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Home > Statistics & Research > Child Welfare Outcomes 2002-2005: Report to Congress > Appendix C: Child Welfare Outcomes: Data Sources and Elements

Appendix C:

Child Welfare Outcomes: Data Sources and Elements
(2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

CONTEXT INFORMATION

Items Data Sources and Elements
Section A. Key Context Statistics
Total Children Under 18 Years

 U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census
Race/ethnicity (%) U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census
Child Population in Poverty

 U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census
Section B. Child Maltreatment Data (National Child Abuse And Neglect Data System)
Children subject of an investigated report alleging child maltreatment

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ACF/ACYF, Children's Bureau, National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS)

Two possible data sources:
(1) NCANDS Child File: Elements 27, 29, 31, 33, Maltreatment Disposition Level; or
(2) NCANDS SDC: Item 3.1, Children Subject of a CPS Investigation or Assessment by Disposition
Total child maltreatment victims

Two possible data sources:
(1) NCANDS Child File: Elements 27, 29, 31, 33, Maltreatment Disposition Level; or
(2) NCANDS SDC: Sum of Item 3.1A, Children for Whom the Allegation of Maltreatment was Substantiated; 3.1B, Children for Whom the Allegation of Maltreatment was Indicated; and 3.1C, Children for Whom the Allegation of Maltreatment was Given an Alternative Response That Identified Child Victim(s)
Child fatalities

Two possible data sources:
(1) NCANDS Child File: Element 34, Maltreatment Death; or
(2) NCANDS SDC: Item 5.1, Child Victims Who Died as a Result of Maltreatment
Age of child victims

Two possible data sources:
(1) NCANDS Child File: Element 12, Child Age at Report, or a combination of Element 6, Report Date and Element 13, Child Date of Birth; or
(2) NCANDS SDC: Item 4.2, Child Victims By Age
Race/ethnicity of child victims

Two possible data sources:
(1) NCANDS Child File: Elements 15 through 20, Child Race, and Element 21, Child Ethnicity; or
(2) NCANDS SDC: Item 4.4, Child Victims by Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity, and Item 4.5, Child Victims by Race
Maltreatment type of child victims

Two possible data sources:
(1) NCANDS Child File: Elements 26 through 33, Maltreatment Type, Maltreatment Disposition Level; or
(2) NCANDS SDC: Item 4.1, Child Victims by Type of Maltreatment
Time to investigation

Mean time to investigation in hours is computed from the Child File records using the Report Date, Field 6; and the Investigation Start Date, Field 7. The result is converted to hours by multiplying by 24.

Median time to investigation in hours is computed from the NCANDS Child File records using the Report Date, Field 6; and the Investigation Start Date, Field 7. The result is converted to hours by multiplying by 24.
Section C. Characteristics of Children in Foster Care (Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System)

Total number (for each FY)

  • In care on 10/1
  • Entered care
  • Exited care
  • In care on 9/30

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ACF/ACYF, Children's Bureau, Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS)

AFCARS Foster Care File: Element 21, Date of Latest Removal; Element 56, Date of Discharge From Foster Care

Median length of stay (for each FY)

  • In care on 10/1
  • Exited care
  • In care on 9/30

AAFCARS Foster Care File: Element 21, Date of Latest Removal; Element 56, Date of Discharge From Foster Care
Age of children (for each FY)
  • In care on 10/1
  • Entered care
  • Exited care
  • In care on 9/30

AFCARS Foster Care File: Element 8, Race; and Element 9, Hispanic Origin
Section D. Characteristics of Children “Waiting For Adoption” on 9/30 (AFCARS)
Total waiting children

AFCARS Foster Care File: Element 35, Death of Parent; Element 43, Most Recent Case Plan Goal; Element 47, Date of Mother's Termination of Parental Rights; and Element 48, Date of Father's Termination of Parental Rights
Number of waiting children whose parents' rights have been terminated

AFCARS Foster Care File: Element 35, Death of Parent; Element 47, Date of Mother's Termination of Parental Rights; and Element 48, Date of Father's Termination of Parental Rights
Age of children waiting for adoption

AFCARS Foster Care File: Element 6, Date of Birth; Element 35, Death of Parent; Element 43, Most Recent Case Plan Goal; Element 47, Date of Mother's Termination of Parental Rights; Element 48, Date of Father's Termination of Parental Rights
Race/ethnicity of children waiting for adoption

AFCARS Foster Care File: Element 8, Race; and Element 9, Hispanic Origin; Element 6, Date of Birth; Element 35, Death of Parent; Element 43, Most Recent Case Plan Goal; Element 47, Date of Mother's Termination of Parental Rights; Element 48, Date of Father's Termination of Parental Rights
Section E. Characteristics of Children Adopted (AFCARS)
Total children adopted

AFCARS Adoption File: Element 21, Date Adoption Legalized
Age of children adopted

AFCARS Adoption File: Element 4, State Involvement; Element 5, Child's Date of Birth; and Element 21, Date Adoption Legalized
Race/ethnicity of children adopted AFCARS Adoption File: Element 4, State Involvement; Element 7, Race; and Element 8, Hispanic Origin


OUTCOME INFORMATION

OUTCOME MEASURES DATA SOURCES AND ELEMENTS
Outcome 1. Reduce Recurrence of Child Abuse and/or Neglect (NCANDS)
1.1  Recurrence of maltreatment within 6 months

NCANDS Child File: Field 4, Child ID; Field 6, Report Date; Fields 27, 29, 31, and 33, Maltreatment Disposition Level(s); and Field 34, Maltreatment Death
Outcome 2. Reduce the Incidence of Child Abuse and/or Neglect in Foster Care (NCANDS and AFCARS)
2.1  Maltreatment in foster care

AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database: Element 21, Date of Latest Removal; and Element 56, Date of Discharge From Foster Care

NCANDS Child File: Field 4, Child ID; Field 6, Report Date; Fields 27, 29, 31, and 33, Maltreatment Disposition Level(s); Field 34, Maltreatment Death; and Fields 89,108, 127, Perpetrator Relationship
Outcome 3. Increase Permanency for Children in Foster Care (AFCARS)
3.1  Exits of children from foster care

AFCARS Foster Care File: Element 56, Date of Discharge From Foster Care; and Element 58, Reasons for Discharge
3.2  Exits of children with a diagnosed disability

AFCARS Foster Care File: Element 10, Child Diagnosed With Disabilities; Element 56, Date of Discharge From Foster Care; and Element 58, Reasons for Discharge

3.3  Exits of children older than age 12 at entry

AFCARS Foster Care File: Element 6, Date of Birth; Element 21, Date of Latest Removal; Element 56, Date of Discharge From Foster Care; and Element 58, Reasons for Discharge
3.4  Exits to emancipation

AFCARS Foster Care File: Element 56, Date of Discharge From Foster Care; and Element 58, Reasons for Discharge
3.5  Exits by race/ethnicity

AFCARS Foster Care File: Element 8, Race; Element 9, Hispanic Origin; Element 56, Date of Discharge From Foster Care; and Element 58, Reasons for Discharge
Outcome 4. Reduce Time to Reunification Without Increasing Reentry (AFCARS)
4.1  Time to reunification

AFCARS Foster Care File: Element 21, Date of Latest Removal; Element 56, Date of Discharge From Foster Care; and Element 58, Reasons for Discharge
4.2  Children reentering foster care

AFCARS Foster Care File: Element 19, Total Number of Removals; Element 20, Date of Discharge From Last Foster Care Episode; and Element 21, Date of Latest Removal
Outcome 5. Reduce Time in Foster Care to Adoption (AFCARS)
5.1  Time to adoption

AFCARS Foster Care File: Element 21, Date of Latest Removal; Element 56, Date of Discharge From Foster Care; and Element 58, Reasons for Discharge
Outcome 6. Increase Placement Stability (AFCARS)
6.1  Number of placements by time in care

AFCARS Foster Care File: Element 21, Date of Latest Removal; Element 23, Date of Placement in Current Placement Setting; Element 24, Number of Previous Settings in Episode; and Element 56, Date of Discharge From Foster Care
Outcome 7. Reduce Placements of Young Children in Group Homes or Institutions (AFCARS)
7.1  Placement settings of children age 12 or younger who entered care during FY

AFCARS Foster Care File: Element 6, Date of Birth; Element 21, Date of Latest Removal; Element 23, Date of Placement in Current Placement Setting; Element 41, Current Placement Setting

Composite 1: Timeliness and Permanency of Reunification (AFCARS)

Please note: Construction of the source file for calculating ALL Composite 1 measures must have Element 3, FIPS code; Element 4, Record Number; and Element 6, Date of Birth. For each individual measure under Composite 1, other elements needed for the calculations are shown next to the applicable measure.
C1.1  Reunification in less than 12 months

Element 56, Date of Discharge; Element 58, Reason for Discharge; Element 21, Date of Latest Removal; Element 41, Current Placement Setting; Element 23, Date of Placement in Current Placement Setting
C1.2  Median length of stay to reunification

Element 56; Date of Discharge; Element 58, Reason for Discharge; Element 21, Date of Latest Removal; Element 41, Current Placement Setting; Element 23, Date of Placement in Current Placement Setting
C1.3  Entry cohort reunification

Element 18, Date of First Removal From Home; Element 19, Total Number of Removals; Element 56, Date of Discharge; Element 21, Date of Latest Removal; Element 58, Reason for Discharge; Element 20, Date Child was Discharged From Last Foster Care Episode; Element 41, Current Placement Setting; Element 23, Date of Placement in Current Placement Setting
C1.4  Reentry of children exiting

Element 56; Date of Discharge; Element 58, Reason for Discharge; Element 21, Date of Latest Removal; Element 20, Date Child was Discharged From Last Foster Care Episode; Element 19, Total Number of Removals

Composite 2: Timeliness of Adoptions (AFCARS)

Please Note: Construction of the source file for calculating ALL Composite 2 measures must have Element 3, FIPS code; Element 4, Record Number; and Element 6, Date of Birth. For each individual measure under Composite 2, other elements needed for the calculations are shown next to the applicable measure.
C2.1  Adoption in less than 24 months

Element 56, Date of Discharge; Element 58, Reason for Discharge; Element 21, Date of Latest Removal
C2.2  Median length of stay to adoption

Element 56, Date of Discharge; Element 58, Reason for Discharge; Element 21, Date of Latest Removal
C2.3  Adoption of children in care for 17 months or longer

Element 56, Date of Discharge; Element 58, Reason for Discharge; Element 21, Date of Latest Removal
C2.4  Achieving legal freedom of children in care for 17 months or longer

Element 56, Date of Discharge; Element 58, Reason for Discharge; Element 21, Date of Latest Removal; Element 47, Date of Termination of Parental Rights for Mother; Element 48, Date of Termination of Parental Rights for Father
C2.5  Adoption of children who are legally free

Element 56, Date of Discharge; Element 58, Reason for Discharge; Element 47, Date of Termination of Parental Rights for Mother; Element 48, Date of Termination of Parental Rights for Father

Composite 3: Achieving Permanency for Children in Foster Care for Long Periods of Time (AFCARS)

Please Note: Construction of the source file for calculating ALL Composite 3 measures must have Element 3, FIPS code; Element 4, Record Number; and Element 6, Date of Birth. For each individual measure under Composite 3, other elements needed for the calculations are shown next to the applicable measure.
C3.1  Permanency for children in foster care for 24 + months

Element 6, Date of Birth; Element 56, Date of Discharge; Element 58, Reason for Discharge; Element 21, Date of Latest Removal
C3.2  Permanency for children who are legally free

Element 6, Date of Birth; Element 56, Date of Discharge; Element 58, Reason for Discharge; Element 47, Date of Termination of Parental Rights for Mother; Element 48, Date of Termination of Parental Rights for Father
C3.3  Children emancipated or 18 years old in foster care for 3 years or longer

Element 6, Date of Birth; Element 56, Date of Discharge; Element 58, Reason for Discharge; Element 21, Date of Latest Removal; Element 19, Total Number of Removals; Element 20, Date Child was Discharged From Last Foster Care Episode; Element 18, Date of First Removal From Home

Composite 4: Placement Stability While in Foster Care (AFCARS)

Please Note: Construction of the source file for calculating ALL Composite 4 measures must have Element 3, FIPS code; Element 4, Record Number; and Element 6, Date of Birth. For each individual measure under Composite 4, other elements needed for the calculations are shown next to the applicable measure.
C4.1  Placement stability for children in care for less than 12 months

Element 56, Date of Discharge; Element 21, Date of Latest Removal; Element 23, Date of Placement in Current Placement Setting; Element 24, Number of Previous Placement Settings During This Removal Episode
C4.1  Placement stability for children in care for 12 to 24 months

Element 56, Date of Discharge; Element 21, Date of Latest Removal; Element 23, Date of Placement in Current Placement Setting; Element 24, Number of Previous Placement Settings During This Removal Episode
C4.1  Placement stability for children in care for 24 + months

Element 56, Date of Discharge; Element 21, Date of Latest Removal; Element 23, Date of Placement in Current Placement Setting; Element 24, Number of Previous Placement Settings During This Removal Episode


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