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Context Data | Outcomes Data | State Comments
Utah[ Context Data ] |
A. Key Context Statistics
| General Population | 1998 | 1999 |
| Total children under 18 years | 701,300 | 707,366 |
| Race/ethnicity (%) | ||
| Alaska Native/American Indian | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.6 | 2.7 |
| Black | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| Hispanic | 8.3 | 8.7 |
| White | 87.0 | 86.4 |
| % Child population in poverty | 12.2 | 7.1 |
| % Child population living in metropolitan areas | 83.5 | 80.0 |
| Child Welfare | 1998 | 1999 |
| Child maltreatment victims | 7,990 | 8,660 |
| Children in foster care on 9/30 | 2,468 | 2,273 |
| Children adopted | 334 | 369 |
| Number | Rate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maltreatment Information Overview | 1998 | 1999 | 1998 | 1999 | |
| Children subject of an investigated report alleging child maltreatment | 27,222 | 26,847 | 38.8 per 1,000 | 38.0 per 1,000 | |
| Child maltreatment victims1 | 7,990 | 8,660 | 11.4 per 1,000 | 12.2 per 1,000 | |
| Child fatalities | 12 | 7 | 1.7 per 100,000 | 1.0 per 100,000 | |
| Age of Child Victims (%) | 1998 | 1999 |
| Under 1 year | 3.7 | 4.1 |
| 1-5 years | 29.2 | 30.8 |
| 6-10 years | 31.4 | 30.0 |
| 11-15 years | 26.7 | 25.5 |
| 16+ years | 8.9 | 9.6 |
| Unknown | - | - |
| Total % | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Number | 7,990 | 8,660 |
| Race/Ethnicity of Child Victims (%) | 1998 | 1999 |
| Alaska Native/American Indian | 3.0 | 2.0 |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.8 | 1.2 |
| Black | 2.4 | 1.9 |
| Hispanic | 12.7 | 12.9 |
| White | 71.5 | 49.7 |
| Other | 8.7 | 45.3 |
| Unknown | - | - |
| Total %2 | 100.0 | 112.9 |
| Number | 7,990 | 8,660 |
| Maltreatment Type of Child Victims (%) | 1998 | 1999 |
| Emotional abuse | 40.3 | 41.4 |
| Medical neglect | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| Neglect | 33.0 | 28.8 |
| Physical abuse | 18.8 | 16.6 |
| Sexual abuse | 23.2 | 21.8 |
| Other | 11.6 | 10.1 |
| Unknown | - | 0.0 |
| Total %3 | 128.3 | 119.9 |
| Number | 7,990 | 8,660 |
1) Children with more than one report of
substantiated or indicated maltreatment may be counted more than
once. Back
2) Percentages may total more than
100 percent because Hispanics may be counted both by Hispanic
ethnicity and by race. Back
3) Percentages may total more than
100 percent because children could have been victims of more than
one type of maltreatment. Back
C.
Children in Foster Care
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database, FY 1998 &
FY 1999)
| Number of Children | In Care on 10/1 | Entered Care | Exited Care | In Care on 9/30 | Total Served |
| FY1998 (10/1/97-9/30/98) | 2,228 | 2,196 | 1,956 | 2,468 | 4,424 |
| FY1999 (10/1/98-9/30/99) | 2,222 | 2,383 | 2,332 | 2,273 | 4,605 |
| Median Length of Stay (Months) | < | < | < | < | < |
| FY1998 (10/1/97-9/30/98) | 11.7 | N/A | 5.5 | 12.5 | N/A |
| FY1999 (10/1/98-9/30/99) | 12.7 | N/A | 5.5 | 11.2 | N/A |
| Age of Children in Foster Care (%) | In Care on 10/1/97 | In Care on 10/1/98 | Entered Care During FY 1998 | Entered Care During FY 1999 | Exited Care During FY 1998 | Exited Care During FY 1999 | In Care on 9/30/98 | In Care on 9/30/99 |
| Under 1 year | 2.9 | 3.6 | 10.3 | 12.8 | 6.4 | 7.9 | 3.7 | 4.8 |
| 1-5 years | 19.9 | 19.1 | 28.9 | 26.6 | 28.7 | 29.0 | 20.1 | 17.9 |
| 6-10 years | 23.0 | 22.6 | 23.2 | 22.7 | 23.2 | 23.3 | 22.6 | 19.6 |
| 11-15 years | 34.1 | 34.1 | 29.5 | 29.2 | 24.8 | 23.3 | 33.4 | 35.9 |
| 16-18 years | 19.8 | 20.1 | 8.1 | 8.6 | 16.2 | 15.4 | 19.6 | 21.2 |
| 19+ years | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | - | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| Missing | 0.0 | - | - | - | 0.1 | 0.0 | - | - |
| Total % | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Number | 2,228 | 2,222 | 2,196 | 2,383 | 1,956 | 2,332 | 2,468 | 2,273 |
| Race/Ethnicity of Children in Foster Care (%) | In Care on 10/1/97 | In Care on 10/1/98 | Entered Care During FY 1998 | Entered Care During FY 1999 | Exited Care During FY 1998 | Exited Care During FY 1999 | In Care on 9/30/98 | In Care on 9/30/99 |
| Alaska Native/American Indian | 6.2 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 6.2 | 3.1 | 4.5 | 6.3 |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| Black | 4.0 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 4.1 |
| Hispanic | 13.6 | 14.2 | 15.9 | 16.2 | 15.7 | 15.5 | 14.0 | 15.0 |
| White | 73.0 | 72.7 | 69.7 | 62.6 | 68.5 | 67.5 | 73.6 | 67.5 |
| Unknown | 2.6 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 10.4 | 4.2 | 8.8 | 3.6 | 6.3 |
| Not applicable | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total % | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Number | 2,228 | 2,222 | 2,196 | 2,383 | 1,956 | 2,332 | 2,468 | 2,273 |
D.
Children Waiting to Be Adopted on 9/30/1998 and
9/30/1999
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database, FY 1998 &
1999)4
4) Waiting children are children who have a goal of adoption and/or whose parents’ rights have been terminated. Children 16 years and older with TPR, but with a goal of emancipation, have been excluded from the waiting children and TPR populations. Back
Overview 9/30/98 9/30/99 Children waiting to be adopted 658 325 Children whose parents' rights have been terminated (TPR) 647 245
Age of Waiting Children (%) 1998 1999 Under 1 year 6.8 4.3 1-5 years 35.0 27.4 6-10 years 36.3 32.0 11-15 years 18.5 30.5 16+ years 2.1 4.6 Unknown 1.2 1.2 Total % 100.0 100.0 Number 658 325
Race/Ethnicity of Waiting Children (%) 1998 1999 Alaska Native/American Indian 1.2 1.5 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.8 1.5 Black 4.3 4.9 Hispanic 17.5 19.4 White 72.8 67.1 Unknown 3.5 5.5 Not applicable - - Total % 100.0 100.0 Number 658 325
E. Children Adopted
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database, FY 1998 & 1999)
Age of Adopted Children (%) 1998 1999 Under 1 year 4.8 7.6 1-5 years 47.9 43.1 6-10 years 34.1 36.9 11-15 years 12.9 12.2 16+ years 0.3 0.3 Unknown - - Total % 100.0 100.0 Number 334 369
Race/Ethnicity of Adopted Children (%) 1998 1999 Alaska Native/American Indian 1.8 0.5 Asian/Pacific Islander 0.9 - Black 4.2 2.4 Hispanic 16.2 20.3 White 62.6 33.9 Unknown 14.4 42.8 Not applicable - - Total % 100.0 100.0 Number 334 369
1.
Reduce Recurrence of Child Abuse and/or Neglect
(NCANDS, DCDC 1998 &
1999)
| 1.1 Recurrence of Maltreatment Within 6 Months (%) | 1998 | 1999 |
| Children without a recurrence | 91.7 | 91.6 |
| Children with one or more recurrences | 8.3 | 8.4 |
| Total % | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Number | 3,967 | 4,062 |
2.
Reduce the Incidence of Child Abuse and/or Neglect in Foster
Care
(NCANDS, DCDC Jan —Sept, AFCARS Annual Foster
Care Database Jan —Sept 1998 &
1999)
| 2.1 Maltreatment in Foster Care (%) | 1998 | 1999 |
| Children maltreated while in Foster Care | 1.1 | 0.5 |
| Children not maltreated while in Foster Care | 98.9 | 99.5 |
| Total % | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Number | 3,885 | 4,069 |
3.
Increase Permanency for Children in Foster Care
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database FY 1998 &
FY
1999)
| 3.1 Exits from Foster Care (%) | 1998 | 1999 |
| Adoption | 14.3 | 15.7 |
| Guardianship | 22.2 | 27.7 |
| Reunification | 54.1 | 47.6 |
| Other | 8.8 | 8.6 |
| Missing | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| Total % | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Number | 1,956 | 2,332 |
| 3.2 Exits of Disabled Children (%) | 1998 | 1999 |
| Adoption | 14.4 | 21.1 |
| Guardianship | 16.4 | 18.9 |
| Reunification | 52.5 | 44.5 |
| Other | 16.7 | 15.5 |
| Missing | - | - |
| Total % | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Number | 299 | 375 |
| 3.3 Exits of Children Over Age 12 at Entry (%) | 1998 | 1999 |
| Adoption | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| Guardianship | 13.8 | 15.3 |
| Reunification | 59.8 | 57.1 |
| Other | 25.7 | 26.6 |
| Missing | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| Total % | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Number | 552 | 608 |
| 3.4 Exits to Emancipation (%) | 1998 | 1999 |
| Children age 12 or younger at entry | 12.8 | 14.0 |
| Children older than 12 at entry | 87.2 | 86.0 |
| Missing | - | - |
| Total % | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Number | 109 | 121 |
| 3.5 Exits by Race/Ethnicity (%) | Alaska Native/A.I. | Asian/P.I. | Black | Hispanic | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1998 | 1999 | 1998 | 1999 | 1998 | 1999 | 1998 | 1999 | |
| Adoption | 4.1 | 4.1 | 15.0 | - | 16.7 | 12.0 | 14.6 | 20.5 | |
| Guardianship | 25.6 | 38.4 | 10.0 | 27.8 | 27.4 | 31.0 | 18.2 | 29.1 | |
| Reunification | 62.8 | 49.3 | 65.0 | 66.7 | 46.4 | 51.0 | 61.7 | 46.3 | |
| Other | 6.6 | 6.8 | 10.0 | 5.6 | 9.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 3.9 | |
| Missing | 0.8 | 1.4 | - | - | - | 1.0 | - | 0.3 | |
| Total % | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |
| Number | 121 | 73 | 20 | 18 | 84 | 100 | 308 | 361 | |
| White | Unable to Determine | Not Applicable | Missing | ||||||
|
|
1998 | 1999 | 1998 | 1999 | 1998 | 1999 | 1998 | 1999 | |
| Adoption | 15.4 | 16.3 | 7.2 | 9.7 | N/A | - | - | - | |
| Guardianship | 23.0 | 26.0 | 16.9 | 33.0 | N/A | - | - | - | |
| Reunification | 50.8 | 46.8 | 71.1 | 51.5 | N/A | - | - | - | |
| Other | 10.0 | 10.4 | 3.6 | 5.3 | N/A | - | - | - | |
| Missing | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.5 | N/A | - | - | - | |
| Total % | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | N/A | - | - | - | |
| Number | 1,340 | 1,574 | 83 | 206 | N/A | - | - | - | |
4.
Reduce Time to Reunification Without Increasing
Re-entry
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database FY 1998 &
FY
1999)
| 4.1 Time to Reunification (%) | 1998 | 1999 |
| Less than 12 mos. | 76.6 | 73.9 |
| At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. | 15.6 | 16.9 |
| At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. | 3.4 | 4.7 |
| At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. | 1.0 | 1.2 |
| 48 or more mos. | 1.2 | 1.5 |
| Missing | 2.2 | 1.9 |
| Total (%) | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Number | 1,058 | 1,109 |
| 4.2 Children Who Entered Foster Care (%) | 1998 | 1999 |
| Children entering care for the first time | 69.6 | 75.9 |
| Children re-entering care within 12 mos. of a prior episode | 17.3 | 14.3 |
| Children re-entering care more than 12 mos. after a prior episode | 8.6 | 7.8 |
| Missing | 4.5 | 2.1 |
| Total (%) | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Number | 2,196 | 2,383 |
5.
Reduce Time in Foster Care to Adoption
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database FY 1998 &
FY
1999)
| 5.1 Time to Adoption (%) | 1998 | 1999 |
| Less than 12 mos. | 12.9 | 15.6 |
| At least 12 mos., but less than 24 mos. | 36.2 | 42.3 |
| At least 24 mos., but less than 36 mos. | 33.0 | 25.4 |
| At least 36 mos., but less than 48 mos. | 12.2 | 9.3 |
| 48 or more mos. | 5.7 | 7.4 |
| Missing | - | - |
| Total (%) | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Number | 279 | 366 |
6.
Increase Placement Stability
(AFCARS Annual Foster Care Database FY 1998 &
FY
1999)
| 6.1 Number of Placements by Time in Care (%) | Year | Children With 2 or Fewer Placements | Children With 3 or More Placements | Missing Placements | Total % | Number |
| Less than 12 mos. | 1998 1999 |
43.7 58.9 |
56.3 41.1 |
- - |
100.0 100.0 |
2,449 2,674 |
| At least 12 mos., but <24 mos. | 1998 1999 |
22.5 24.7 |
77.5 75.3 |
- - |
100.0 100.0 |
1,003 904 |
| At least 24 mos., but <36 mos. | 1998 1999 |
24.4 28.9 |
75.6 71.1 |
- - |
100.0 100.0 |
446 494 |
| At least 36 mos., but <48 mos. | 1998 1999 |
33.6 28.6 |
66.4 71.4 |
- - |
100.0 100.0 |
229 199 |
| 48 or more mos. | 1998 1999 |
31.6 33.2 |
68.4 66.8 |
- - |
100.0 100.0 |
247 280 |
| Missing | 1998 1999 |
82.0 90.7 |
18.0 9.3 |
- - |
100.0 100.0 |
50 54 |
7.
Reduce Placements of Young Children in Group Homes or
Institutions
(AFCARS
Annual Foster Care Database FY 1998 & FY
1999)
| 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 (%) | 1998 | 1999 |
| Group homes | 19.6 | 25.0 |
| Institutions | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Other settings | 80.0 | 74.4 |
| Missing | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Total (%) | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Number | 1,318 | 1,600 |
Ken Patterson,
Director
Division of Child and Family Services
Department of Human Services
801-538-4100
With respect to Section B: Maltreatment Type of Child Victims, in October 1997 Utah Division of Child and Family Services started tracking domestic violence related abuse as a distinct allegation subcategory of emotional abuse. In 1998, it became one of the most substantiated allegations investigated by DCFS, resulting in an increase in the percentage of emotional abuse from 2.9 percent in 1997 to 40.3 percent in 1998.
With regard to outcome measure 3.1, exits from foster care, Utah
has a closure reason of discharge to relative/guardian. Prior to
the year 2000 submissions, this category was mapped to guardianship
in AFCARS. Upon determining that most of these cases were relative
placements, Utah changed the mapping to reunification to be
consistent with AFCARS. This change should be reflected in the data
in the 2000
report.
The data for measure 6.1 may be inflated because Utah counts every
placement a child has, no matter how short. This includes the
initial shelter placement, runaway episodes, detention, and
hospital placements. Representatives from other states have
indicated that they do not count all of these as placement changes.
Utah is planning to conduct a broader study to determine how states
are defining and measuring placements in order to determine if we
should re-evaluate our methods of tracking
placements.
With regard to the number of most recent placement settings for
measure 7.1, we reviewed our mapping and determined that many
placement settings were incorrectly mapped to group homes. This
error has been remedied and should be reflected in the 2000
report.
Utah completes an annual outcome measures report with data from
our SACWIS system that includes these measures as well as many
others in the areas of safety, permanency, and well being. This
report is available on our web site at
www.hsdcfs.state.ut.us.