |
| 12 years | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.7 |
| 13 years | 4.8 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 4.8 |
| 14 years | 5.0 | 5.5 | 4.6 | 5.2 | 8.1 | 7.0 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 7.4 | 7.0 | 6.7 | 6.1 | 5.7 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| 15 years | 5.2 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 7.5 | 8.2 | 7.2 | 6.5 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 4.7 | 5.5 |
| 16 years | 4.9 | 5.2 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 6.9 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.2 | 7.1 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 6.2 | 5.3 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| 17 years | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 5.8 | 7.9 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 5.1 |
| 18 years | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | <.1 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 3.8 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.8 |
| 19 years | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | <.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | <.1 |
| 20 years | <.1 | <.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | <.1 | <.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | <.1 | <.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | <.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Missing data | 0.2 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | <.1 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | <.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 | 8.8 | 8.4 | 8.8 | 8.5 | 7.3 | 8.2 | 6.4 | 7.2 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 6.2 | 6.7 | 8.7 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.9 |
| Asian | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.7 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 14.0 | 13.1 | 11.7 | 11.2 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.7 | 9.6 | 10.2 | 10.0 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 12.6 | 11.7 | 11.1 | 11.3 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 11.8 | 11.5 | 12.1 | 11.9 | 12.0 | 12.2 | 13.0 | 13.4 | 12.2 | 12.1 | 13.6 | 12.3 | 11.6 | 11.6 | 11.8 | 12.7 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 57.7 | 58.4 | 58.6 | 59.8 | 62.0 | 60.4 | 61.8 | 59.3 | 61.4 | 60.2 | 60.4 | 61.5 | 58.4 | 58.7 | 59.7 | 58.3 |
| Two or more races | 6.0 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 5.7 | 4.4 | 5.9 | 6.3 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.6 | 6.3 | 6.7 | 6.8 |
| Unknown | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 4.3 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 |
D. Characteristics of Children "Waiting for Adoption"6 (AFCARS: Foster Care File)
| Waiting for Adoption | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total waiting children | 2,512 | 2,258 | 2,648 | 2,384 |
| Numbers of waiting children whose parents' rights have been terminated | 1,921 | 1,782 | 2,017 | 1,846 |
| Age (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <1 year | 3.4 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 2.8 |
| 1 year | 8.1 | 8.4 | 9.0 | 9.9 |
| 2 years | 8.8 | 8.9 | 10.5 | 9.1 |
| 3 years | 7.7 | 7.4 | 7.9 | 8.1 |
| 4 years | 8.9 | 7.4 | 8.2 | 7.8 |
| 5 years | 7.2 | 7.4 | 6.3 | 7.4 |
| 6 years | 6.9 | 6.3 | 6.8 | 5.5 |
| 7 years | 6.8 | 6.2 | 4.9 | 5.7 |
| 8 years | 6.5 | 6.1 | 5.7 | 4.7 |
| 9 years | 6.7 | 5.8 | 5.4 | 5.0 |
| 10 years | 5.1 | 6.2 | 5.1 | 4.9 |
| 11 years | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.6 | 4.7 |
| 12 years | 5.1 | 5.6 | 4.5 | 4.7 |
| 13 years | 3.7 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| 14 years | 3.1 | 3.4 | 4.3 | 4.6 |
| 15 years | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 4.2 |
| 16 years | 1.9 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 3.3 |
| 17 years | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 2.6 |
| 18 years | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
| 19 years | 0.0 | <.1 | 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 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 6.8 | 6.3 |
| Asian | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 18.8 | 17.5 | 15.1 | 13.5 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 11.2 | 11.8 | 12.0 | 12.8 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 56.6 | 56.9 | 55.7 | 58.7 |
| Two or more races | 6.8 | 7.2 | 8.6 | 7.4 |
| Unknown | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | <.1 | 0.1 |
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 | 1,141 | 1,204 | 1,077 | 1,315 |
| Age (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <1 year | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| 1 year | 10.7 | 11.8 | 12.3 | 13.3 |
| 2 years | 13.8 | 15.3 | 16.7 | 15.8 |
| 3 years | 12.0 | 10.0 | 11.4 | 13.5 |
| 4 years | 9.8 | 11.5 | 11.0 | 9.2 |
| 5 years | 9.6 | 8.6 | 9.1 | 8.1 |
| 6 years | 7.7 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 7.4 |
| 7 years | 7.0 | 6.4 | 6.0 | 5.8 |
| 8 years | 5.7 | 6.1 | 4.3 | 4.7 |
| 9 years | 6.8 | 6.5 | 5.1 | 4.7 |
| 10 years | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.9 |
| 11 years | 3.6 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 4.0 |
| 12 years | 2.5 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 2.7 |
| 13 years | 1.8 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
| 14 years | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| 15 years | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.0 |
| 16 years | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| 17 years | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| 18 years | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.3 | <.1 |
| 19 years | 0.0 | 0.0 | <.1 | 0.0 |
| 20+ years | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Missing data | — | — | — | — |
| Race/Ethnicity (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Native/American Indian | 3.9 | 4.8 | 5.5 | 5.1 |
| Asian | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.9 |
| Black (non-Hispanic) | 13.2 | 12.4 | 11.3 | 9.3 |
| Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander | <.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| Hispanic (of any race) | 12.2 | 11.3 | 14.2 | 11.1 |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 63.6 | 63.0 | 61.1 | 65.2 |
| Two or more races | 5.9 | 6.5 | 5.8 | 6.5 |
| Unknown | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.4 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Washington [ 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 | 88.1 | 88.3 | 89.2 | 89.2 |
| Children with one or more recurrences | 11.9 | 11.7 | 10.8 | 10.8 |
| Number | 3,075 | 3,083 | 2,422 | 2,407 |
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 | 0.97 | 0.79 | — | 0.20 |
| Children not maltreated while in foster care | 99.03 | 99.21 | — | 99.80 |
| Number | 14,375 | 13,948 | — | 14,120 |
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 | 15.2 | 17.6 | 15.4 | 19.4 |
| Guardianship | 7.9 | 6.6 | 7.8 | 8.4 |
| Reunification | 66.3 | 66.0 | 66.5 | 61.4 |
| Other | 10.4 | 9.8 | 7.6 | 7.7 |
| Missing data | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2.7 | 3.1 |
| Number | 7,129 | 6,438 | 6,374 | 6,303 |
| 3.2 Exits of Children with a Diagnosed Disability (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption | — | 22.2 | 16.7 | 11.5 |
| Guardianship | — | 26.7 | 14.8 | 19.2 |
| Reunification | — | 22.2 | 51.9 | 48.7 |
| Other | — | 28.9 | 16.7 | 14.1 |
| Missing data | — | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.4 |
| Number | — | 45 | 54 | 78 |
| 3.3 Exits of Children Older than Age 12 at Entry into Foster Care (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Guardianship | 2.2 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 4.2 |
| Reunification | 81.6 | 80.1 | 80.7 | 78.2 |
| Other | 15.7 | 16.1 | 13.9 | 15.3 |
| Missing data | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 1.8 |
| Number | 2,246 | 2,179 | 1,930 | 1,806 |
| 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children age 12 or younger at entry | 30.3 | 22.0 | 26.3 | 25.7 |
| Children older than 12 at entry | 69.4 | 77.7 | 73.7 | 74.3 |
| Missing data | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Number | 333 | 327 | 327 | 338 |
| 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 | 7.6 | 11.6 | 13.2 | 14.7 | 7.5 | 8.7 | 8.7 | 14.6 | 19.6 | 22.4 | 19.9 | 18.5 |
| Guardianship | 11.2 | 6.5 | 9.6 | 13.0 | 2.8 | 6.7 | 1.9 | 6.1 | 12.8 | 9.8 | 11.2 | 9.8 |
| Reunification | 43.9 | 47.3 | 51.9 | 51.1 | 78.5 | 78.8 | 76.7 | 63.4 | 58.5 | 60.6 | 59.9 | 57.7 |
| Other | 37.3 | 34.5 | 21.3 | 19.1 | 9.3 | 5.8 | 10.7 | 8.5 | 9.1 | 7.3 | 6.8 | 10.6 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.2 | 4.1 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 1.9 | 7.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.2 | 3.4 |
| Number | 526 | 476 | 395 | 423 | 107 | 104 | 103 | 82 | 728 | 644 | 599 | 593 |
| |
||||||||||||
| 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 | 4.5 | 9.1 | 13.8 | 24.0 | 15.9 | 16.5 | 16.5 | 18.1 | 15.7 | 18.4 | 15.3 | 20.5 |
| Guardianship | 9.1 | 0.0 | 10.3 | 8.0 | 5.5 | 7.4 | 8.1 | 9.8 | 7.3 | 6.1 | 7.2 | 7.6 |
| Reunification | 81.8 | 90.9 | 75.9 | 64.0 | 71.2 | 68.6 | 65.0 | 62.9 | 68.9 | 67.4 | 68.6 | 62.0 |
| Other | 4.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 8.0 | 7.9 | 6.5 | 6.6 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2.3 | 3.4 |
| Number | 22 | 22 | 29 | 25 | 868 | 781 | 866 | 774 | 4,374 | 3,875 | 3,849 | 3,879 |
| |
||||||||||||
| Unable to Determine | Two or more Races | Missing Data | ||||||||||
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | |
| Adoption | 2.6 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 13.2 | 18.2 | 21.6 | 15.2 | 21.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 0.0 |
| Guardianship | 2.6 | 2.3 | 5.9 | 8.8 | 10.5 | 7.6 | 9.0 | 8.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Reunification | 85.0 | 88.2 | 81.2 | 73.6 | 58.7 | 59.0 | 62.8 | 62.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 96.7 | 0.0 |
| Other | 9.8 | 5.0 | 5.9 | 3.3 | 12.5 | 11.7 | 8.8 | 5.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.1 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 0.0 |
| Number | 153 | 221 | 85 | 91 | 351 | 315 | 387 | 386 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 50 |
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. | 83.5 | 83.0 | 76.3 | 75.1 |
| At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. | 8.4 | 8.4 | 14.6 | 14.7 |
| At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. | 2.4 | 3.0 | 5.8 | 6.7 |
| At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 2.2 |
| 48 or more mos. | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.4 |
| Missing data | 3.5 | 3.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Number | 4,727 | 4,247 | 4,241 | 3,870 |
| 4.2 Children Re-entering Foster Care (%) | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children entering care for the first time | 69.6 | 71.2 | 76.3 | 76.2 |
| Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode | 12.4 | 16.2 | 12.9 | 11.2 |
| Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode | 9.3 | 11.9 | 10.4 | 12.2 |
| Missing data | 8.7 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Number | 7,590 | 7,273 | 6,704 | 6,196 |
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. | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.2 |
| At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. | 17.8 | 24.0 | 22.3 | 22.5 |
| At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. | 32.8 | 31.6 | 34.9 | 35.5 |
| At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. | 22.7 | 20.0 | 20.1 | 22.8 |
| 48 or more mos. | 24.7 | 22.4 | 20.4 | 17.0 |
| Missing data | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Number | 1,084 | 1,131 | 980 | 1,221 |
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 | 82.8 | 83.3 | 84.2 | 85.3 | 55.0 | 54.7 | 58.2 | 59.1 | 35.2 | 34.1 | 32.6 | 31.6 | 94.8 | 94.3 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Children with 3 or more placements | 16.8 | 16.3 | 15.8 | 14.7 | 44.9 | 45.1 | 41.8 | 40.9 | 64.6 | 65.7 | 67.4 | 68.4 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Number | 7,917 | 7,565 | 7,344 | 6,783 | 3,108 | 3,136 | 3,650 | 3,748 | 4,722 | 4,540 | 5,035 | 4,968 | 327 | 298 | 14 | 17 |
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 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 3.2 |
| Institutions | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.8 |
| Other settings | 97.4 | 97.0 | 97.0 | 96.1 |
| Missing data | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Number | 4,531 | 4,707 | 4,651 | 4,284 |
Washington [ State Comment ]
Cheryl Stephani, Assistant Secretary
Children's Administration
Department of Social and Health Services
The following are Washington's comments on the State's data presented in Child Welfare Outcomes 2003: Report to Congress.
Washington State's focus is on achieving safety for all the children we serve and on providing stable permanent homes for children in the shortest time possible. We continue to complete adoptions for children more quickly than in previous years. A high percentage of children are reunified within twelve months of their placements. However, sound placement prevention and safety assessment practices reduce the population of children who are placed and who can be quickly and safely returned home. The children who remain in care have more stable placements than ever before and our foster care re-entry rate continues to decline each year.
Outcome Measure 1.1 (Recurrence of Maltreatment): Washington State uses many tools to improve the safety of children. We have developed a Safety Assessment for use during investigations of abuse and neglect and a Safety Plan for at-risk children who remain in their own homes. A Reunification Assessment is used to assess the safety of children returning home and a Transition and Safety Plan is completed before reunification. In spite of our emphasis on child safety, our maltreatment recurrence rate is higher than the national average. Improvements in the Child Protective Service system are being implemented which will increase child safety by reducing response times during investigations and by focusing on children who remain in their own homes following the investigation. In addition, the administration is developing information technology system solutions which will support social workers in completing critical tasks. Other efforts are underway to increase the effectiveness of services statewide using evidence-based interventions.
The Governor and legislature of Washington State are committed to management accountability and performance measurement. The Children's Administration has tracked performance on safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes over the last several years and uses outcome data in making decisions. While we support the federal effort to evaluate states' performance in comparison to federal standards, some unique characteristics of Washington's child welfare system make this comparison difficult. Because the scope of this report does not permit clarification of laws and policies that may influence the data, some of the results presented may be misleading.
We support the federal government's efforts to explore state differences which may impact the comparability of the data. This work will assist the federal government and individual states in their efforts to improve child welfare services for all children and their families.
Washington [ Federal Comment ]
PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT
The following is a discussion of Washington'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, 10.8 percent of the children in Washington 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 on this measure from 2000 to 2003 (-6.1 percent change).
In 2003, the child maltreatment victim rate in Washington was 4.0 child victims per 1,000 children in the State population, which is less than the national median of 10.6 child victims per 1,000 children in the population. The child maltreatment victim rate in Washington did not change from 2000 to 2003.
Outcome 2. Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
In 2003, 0.21 percent of the children in foster care were found to be maltreated by foster parents or facility staff members. This percent not only is less than the national median of 0.39 percent, but also represents an improvement in performance on this measure from 2000 to 2003 (-78.4 percent change).
Outcome 3. Increase permanency for children in foster care
In 2003, 89.2 percent of children exiting foster care in Washington (measure 3.1) were discharged to a permanent home, which exceeds the national median of 86.3 percent. In addition, 82.8 percent of the children exiting foster care in 2003 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 comparison, 79.4 percent of the children exiting foster care in 2003 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.
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, 25.7 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 not only is less than the national median of 29.6 percent, but also represents an improvement in performance on this measure from 2000 to 2003 (-15.2 percent change).
In Washington, some children who are reported as emancipated from foster care were discharged from foster care prior to their 18th birthday. In 2003, for example, 170 children exiting foster care were age 18 or older at the time of exit. However, 338 children were reported as exiting to emancipation.
There were some differences with regard to exits to permanency in 2003 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 (90.1 percent) as were Hispanic children exiting foster care (90.8 percent). However, both groups were slightly more likely to be discharged to a permanent home than were Black (non-Hispanic) children exiting foster care (86 percent). In addition, the percent of Black (non-Hispanic) children in the foster care population (11.3 percent) exceeded the percent of Black (non-Hispanic) children in the State's child population (3.7 percent). This discrepancy did not exist for Hispanic children.
Outcome 4. Reduce time in foster care to reunification without increasing re-entry
In 2003, 75.1 percent of reunifications in Washington 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 decline in performance on this measure from 2000 to 2003 (-10.1 percent change). Also in 2003, 3.6 percent of reunifications occurred after the child had been in foster care for at least 36 months. This percent is about equal to the national median of 3.5 percent, but represents a decline in performance on the measure from 2000 to 2003 (+71.4 percent change).
With regard to re-entries into foster care, in 2003, 11.2 percent of the children entering foster care were re-entering within 12 months of a prior episode (measure 4.2). Although this percent exceeds the national median of 9.5 percent, it represents an improvement in performance on the measure from 2000 to 2003 (-9.7 percent change). However, an additional 12.2 percent of the children entering foster care were entering more than 12 months after a prior foster care episode. Consequently, 23.4 percent of all children entering foster care in Washington in 2003 had been in foster care at a prior time.
Outcome 5. Reduce time in foster care to adoption
In 2003, 24.7 percent of finalized adoptions in Washington occurred within 24 months of a child's entry into foster care (measure 5.1). This percent is about equal to the national median of 23.9 percent and represents an improvement in performance on the measure from 2000 to 2003 (+25.4 percent change).
Outcome 6. Increase placement stability
In 2003, 85.3 percent of the children in foster care for less than 12 months experienced no more than two placement settings, which exceeds the national median of 84.2 percent (measure 6.1). Also in 2003, 59.1 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 equal to the national median.
Outcome 7. Reduce placements of young children in group homes and institutions
In 2003, 4.0 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 is less than the national median of 8.3 percent, it represents a decline in performance on this measure from 2000 to 2003 (+73.9 percent change).
