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Home > Statistics & Research > AFCARS Assessment Reviews > California Assessment Review > Case File Findings

AFCARS ASSESSMENT REVIEW: Foster Care Case File Findings
State: California
Report Period Under Review: April 1, 2003 - September 30, 2003 (2003B)

Data Element Paper and AFCARS File Match Paper and AFCARS File Do Not Match Questionable Comments
#5 Most Recent Periodic Review Date 53 4 3

Not found = 1
#6 Child Birth Date 61 0 blank cell blank cell
#7 Child Sex

1 = Male
2 = Female		 61 0 blank cell blank cell
#8 Child Race 56 3 blank cell Not found : 2
#9 Child Hispanic Origin

1 = Yes
2 = No
3 = Unable to Determine		 36 17 blank cell

Not found : 8

The majority of the error cases were reported to AFCARS as “unable to determine,” but the reviewers found the information.

In the records where the reviewers could not verify the information most of the AFCARS records indicated “unable to determine.”
#10 Has Child Been Diagnosed with Disability? 53 8 blank cell

In the majority of the error cases the AFCARS indicated “no” and the reviewers indicated “yes.”

One error case was marked as “yes” in AFCARS, but the reviewer found no diagnosed disabilities that would be applicable for this element.
#11 Mental Retardation 61 0 blank cell blank cell
#12 Visually/Hearing Impaired 59 2 blank cell blank cell
#13 Physically Disabled 61 0 blank cell blank cell
#14 Emotionally Disturbed 49 12 blank cell In general, the errors were due to conditions being mapped to the wrong category.
#15 Other Diagnosed Condition 50 11 blank cell In general, the errors were due to conditions being mapped to the wrong category.
#16 Has Child Ever Been Adopted?
1 = Yes
2 = No
3 = Unable to Determine		 26 28 2

Not found: 5

In the majority of the error cases, the response in AFCARS was “unable to determine” and the reviewer was able to determine whether the child had been previously adopted or not.
#17 Age at Previous Adoption

0 = Not Applicable
1 = less than 2 years old
2 = 2-5 years old
3 = 6-12 years old
4 = 13 years or older
5 = Unable to Determine		 55 4 blank cell Not found : 2
#18 Date of First Removal from Home 38 22 blank cell

Not found : 1

In several of the error cases, the date of first removal found by the reviewer was earlier than the date reported in AFCARS. In some instances, the difference was several years.
#19 Total Number of Removals from Home 46 12 2

Not found : 1

In many of the error cases, there was not a date of prior discharge because the child had only one removal episode.
#20 Date of Discharge from Previous Episode 41 17 2

Not found : 1

In many of the error cases, there was not a date of prior discharge because the child had only one removal episode.
#21 Date of Latest Removal 38 20 3

Many of the errors were with regard to how many removals the child actually had experienced.
#23 Date of Placement in Current Setting 44 15 1 Not found = 1
#24 Number of Previous Placement Settings in This Episode 29 26 3

Not found = 3

In the majority of the error cases, the number of placements was greater than what was reported in AFCARS.
#25 Manner of Removal From Home for This Episode
1 = Voluntary
2 = Court Ordered
3 = Not Yet Determined		 60 1 blank cell blank cell
#26 Physical Abuse 54 6 1 blank cell
#27 Sexual Abuse 58 2 1 blank cell
#28 Neglect 50 10 1 blank cell
#29 Parent Alcohol Abuse 57 3 1 blank cell
#30 Parent Drug Abuse 30 30 1 blank cell
#31 Child Alcohol Abuse 58 2 1 blank cell
#32 Child Drug Abuse 59 1 1 blank cell
#33 Child Disability 60 0 1 blank cell
#34 Child's Behavior Problem 53 7 1 blank cell
#35 Death of Parent 58 2 1 blank cell
#36 Incarceration of Parent 52 8 1 blank cell
#37 Caretaker Inability to Cope 53 6 1 blank cell
#38 Abandonment 51 3 1 blank cell
#39 Relinquishment 61 0 blank cell blank cell
#40 Inadequate Housing 50 10 1 blank cell
#41 Current Placement Setting

1 = Pre-Adoptive Home
2 = Foster Family Home (Relative)
3 = Foster Family Home (Non-Relative)
4 = Group Home
5 = Institution
6 = Supervised Independent Living
7 = Runaway
8 = Trial Home Visit		 55 3 2 Not found : 1
#42 Out of State Placement 61 0 blank cell blank cell
#43 Most Recent Case Plan Goal

1 = Reunify with Parent(s) or Principal Caretaker(s)
2 = Live with Other Relative(s)
3 = Adoption
4 = Long Term Foster Care
5 = Emancipation
6 = Guardianship
7 = Case Plan Goal Not Yet Established		 31 28 2

There were ten records with a goal of “reunify” in the AFCARS file, but the reviewer indicated that the goal had not been updated. The goals should have been “long-term foster care,” (five cases) “adoption,” (three cases) and “live with other relative” (two cases).

There were six records reported to AFCARS as “case plan goal not yet established.” At least two of these had been children in care for more than a year. Reviewers found case plan goals for all of these records.

There were two records with a goal reported to AFCARS as “long term foster care” and in one case the goal had changed to adoption and the other to reunification.
#44 Caretaker Family Structure

1 = Married Couple
2 = Unmarried Couple
3 = Single Female
4 = Single Male
5 = Unable to Determine		 24 32 2

Not found : 3

In the majority of the cases marked in error, the response in AFCARS was “unable to determine.” In many instances, the reviewers were able to determine the family structure of the individuals from which the child was removed.
#45 1st Primary Caretaker's Birth Year 27 30 1

Not found : 3

In the majority of the cases marked in error, the response in AFCARS was blank. In many instances the reviewers were able to determine the dates of birth of family members from which the child was removed.
#46 2nd Primary Caretaker's Birth Year 47 10 3

Not found : 1

In the majority of the cases marked in error, the response in AFCARS was blank. In many instances the reviewers were able to determine the dates of birth of family members from which the child was removed.
#47 Mother's Date of TPR 51 10 blank cell

In all of the error cases, the AFCARS field was blank and the reviewer found TPR dates.
#48 Father's Date of TPR 52 9 blank cell

In all of the error cases, the AFCARS field was blank and the reviewer found TPR dates.
#49 Foster Family Structure

0 = Not Applicable
1 = Married Couple
2 = Unmarried Couple
3 = Single Female
4 = Single Male		 48 12 blank cell

Not found : 1

In many of the error cases, the data was missing in AFCARS, but in many instances the reviewer found the marital status of the foster parents.
#50 1st Foster Caretaker's Birth Year 38 20 blank cell

Not found : 3

The date of birth information was missing in AFCARS even though the children were in family foster home settings.
#51 2nd Foster Caretaker's Birth Year 47 10 2

Not found : 2

The error records generally indicated that the child was in a family foster home and either the data reported in AFCARS or found by the reviewer indicated the foster family structure was a “married” or “unmarried couple.”
#52 1st Foster Caretaker's Race 37 18 blank cell

Not found : 6

The race information was missing in AFCARS even though the children were in family foster home settings.
#53 1st Foster Caretaker's Hispanic Origin 36 20 blank cell

Not found : 5

The Hispanic information was missing in AFCARS even though the children were in family foster home settings.
#54 2nd Foster Caretaker's Race 48 6 4

Not found: 3
#55 2nd Foster Caretaker's Hispanic Origin 49 8 3

Not found: 1
#56 Date of Discharge 54 7 blank cell

One of the cases marked as an error had a date of discharge after the end of the report period.

In one case, the reviewer indicated the child discharged from care in 2000.

In a third case, the AFCARS indicates the child was still in care and the reviewer indicated the child was discharged in August.
#58 Reason for Discharge

0 = Not Applicable
1 = Reunification with Parent(s) or Primary Caretaker(s)
2 = Living with Other Relative(s)
3 = Adoption
4 = Emancipation
5 = Guardianship
6 = Transfer to Another Agency
7 = Runaway
8 = Death of Child		 57 4 blank cell blank cell
#59 Title IVE Foster Care
#60 Title IVE Adoption
#61 Title IVA AFDC
#62 Title IVD Child Support
#63 Title XIX Medicaid
#64 SSI
#65 None of the Above
#66 Monthly Amount		 blank cell blank cell blank cell blank cell
AFCARS Element Data in AFCARS Matches Case File Data in AFCARS Does Not Match Paper File Questionable Comments
#4 State Agency Involvement

1 = Yes
2 = No		 25 0 blank cell blank cell
#5 Child Date of Birth 25 0 blank cell blank cell
#6 Child Sex

1 = Male
2 = Female		 25 0 blank cell blank cell
#7 Child Race
a. American Indian or Alaska Native
b. Asian
c. Black or African American
d. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
e. White
f. Unable to Determine
 24 0 blank cell Not found = 1
#8 Child Hispanic Origin

1 = Yes
2 = No
3 = Unable to Determine		 25 0 blank cell blank cell
#9 Has Agency Determined Special Needs 25 0 blank cell blank cell
#10 Primary Basis for Determining Special Needs

0 = Not Applicable
1 = Racial/Original Background
2 = Age
3 = Membership in a Sibling Group
4 = Medical Conditions or Mental, Physical or Emotional Disabilities
5 = Other		 25 blank cell blank cell

There were four records reported to AFCARS with the primary basis as “age.” The reviewers noted emotional/behavioral problems in three records, adverse parental background in one, and sibling group in another.

There was one record with “other” reported to AFCARS, but the reviewer found the following: child was 10 years old, part of a sibling group and had diagnosed disabilities.

One record indicated “other” in AFCARS, but the reviewer noted “sibling group” and prenatal exposure as other conditions.

One record indicated in AFCARS the primary basis of “sibling group.” The reviewer noted that drug exposure and developmental delays were also present.
#11 Mental Retardation 25 blank cell blank cell blank cell
#12 Visually/Hearing Impaired 25 blank cell blank cell blank cell
#13 Physically Disabled 25 blank cell blank cell blank cell
#14 Emotionally Disturbed 25 blank cell blank cell blank cell
#15 Other Diagnosed Condition 25 blank cell blank cell blank cell
#16 Mother's Birth Year 23 2 blank cell blank cell
#17 Father's Birth Year 19 4 blank cell Not Found = 2
#18 Mother Married at Time of Birth

1 = Yes
2 = No
3 = Unable to Determine		 17 6 blank cell

Not Found = 2

In five cases the reviewer found that the mother was not married at the time of the child's birth and the answer in AFCARS was “yes.”

One record indicated “unable to determine” and the reviewer found that the mother was not married at the time of the child's birth.
#19 Date of Mother's TPR 17 4 4

In one of the error cases, the AFCARS report was blank and the reviewer found dates of TPR.

In one record marked as an error, the reviewer indicated that the TPR was appealed and the date reported as the TPR date was not the actual date.

In one case, the date provided by the reviewer was two months later than the date reported in AFCARS.

In three of the cases marked as questionable, the reviewer indicated the date reported in AFCARS was the “filed date.” In one instance, the date provided by the reviewer as the court date was two days prior to the filed date reported in AFCARS.

In the other questionable case, the date indicated by the reviewer as the filed date was 18 days later than the date reported in AFCARS.
#20 Date of Father's TPR 17 4 4

In one of the error cases, the AFCARS report was blank and the reviewer found dates of TPR.

In one record marked as an error, the reviewer indicated that the TPR was appealed and the date reported as the TPR date was not the actual date.

In one case, the date provided by the reviewer was two months later than the date reported in AFCARS.

In three of the cases marked as questionable, the reviewer indicated the date reported in AFCARS was the “filed date.” In one instance, the date provided by the reviewer as the court date was two days prior to the filed date reported in AFCARS.

In the other questionable case, no data was reported in AFCARS and the reviewer did not provide any additional information.
#21 Date Adoption Legalized 25 0 blank cell blank cell
#22 Adoptive Family Structure

1 = Married Couple
2 = Unmarried Couple
3 = Single Female
4 = Single Male		 23 2 blank cell The error cases were missing data in the AFCARS report. In one instance, the reviewer noted the adoptive parents were a same sex couple.
#23 Adoptive Mother's Year of Birth 23 2 blank cell The error cases were missing data in the AFCARS report. In one instance, the reviewer noted the adoptive parents were a same sex couple.
#24 Adoptive Father's Year of Birth 23 2 blank cell The error cases were missing data in the AFCARS report. In one instance, the reviewer noted the adoptive parents were a same sex couple.
#25 Adoptive Mother's Race 21 1 1 Not Found = 2
#26 Adoptive Mother's Hispanic Origin 21 1 blank cell Not Found = 3
#27 Adoptive Father's Race 22 1 blank cell Not Found = 2
#28 Adoptive Father's Hispanic Origin 22 2 blank cell Not Found = 1
#29 Relationship of Adoptive Parent to Child - Stepparent 25 0 blank cell blank cell
#30 Relationship of Adoptive Parent to Child - Other Relative 25 0 blank cell blank cell
#31 Relationship of Adoptive Parent to Child - Foster Parent 23 2 blank cell The error cases were due to more than one relationship being applicable.
#32 Relationship of Adoptive Parent to Child - Other Non-Relative 23 2 blank cell The error cases were due to more than one relationship being applicable.
#33 Child Was Placed from

1 = Within State
2 = Another State
3 = Another Country		 25 0 blank cell blank cell
#34 Child Was Placed by

1 = Public Agency
2 = Private Agency
3 = Tribal Agency
4 = Independent Person
5 = Birth Parent		 25 0 blank cell blank cell
#35 Receiving Monthly Subsidy 25 0 blank cell blank cell
#36 Monthly Amount 0 25 blank cell One reviewer provided a note that in the file there was a print out of the “AFCARS Navigation Tool” and the amount that was included on it for this element was the amount the reviewer found in the file, not the amount reported to AFCARS.
#37 Adoption Assistance 21 4 blank cell In each of the error cases the AFCARS data indicated “no” and the reviewer indicated “yes.”

Number of Cases Reviewed = 26 Number of Cases Analyzed = 25