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Home > Statistics & Research > AFCARS Assessment Reviews > Texas Assessment Review > Foster Care Case File Findings

Foster Care Case File Findings

Foster Care Case File Findings
State: Texas
AFCARS Element Data in AFCARS Matches Case File Data in AFCARS Does Not Match Paper File Questionable Comments
#5 Most Recent Periodic Review Date 27 11 blank cell

Five (13%) of the records in the sample had review dates prior to the reporting period. One record had a review date that occurred after the discharge date reported in element #56. All of the dates were nine months prior to the end of the report period ending date. However, in all cases a more recent review had been conducted.

One record was missing a date and the date the child was removed from home (element #21) was February 27, 1998. This also was a Texas Youth Corrections (TYC) case.

Two of the records marked as not matching appear to be data entry errors.
#6 Child Birth Date 35 3 blank cell The records marked as not matching are more then likely data entry errors.
#7 Child Sex
1 = Male
2 = Female		 38 0 blank cell blank cell
#8 Child Race 38 0 blank cell blank cell
#9 Child Hispanic Origin
1 = Yes
2 = No
3 = Unable to Determine		 38 0 blank cell blank cell
#10 Has Child Been Diagnosed with Disability? 31 9 blank cell The non-matching files were all situations where a diagnosed disability was found in the case file but was not reported to AFCARS.
#11 Mental Retardation 37 1 blank cell The response in AFCARS should have been "applies."
#12 Visually/Hearing Impaired 36 2 blank cell One recorded indicated "applies" in the AFCARS file and no evidence was found in the case file to support this response. The other record should have had a response of "applies" in AFCARS.
#13 Physically Disabled 38 0 blank cell blank cell
#14 Emotionally Disturbed 28 10 blank cell Nine records indicated a "does not apply" response in AFCARS and should have been "applies." One record was miscoded; the response was "other diagnosed condition" instead of "emotionally disturbed."
#15 Other Diagnosed Condition 37 1 blank cell AFCARS record indicated "applies" and it should have been "does not apply."
#16 Has Child Ever Been Adopted?
1 = Yes
2 = No
3 = Unable to Determine		 38 0 blank cell blank cell
#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		 37 1 blank cell blank cell
#18 Date of First Removal from Home 32 6 blank cell In the two TYC cases, the dates did not reflect the date the child entered a title IV-E eligible placement. In two cases the date reported to AFCARS were five and six years later then what was found in the case file. One record was 30 days later then what was found in the case file. Another record had the court order date, which did not reflect the removal from home date.
#19 Total Number of Removals from Home 26 12 blank cell

Ten of the cases should have reported two removals instead of one.

In five cases the reviewer noted either that the records were not merged or that the record was a pre-conversion case. One of these records should have indicated three removals (two were reported) and the others should have had two not one removal reported.

In three cases the number of removals reported to AFCARS was incorrect because the reviewer found a different date of latest removal then what was reported to AFCARS. These cases indicated one removal.

In seven cases the number of removals reported to AFCARS was one, but it was incorrect because the date of latest removal and date of first removal were different. In four records, there had been five to six years between the two dates, the remaining were two to three years difference. One of the records did not have a date of discharge from the previous removal episode, the others did have a date in element #20.
#20 Date of Discharge from Previous Episode 32 6 blank cell

One case indicated a discharge date reported in AFCARS, but the child had only one removal.

Two records had different dates of first and latest removal and no discharge date from the previous removal episode.
#21 Date of Latest Removal 32 6 blank cell

In the two TYC cases, the dates did not reflect the date the child entered a title IV-E eligible placement.

In four cases the date reported for date of latest removal was the same as the date for the first removal. The reviewer found more then one removal in the case file.
#23 Date of Placement in Current Setting 34 4 blank cell

In one case the date reported as the date of the current placement setting reflects the date the child was discharged from placement and care. The actual current placement date was two years earlier then what was reported.

In another case, the date of latest placement is wrong in AFCARS because it reflects the date the foster parents moved out of State. This is not considered a new placement setting for the child.
#24 Number of Previous Placement Settings in This Episode 23 13 2

One record indicated in the AFCARS report there were zero placements. The reviewer found one placement. Also, this was a TYC case.

There were two records where hospital/mental health crisis placements were included in the count of placements but were actually short-term placements. In one of the records, each time the child returned to the same foster family after the hospital stay was counted. In one record a placement from a previous removal episode was included in the current placement count. In two cases the foster family changed child-placing agencies. However, the child remained with the same family. These should not have incremented the number of placement stays.

In the two cases indicated as questionable, it appears the child's first placement was a hospital. It one case the date of removal is three days after the child's birth. The number of placement settings should have been four not five, even if the State had received placement and care on the same day as the child's birth. Since the time the child the child spent in the hospital was a "brief" stay it would not have counted as a placement. In the other case, the child was also removed from the hospital. However, the date of latest removal is approximately six weeks after the child was born. If the State received placement, care or supervision of the child prior to his/her release from the hospital, then the hospital stay should have been counted.

The record in which the foster family moved out of State also counted the family's move as another placement. Since the child remained with the same family, this is not considered a "new" placement.
#25 Manner of Removal From Home for This Episode
1 = Voluntary
2 = Court Ordered
3 = Not Yet Determined		 38 0 blank cell blank cell
#26 Physical Abuse 37 1 blank cell In the two TYC cases the response to elements #26 - 40 was "does not apply." The reviewer marked those circumstances of "removal" that were noted in the case record.
#27 Sexual Abuse 37 1 blank cell blank cell
#28 Neglect 38 0 blank cell blank cell
#29 Parent Alcohol Abuse 35 3 blank cell blank cell
#30 Parent Drug Abuse 35 3 blank cell One reviewer noted that the information reported to AFCARS was information from the child's previous removal episode. Also, the child had been previously adopted.
#31 Child Alcohol Abuse 35 3 blank cell blank cell
#32 Child Drug Abuse 38 0 blank cell blank cell
#33 Child Disability 38 0 blank cell blank cell
#34 Child's Behavior Problem 35 3 blank cell blank cell
#35 Death of Parent 37 1 blank cell blank cell
#36 Incarceration of Parent 38 0 blank cell blank cell
#37 Caretaker Inability to Cope 37 1 blank cell blank cell
#38 Abandonment 37 1 blank cell blank cell
#39 Relinquishment 38 0 blank cell blank cell
#40 Inadequate Housing 37 1 blank cell 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		 35 3 blank cell blank cell
#42 Out of State Placement 37 1 blank cell Blank address that was marked as "yes."
#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		 36 2 blank cell AFCARS response was a blank, but the child had been in care since 1998.
#44 Caretaker Family Structure
1 = Married Couple
2 = Unmarried Couple
3 = Single Female
4 = Single Male
5 = Unable to Determine		 33 5 blank cell

Two of the incorrect AFCARS responses should have been single males.

One record indicated a response of "unable to determine" in the AFCARS report and the reviewer found information on the family. It was the child's adoptive parents.
#45 1st Primary Caretaker's Birth Year 30 8 blank cell

One record indicated a single female family structure but there was no date of birth.

There were three records that indicated in the AFCARS report the caretaker was a single male. In each of these the date of birth was listed in element #46, second primary caretaker. In each of the AFCARS records that indicated a single female, the date of birth was given in this element.

Three responses were incorrect because of the information reported for family structure.
#46 2nd Primary Caretaker's Birth Year 26 12 blank cell

See note above regarding single males' dates of birth.

Five responses were incorrect because of the information reported for family structure.

Five responses appear to be data entry issues. Differences in the years ranged from two years to thirty years. One record indicated the second caregiver would be approximately six years old. Two records indicate the person was substantially older then what was reported in AFCARS (28 and 30 years older).
#47 Mother's Date of TPR 34 3 1 blank cell
#48 Father's Date of TPR 35 2 1 blank cell
#49 Foster Family Structure
0 = Not Applicable
1 = Married Couple
2 = Unmarried Couple
3 = Single Female
4 = Single Male		 32 6 blank cell

In five records the current placement setting was given as "foster family home" and the foster family structure information was blank in the AFCARS report.

One record indicated the foster parent was a "single female," however, the reviewer noted she was "separated." This should have been mapped to "married."
#50 1st Foster Caretaker's Birth Year 26 12 blank cell In eleven records the AFCARS record indicated a family structure and a placement setting of foster home but the birth year information was missing. In one record the placement setting was a foster home, and the family structure and foster caretaker date of birth was missing.
#51 2nd Foster Caretaker's Birth Year 28 5 5

Five records indicated the foster family structure was "married" and no information was reported for the second foster caretaker.

The five questionable records have missing information. The placement setting is foster home but the foster family structure is blank. Therefore, these records may actually have information.
#52 1st Foster Caretaker's Race blank cell blank cell blank cell

There was one record that indicated the child was in a family foster home and the foster family structure was missing as well as this information.

There were eleven records that indicated a foster family home and family structure but this information was missing.

There were four records that indicated the foster family structure was missing but information was correctly reported for this element.
a. American Indian or Alaskan Native 26 12 blank cell blank cell
b. Asian 26 12 blank cell blank cell
c. Black or African American 26 12 blank cell blank cell
d. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 26 12 blank cell blank cell
e. White 26 12 blank cell blank cell
f. Unable to Determine 26 12 blank cell blank cell
#53 1st Foster Caretaker's Hispanic Origin
0 = Not Applicable
1 = Yes
2 = No
3 = Unable to Determine		 25 13 blank cell

There was one record that indicated the child was in a family foster home and the foster family structure was missing as well as this information.

There were eleven records that indicated a foster family home and family structure but this information was missing.

There were four records that indicated the foster family structure was missing but information was correctly reported for this element.
#52 1st Foster Caretaker's Race blank cell blank cell blank cell

Five records indicated the foster family structure was "married" and no information was reported for the second foster caretaker.

The five questionable records have missing information. The placement setting is foster home but the foster family structure is blank. Therefore, these records may actually have information.
a. American Indian or Alaskan Native 28 5 5 blank cell
b. Asian 28 5 5 blank cell
c. Black or African American 28 5 5 blank cell
d. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 28 5 5 blank cell
e. White 28 5 5 blank cell
f. Unable to Determine 28 5 5 blank cell
#55 2nd Foster Caretaker's Hispanic Origin
0 = Not Applicable
1 = Yes
2 = No
3 = Unable to Determine		 28 5 5

Five records indicated the foster family structure was "married" and no information was reported for the second foster caretaker.

The five questionable records have missing information. The placement setting is foster home but the foster family structure is blank. Therefore, these records may actually have information.
#56 Date of Discharge 33 4 1

One record indicates a discharge date in the AFCARS report. However, the reviewer noted there was a periodic review that occurred after the discharge date. Also, no discharge reason was given for element #58. The date submitted in AFCARS reflects the individual's 18th birthday.

In another record the discharge date was incorrect and it reflected the individual's 18th birthday. However, the reviewer found an actual discharge date in the case file that was a year later, after the individual turned 19. Also, the date of the most recent periodic review reported to AFCARS occurred after the discharge date.

One discharge date reflected six months from the time the child entered a "trial home visit." The actual discharge date was two months later.
#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		 33 5 blank cell

All of the AFCARS records that did not match the case file had missing data for this element. In three cases the reviewer marked the reason as "emancipation." One record was for a TYC and the reviewer noted the youth left the title IV-E eligible placement.

One record missing a discharge reason had a current placement setting of "runaway." Also, the reviewer noted the discharge date was incorrect and that date was the date of the most recent periodic review.
#59 Title IVE Foster Care 37 0 1

Elements #59 - 65 not included in the analysis. Reviewers did spot checks of the information on CAPS.

One of the TYC records indicated "does not apply" for this element.
#60 Title IVE Adoption 37 0 1 blank cell
#61 Title IVA AFDC 37 0 1 blank cell
#62 Title IVD Child Support 36 1 1 blank cell
#63 Title XIX Medicaid 33 4 1 blank cell
#64 SSI 37 0 1 blank cell
#65 None of the Above 36 1 1 blank cell
#66 Monthly Amount 36 1 1 Thirty-six of the records reported to AFCARS were blank. Therefore, this element is not included in the analysis.
Adoption Case File Findings
State: Texas
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		 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#5 Child Date of Birth 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#6 Child Sex
1 = Male
2 = Female		 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#7 Child Race blank cell blank cell blank cell blank cell
a. American Indian or Alaska Native 18 0 blank cell blank cell
b. Asian 18 0 blank cell blank cell
c. Black or African American 17 1 blank cell blank cell
d. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 18 0 blank cell blank cell
e. White 18 0 blank cell blank cell
f. Unable to Determine 17 1 blank cell blank cell
#8 Child Hispanic Origin
1 = Yes
2 = No
3 = Unable to Determine		 17 1 blank cell blank cell
#9 Has Agency Determined Special Needs 18 blank cell 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		 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#11 Mental Retardation 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#12 Visually/Hearing Impaired 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#13 Physically Disabled 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#14 Emotionally Disturbed 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#15 Other Diagnosed Condition 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#16 Mother's Birth Year 17 0 1 blank cell
#17 Father's Birth Year 14 4 blank cell Reviewers found dates of birth for fathers.
#18 Mother Married at Time of Birth
1 = Yes
2 = No
3 = Unable to Determine		 16 2 blank cell Reviewer found information pertaining to mother's marital status at the time of the child's birth.
#19 Date of Mother's TPR 14 4 blank cell In one case the mother was deceased and this was not used as the TPR date. One record the date of TPR was actually a month later then what was reported to AFCARS. The other two records had data entry errors.
#20 Date of Father's TPR 14 4 blank cell One of the records was missing a TPR for the father. One record the date of TPR was actually a month later then what was reported to AFCARS. The other two records had data entry errors.
#21 Date Adoption Legalized 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#22 Adoptive Family Structure
1 = Married Couple
2 = Unmarried Couple
3 = Single Female
4 = Single Male		 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#23 Adoptive Mother's Year of Birth 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#24 Adoptive Father's Year of Birth 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#25 Adoptive Mother's Race 18 0 blank cell blank cell
a. American Indian or Alaska 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 blank cell blank cell blank cell blank cell
f. Unable to Determine blank cell blank cell blank cell blank cell
#26 Adoptive Mother's Hispanic Origin
0 = Not Applicable
1 = Yes
2 = No
3 = Unable to Determine		 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#27 Adoptive Father's Race 18 0 blank cell blank cell
a. American Indian or Alaska 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 blank cell blank cell blank cell blank cell
f. Unable to Determine blank cell blank cell blank cell blank cell
#28 Adoptive Father's Hispanic Origin
0 = Not Applicable
1 = Yes
2 = No
3 = Unable to Determine		 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#29 Relationship of Adoptive Parent to Child - Stepparent 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#30 Relationship of Adoptive Parent to Child - Other Relative 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#31 Relationship of Adoptive Parent to Child - Foster Parent 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#32 Relationship of Adoptive Parent to Child - Other Non-Relative 18 0 blank cell In two cases the reviewers noted that the adoptive parents were also foster parents.
#33 Child Was Placed from
1 = Within State
2 = Another State
3 = Another Country		 18 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		 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#35 Receiving Monthly Subsidy 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#36 Monthly Amount 18 0 blank cell blank cell
#37 Adoption Assistance 18 0 blank cell blank cell