Case File Findings

AFCARS Assessment Review: Foster Care Case File Findings

AFCARS Assessment Review - Foster Care Case File Findings
State: New Hampshire
Report Period Under Review: October 1, 2003 - March 31, 2004
AFCARS Data Element	Paper File and AFCARS Match	Paper File and AFCARS Does Not Match	Questionable	Comments/Findings
#3 Local Agency (County or Equivalent Jurisdiction)	74	2	0	blank cell
#5 Most Recent Periodic Review Date	71	3	1	Not found = 1 In the questionable case, the reviewer noted the date reported in AFCARS was a dispositional hearing.
#6 Child Birth Date	76	0	0	blank cell
#7 Child Sex 1 = Male 2 = Female	76	0	0	blank cell
#8 Child Race	72	1	0	Not found = 3
a. American Indian or Alaskan Native	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
b. Asian	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
c. Black or African American	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
d. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
e. White	72	1	blank cell	The error case indicated an additional race that should have been marked on the system.
f. Unable to Determine	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell	blank cell
#9 Child Hispanic Origin 1 = Yes 2 = No 3 = Unable to Determine	73	0	0	Not found = 3
#10 Has Child Been Diagnosed with Disability?	35	41	0	The error cases were all reported in AFCARS as "not yet determined." Sixteen records should have indicated "yes", and 26 should have been "no." All of the records indicated the child had been in care for more than six months, and most had been in care for more than one year.
#11 Mental Retardation	74	1	1	In the error case, the data reported to AFCARS was "applies," but the reviewer found it "did not apply." The questionable case is due to the reviewer indicating "yes" for element #10, but did not indicate the diagnosed condition(s).
#12 Visually/Hearing Impaired	73	1	2	One of the questionable cases is due to the reviewer indicating "yes" for element #10, but did not indicate the diagnosed condition(s).
#13 Physically Disabled	74	1	1	One of the records was reported as "applies," but the reviewer found it did not apply. The questionable case is due to the reviewer indicating "yes" for element #10, but did not indicate the diagnosed condition(s).
#14 Emotionally Disturbed	60	15	1	Most of the error cases were due to the reviewer finding that a diagnosed disability did occur. The record was reported as "not yet determined" and this element was coded as "does not apply." Two of the records were reported as "does not apply," but the reviewer found it did apply. The questionable case is due to the reviewer indicating "yes" for element #10, but not indicating the diagnosed condition(s).
#15 Other Diagnosed Condition	64	11	1	Most of the error cases were due to the reviewer finding that a diagnosed disability did occur and the record was reported as "not yet determined." Three of the records were reported as "applies," but the reviewer found the condition did not apply. The questionable case is due to the reviewer indicating "yes" for element #10, but not indicating the diagnosed condition(s).
#16 Has Child Ever Been Adopted? 1 = Yes 2 = No 3 = Unable to Determine	66	10	0	Seven of the error cases were coded as "unable to determine," but the reviewers indicated the response was "no." Two of the error cases were marked as "no," but the reviewer indicated the child had been previously adopted. One of the error cases was marked as "yes," but the reviewer indicated the child had never been previously adopted.
#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	67	9	0	In one of the error cases the response to #16 was "yes" and #17 was coded as "unable to determine." If the age was unknown, this element should have been left blank. The actual responses found by the reviewer, however, were "no" and "not applicable."
#18 Date of First Removal from Home	70	6	0	In five of the error cases, the reviewers found dates of first removal that occurred prior to the ones reported to AFCARS.
#19 Total Number of Removals from Home	59	13	3	Not found = 1 According to the reviewers, five of the error cases had fewer removals from home and eight had more removals from home than what was reported to AFCARS. Of the records that had fewer removals, four went from having multiple removals to only one.
#20 Date of Discharge from Previous Episode	58	14	3	Not found = 1 There were six cases missing a date of discharge from a prior removal episode. However, there was more than one removal reported in element #19. Additionally, there were three other cases that were reported to AFCARS as having more than one removal in element #19 and element #20 was blank. These three cases were actually correct because the reviewer found that the child only had one removal episode. The remaining error cases were either incorrect dates or a date should have been reported because there were actually multiple removals.
#21 Date of Latest Removal	61	13	1	Not found = 1 Four of the error cases were due to the child having only one removal. Two of the error cases were due to the child having more removals than what were reported to AFCARS and the date of latest removal was after the date reported to AFCARS. In five error cases, the reviewers found dates of latest removal that occurred prior to the date that was reported to AFCARS.
#23 Date of Placement in Current Setting	70	5	blank cell	Not found = 1
#24 Number of Previous Placement Settings in This Episode	47	29	0	Eight of the error cases indicated fewer placements than what were reported to AFCARS.
#25 Manner of Removal From Home for This Episode 1 = Voluntary 2 = Court Ordered 3 = Not Yet Determined	76	0	0	blank cell
#26 Physical Abuse	73	3	0	One of the error cases was "applies" and should have been "does not apply". The other two should have been "applies."
#27 Sexual Abuse	74	2	0	Error cases should have been "applies."
#28 Neglect	62	14	0	Error cases should have been "applies."
#29 Parent Alcohol Abuse	70	6	0	Error cases should have been "applies."
#30 Parent Drug Abuse	72	4	0	Error cases should have been "applies."
#31 Child Alcohol Abuse	73	3	0	The error cases were all reported as "applies" in AFCARS, but the reviewer indicated that they did not apply.
#32 Child Drug Abuse	76	0	0	blank cell
#33 Child Disability	74	2	0	Error cases should have been "applies."
#34 Child's Behavior Problem	74	2	0	Error cases should have been "applies."
#35 Death of Parent	76	0	0	blank cell
#36 Incarceration of Parent	75	1	0	Error cases should have been "applies."
#37 Caretaker Inability to Cope	71	5	0	Error cases should have been "applies."
#38 Abandonment	74	2	0	Error cases should have been "applies."
#39 Relinquishment	76	0	0	blank cell
#40 Inadequate Housing	70	6	0	Error cases should have been "applies."
#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	76	0	0	blank cell
#42 Out of State Placement	76	0	0	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	63	13	0	Of the error cases, seven records were reported to AFCARS as "not yet established." The reviewers found the following goals: Guardianship = 1 Adoption = 2 Long term foster care = 2 Reunification = 1 In all of the cases, the child had been in care for more than a year. Other errors included: In two cases, the goal was reported as reunification and one should have been "long-term foster care" and the other "adoption." A goal of "long-term foster care" was reported in two cases and both should have been "adoption." One case was reported as "adoption" and it should have been "long-term foster care." There was one record that "guardianship" was reported, but the goal should have been long-term foster care or emancipation.
#44 Caretaker Family Structure 1 = Married Couple 2 = Unmarried Couple 3 = Single Female 4 = Single Male 5 = Unable to Determine	70	5	0	Not found = 1
#45 1st Primary Caretaker's Birth Year	61	15	0	blank cell
#46 2nd Primary Caretaker's Birth Year	64	12	0	blank cell
#47 Mother's Date of TPR	62	13	1	In twelve of the error cases, the data was missing in AFCARS, but the reviewer found the information.
#48 Father's Date of TPR	65	11	0	In ten of the error cases, the data was missing in AFCARS, but the reviewer found the information.
#49 Foster Family Structure 0 = Not Applicable 1 = Married Couple 2 = Unmarried Couple 3 = Single Female 4 = Single Male	66	10	0	In nine of the error cases, "not applicable" was reported to AFCARS, but the child was in a foster family home. In eight of these records, the child was in a relative foster home.
#50 1st Foster Caretaker's Birth Year	63	12	0	Not found = 1 In eight of the error cases, the child was in a relative foster home.
#51 2nd Foster Caretaker's Birth Year	63	12	0	Not found = 1 In eight of the error cases, the child was in a relative foster home.
#52 1st Foster Caretaker's Race	52	9	0	Not found = 15 In eight of the error cases, the child was in a relative foster home and the response reported to AFCARS was "no" for each race.
#53 1st Foster Caretaker's Hispanic Origin	55	9	0	Not found = 12
#54 2nd Foster Caretaker's Race	59	9	0	Not found = 8 In eight of the error records, the child was in a relative foster home and the response reported to AFCARS was "no" for each race.
#55 2nd Foster Caretaker's Hispanic Origin	60	9	0	Not found = 7
#56 Date of Discharge	74	2	0	There were two records indicating the child was discharged from care and the child was actually still in the agency's care and placement responsibility.
#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	74	2	0	blank cell
#59 Title IVE Foster Care	66	6	0	Not found = 4
#60 Title IVE Adoption	71	1	0	Not found = 3
#61 Title IVA AFDC	70	2	0	Not found = 4
#62 Title IVD Child Support	67	5	0	Not found = 4
#63 Title XIX Medicaid	69	3	0	Not found = 4
#64 SSI	61	11	0	Not found = 4
#65 None of the Above	68	4	0	Not found = 4
#66 Monthly Amount	70	5	0	Not found = 1

Number of cases received: 80 Number of cases reviewed: 77 Number of cases Analyzed: 76

AFCARS Assessment Review - Adoption Case File Findings
State: New Hampshire
Report Period Under Review: October 1, 2003 - March 31, 2004
AFCARS Element	Data in AFCARS Matches Case File	Data in AFCARS Does Not Match Paper File	Comments
#4 State Agency Involvement 1 = Yes 2 = No	30	0	blank cell
#5 Child Date of Birth	30	0	blank cell
#6 Child Sex 1 = Male 2 = Female	30	0	blank cell
#7 Child Race American Indian or Alaskan Native Asian Black or African American Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander White Unable to Determine	28	2	One error case was reported to AFCARS as "unable to determine," but the reviewer indicated the child was "white." In the other error case, the child should have been reported as multi-racial. The reviewer indicated two additional races to the one reported.
#8 Child Hispanic Origin 1 = Yes 2 = No 3 = Unable to Determine	17	1	Not found = 2
#9 Has Agency Determined Special Needs	30	0	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	30	0	Not found = 1 One error case indicated "other" and the reviewer indicated there were medical conditions. The other error case indicated "other" and the reviewer indicated "age."
#11 Mental Retardation	30	0	blank cell
#12 Visually/Hearing Impaired	30	0	blank cell
#13 Physically Disabled	28	2	One of the error cases should have been "does not apply," and the other should have been "applies."
#14 Emotionally Disturbed	29	0	Not found = 1
#15 Other Diagnosed Condition	29	1	The error case should have been marked as "applies."
#16 Mother's Birth Year	30	0	blank cell
#17 Father's Birth Year	21	3	Not found = 6
#18 Mother Married at Time of Birth 1 = Yes 2 = No 3 = Unable to Determine	25	4	Not found = 1
#19 Date of Mother's TPR	27	3	In the error cases, two of the dates found by the reviewers were before the date reported in AFCARS. One was after the date reported in AFCARS.
#20 Date of Father's TPR	23	4	Not found = 3 In the error cases, three of the dates found by the reviewers were before the dates reported to AFCARS, the other was after.
#21 Date Adoption Legalized	30	0	blank cell
#22 Adoptive Family Structure 1 = Married Couple 2 = Unmarried Couple 3 = Single Female 4 = Single Male	29	1	The marital structure reported to AFCARS was "single female." The reviewer marked it incorrect and included a date of birth in element #24.
#23 Adoptive Mother's Year of Birth	29	1	The wrong year was entered.
#24 Adoptive Father's Year of Birth	29	1	The error case was due to a missing date of birth.
#25 Adoptive Mother's Race	30	0	blank cell
#26 Adoptive Mother's Hispanic Origin 0 = Not Applicable 1 = Yes 2 = No 3 = Unable to Determine	30	0	blank cell
#27 Adoptive Father's Race	29	1	The error case was reported to AFCARS with "no" for each race category and "unable to determine" was "yes." The reviewer indicated the race should have been "white."
#28 Adoptive Father's Hispanic Origin	29	1	The reviewer indicated the answer should have been "no" and not "not applicable."
#29 Relationship of Adoptive Parent to Child - Stepparent	30	0	blank cell
#30 Relationship of Adoptive Parent to Child - Other Relative	29	1	The reviewer indicated that this should have been "applies." The adoptive parents were reported only as being "foster parents."
#31 Relationship of Adoptive Parent to Child - Foster Parent	30	0	blank cell
#32 Relationship of Adoptive Parent to Child - Other Non-Relative	30	0	blank cell
#33 Child Was Placed from 1 = Within State 2 = Another State 3 = Another Country	30	0	blank cell
#34 Child Was Placed by 1 = Public Agency 2 = Private Agency 3 = Tribal Agency 4 = Independent Person 5 = Birth Parent	29	1	The information reported in AFCARS indicated "private agency." The reviewer indicated "public agency."
#35 Receiving Monthly Subsidy	30	0	blank cell
#36 Monthly Amount	3	27	In each of the error cases, the AFCARS indicated a zero amount, but the reviewers found an amount in the Adoption Assistance Agreement.
#37 Adoption Assistance	28	2	The responses should have been "yes" instead of "no."

Number of cases received: 30 Number of cases reviewed: 30 Number of cases Analyzed: 30