AFCARS Report - Final Estimates for FY 1998 through FY 2002

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children's Bureau, www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb

The AFCARS Report

Final Estimates for FY 1998 through FY 2002 (12)

NOTES: For a description of the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) and a discussion of critical aspects of the system, see Note #1 in the Technical Notes section at the end of this report.

Final Estimates

NOTE: For a description of the subpopulations in the graph above and in this report, see NOTE #2 in the Technical Notes section at the end of this report.

I. Children in foster care on September 30th

How many children were in foster care on September 30th of each year?

FY 1998		FY 1999		FY 2000		FY 2001		FY 2002
559,000		567,000		552,000		545,000		533,000

What were the ages of the children in foster care?

	FY 1998		FY 1999		FY 2000		FY 2001		FY 2002
Mean Years	9.6		9.9		10.0		10.1		10.2
Median Years	9.6		10.1		10.4		10.6		10.8

Less than 1 Year	5%	28,195	4%	23,174	4%	22,839	4%	23,301	5%	24,490
1 Year	5%	27,689	5%	28,690	5%	28,991	5%	28,448	5%	29,133
2 Years	5%	28,721	5%	28,850	5%	28,453	5%	28,545	5%	27,438
3 Years	5%	28,861	5%	27,661	5%	26,611	5%	26,662	5%	26,023
4 Years	5%	29,298	5%	27,606	5%	25,233	5%	24,720	5%	24,513
5 Years	5%	30,182	5%	27,488	5%	25,090	4%	23,513	4%	22,522
6 Years	5%	30,193	5%	28,793	5%	25,663	4%	23,586	4%	22,098
7 Years	6%	30,922	5%	29,198	5%	26,774	5%	24,751	4%	22,219
8 Years	6%	30,796	5%	29,925	5%	27,364	5%	25,816	4%	23,159
9 Years	5%	29,452	5%	29,442	5%	28,153	5%	26,489	5%	24,470
10 Years	5%	28,507	5%	28,753	5%	28,049	5%	27,547	5%	25,448
11 Years	5%	27,425	5%	28,030	5%	28,086	5%	27,883	5%	26,647
12 Years	5%	27,797	5%	28,426	5%	28,447	5%	28,936	5%	28,063
13 Years	5%	29,387	5%	30,784	6%	30,663	6%	31,081	6%	30,827
14 Years	6%	31,708	6%	34,422	6%	34,470	6%	34,365	7%	34,672
15 Years	6%	34,812	7%	37,811	7%	38,411	7%	38,693	7%	38,682
16 Years	6%	35,174	7%	39,329	7%	39,041	7%	40,036	8%	40,910
17 Years	5%	29,588	6%	35,080	6%	35,032	6%	35,224	7%	36,672
18 Years	2%	12,661	3%	14,796	3%	14,982	3%	15,023	3%	14,655
19 Years	1%	4,961	1%	5,888	1%	6,366	1%	6,610	1%	6,458
20 Years	0%	2,670	1%	2,853	1%	3,280	1%	3,771	1%	3,902

NOTE: For a discussion of why the age distribution is presented in this format, see NOTE #3 in the Technical Notes at the end of this report.

What were the placement settings of the children in foster care?

	FY 1998		FY 1999		FY 2000		FY 2001		FY 2002
Pre-Adoptive Home	3%	15,289	3%	19,776	4%	22,124	4%	21,409	5%	25,340
Foster Family Home (Relative)	28%	158,611	26%	147,255	25%	138,143	24%	133,149	24%	125,955
Foster Family Home (Non-Relative)	48%	266,183	47%	268,105	47%	258,007	47%	257,449	46%	246,550
Group Home	7%	41,223	8%	42,548	8%	43,975	8%	43,623	9%	46,029
Institution	9%	49,849	11%	60,234	10%	55,833	10%	56,369	10%	54,884
Supervised Independent Living	1%	4,454	1%	5,368	1%	4,976	1%	5,145	1%	5,723
Runaway	1%	5,360	1%	8,054	2%	10,077	2%	8,743	2%	9,569
Trial Home Visit	3%	18,031	3%	15,660	3%	18,864	4%	19,113	4%	18,950

What were the lengths of stay in foster care?

	FY 1998		FY 1999		FY 2000		FY 2001		FY 2002
Mean Months	32.6		31.8		32.3		32.5		31.7
Median Months	20.5		19.8		19.8		19.2		18.1

Less than 1 Month	4%	21,320	4%	23,955	4%	23,194	4%	22,899	4%	23,943
1 to 5 Months	16%	87,213	16%	92,941	16%	87,892	17%	92,382	18%	94,547
6 to 11 Months	15%	85,855	15%	83,885	15%	83,713	15%	84,000	16%	84,922
12 to 17 Months	11%	62,880	11%	64,733	12%	64,332	11%	61,941	12%	62,206
18 to 23 Months	9%	48,427	9%	51,149	9%	47,583	8%	46,283	8%	45,060
24 to 29 Months	7%	40,385	8%	42,945	7%	40,557	7%	38,434	7%	36,346
30 to 35 Months	5%	30,291	6%	32,772	6%	32,360	5%	29,045	5%	27,233
3 to 4 Years	15%	86,483	14%	82,202	15%	81,197	14%	78,442	13%	70,966
5 Years or More	17%	96,146	16%	92,418	17%	91,173	17%	91,573	16%	87,777

What were the case goals of the children in foster care?

	FY 1998		FY 1999		FY 2000		FY 2001		FY 2002
Reunify with Parent(s) or Principal Caretaker(s)	39%	220,428	42%	239,006	41%	228,932	43%	235,432	46%	244,796
Live with Other Relative(s)	3%	19,230	4%	23,327	4%	22,961	5%	28,182	5%	26,905
Adoption	20%	114,148	20%	114,203	21%	114,125	22%	117,818	21%	110,983
Long Term Foster Care	7%	38,639	8%	44,401	8%	45,272	9%	46,434	9%	47,029
Emancipation	5%	29,913	6%	33,745	6%	33,691	6%	34,527	6%	34,024
Guardianship	3%	14,423	2%	14,165	3%	14,278	3%	17,491	3%	16,703
Case Plan Goal Not Yet Established	22%	122,219	17%	98,153	17%	92,742	12%	65,117	10%	52,559

What was the race/ethnicity of the children in foster care?

	FY 1998		FY 1999		FY 2000		FY 2001		FY 2002
AI/AN-Non Hispanic	2%	9,914	2%	10,632	2%	10,959	2%	10,178	2%	9,915
Asian-Non Hispanic	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	1%	4,370	1%	3,686	1%	3,434
Asian/PI-Non Hispanic	1%	5,967	1%	5,865	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Hawaiian/ PI-Non Hispanic	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0%	1,565	0%	1,489	0%	1,470
Black -Non Hispanic	43%	240,166	38%	214,364	39%	217,615	38%	205,074	37%	195,425
Hispanic	15%	85,020	17%	95,710	15%	81,823	17%	89,950	17%	89,443
White-Non Hispanic	35%	194,130	35%	196,098	38%	207,970	38%	205,549	39%	205,769
Unknown/Unable to Determine	4%	22,140	7%	41,221	4%	19,656	3%	17,192	3%	14,399
Two or More Races-Non Hispanic	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	1%	8,043	2%	11,881	2%	13,145
Not Applicable	0%	1,662	1%	3,110	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

NOTE: Using U.S. Bureau of the Census standards, children of Hispanic origin may be of any race. Beginning in FY 2000, children could be identified with more than one race designation. For further discussion of this change, see NOTE #4 in the Technical Notes section at the end of this report.

What was the gender of the children in foster care?

	FY 1998		FY 1999		FY 2000		FY 2001		FY 2002
Male	52%	289,544	52%	296,793	52%	289,187	52%	285,505	52%	279,457
Female	48%	269,456	48%	270,207	48%	262,813	48%	259,495	48%	253,543

II. Children Entering Foster Care

How many children entered foster care during each year?

FY 1998		FY 1999		FY 2000		FY 2001		FY 2002
299,000		293,000		293,000		296,000		303,000

What were the ages of the children who entered care during each year?

	FY 1998		FY 1999		FY 2000		FY 2001		FY 2002
Mean Years	8.6		8.6		8.6		8.6		8.5
Median Years	8.5		8.7		8.8		8.7		8.6

Less than 1 Year	14%	41,332	13%	37,511	13%	37,996	13%	38,453	13%	40,714
1 Year	6%	16,801	6%	16,927	6%	17,336	6%	17,867	6%	18,745
2 Years	5%	15,641	5%	15,100	5%	15,410	6%	16,326	6%	16,708
3 Years	5%	14,394	5%	13,969	5%	13,861	5%	14,637	5%	15,362
4 Years	5%	14,109	5%	13,592	4%	12,937	4%	13,288	5%	13,892
5 Years	5%	14,107	5%	13,385	4%	12,821	4%	12,742	4%	13,306
6 Years	5%	13,993	5%	13,467	4%	13,059	4%	12,712	4%	12,520
7 Years	5%	13,540	5%	13,373	4%	12,834	4%	12,657	4%	12,363
8 Years	4%	12,996	4%	12,871	4%	12,603	4%	12,542	4%	12,269
9 Years	4%	11,950	4%	12,464	4%	12,683	4%	12,489	4%	12,278
10 Years	4%	11,472	4%	11,745	4%	12,167	4%	12,464	4%	12,463
11 Years	4%	11,579	4%	11,624	4%	11,977	4%	12,549	4%	12,726
12 Years	5%	13,498	5%	13,214	5%	13,575	5%	13,921	5%	13,996
13 Years	6%	16,635	6%	16,908	6%	16,726	6%	16,662	6%	17,201
14 Years	7%	20,411	7%	20,498	7%	21,118	7%	20,205	7%	20,799
15 Years	8%	23,736	8%	23,131	8%	23,159	8%	23,324	8%	23,192
16 Years	7%	20,243	7%	20,351	7%	20,086	7%	20,250	7%	21,225
17 Years	4%	11,330	4%	11,685	4%	11,614	4%	11,890	4%	12,210
18 Years	0%	960	0%	919	0%	803	0%	846	0%	820
19 Years	0%	182	0%	177	0%	157	0%	143	0%	156
20 Years	0%	91	0%	88	0%	77	0%	31	0%	54

NOTE: For a discussion of why the age distribution is presented in this format, see NOTE #3 in the Technical Notes at the end of this report.

What was the race/ethnicity of the children who entered care during each year?

	FY 1998		FY 1999		FY 2000		FY 2001		FY 2002
AI/AN-Non Hispanic	3%	7,519	3%	7,678	3%	7,958	2%	7,395	2%	6,890
Asian-Non Hispanic	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	1%	3,565	1%	2,984	1%	2,854
Asian/PI-Non Hispanic	2%	5,032	1%	4,361	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Hawaiian/ PI-Non Hispanic	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0%	947	0%	1,086	0%	1,115
Black -Non Hispanic	30%	88,861	27%	79,128	29%	84,460	28%	83,718	28%	83,777
Hispanic	16%	48,445	16%	46,828	15%	42,769	16%	47,542	17%	51,472
White-Non Hispanic	45%	133,832	42%	123,901	46%	136,214	46%	137,226	46%	140,003
Unknown/Unable to Determine	5%	13,923	10%	28,797	4%	11,725	3%	8,758	3%	8,490
Two or More Races-Non Hispanic	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	2%	5,362	2%	7,292	3%	8,399
Not Applicable	0%	1,387	1%	2,307	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

III. Children Exiting Foster Care

How many children exited foster care during each year?

FY 1998		FY 1999		FY 2000		FY 2001		FY 2002
257,000		250,000		272,000		269,000		282,000

What were the ages of the children who exited care during each year?

	FY 1998	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001	FY 2002
Mean Years	10.3	10.3	10.2	10.1	10.1
Median Years	10.3	10.3	10.2	10.1	10.2

Less than 1 Year	4%	11,427	4%	10,156	4%	11,025	4%	11,555	4%	12,159
1 Year	5%	12,059	5%	12,475	5%	13,867	5%	14,783	6%	16,190
2 Years	5%	13,786	5%	13,349	6%	15,210	6%	15,951	6%	17,273
3 Years	5%	14,132	5%	13,303	5%	14,826	6%	15,020	6%	16,118
4 Years	5%	13,628	5%	12,862	5%	13,615	5%	13,775	5%	14,480
5 Years	5%	13,297	5%	12,673	5%	13,149	5%	12,772	5%	13,322
6 Years	5%	12,930	5%	12,306	5%	13,275	5%	12,528	4%	12,625
7 Years	5%	12,538	5%	12,009	5%	13,026	5%	12,274	4%	12,345
8 Years	5%	11,694	5%	11,695	5%	12,747	5%	12,284	4%	12,431
9 Years	4%	10,810	4%	10,935	5%	12,634	4%	12,042	4%	12,103
10 Years	4%	9,989	4%	10,153	4%	11,546	4%	11,665	4%	11,909
11 Years	4%	9,278	4%	9,592	4%	10,838	4%	11,073	4%	11,592
12 Years	4%	9,706	4%	9,388	4%	10,704	4%	10,984	4%	11,803
13 Years	4%	11,354	4%	10,859	4%	11,858	4%	11,728	4%	12,410
14 Years	5%	13,865	5%	13,223	5%	14,666	5%	13,968	5%	14,685
15 Years	7%	17,186	7%	16,322	6%	17,484	6%	17,452	6%	17,280
16 Years	7%	18,749	7%	18,123	7%	19,182	7%	18,436	7%	19,098
17 Years	7%	18,769	8%	21,079	7%	19,770	6%	17,408	7%	21,042
18 Years	6%	15,377	6%	13,933	6%	17,385	7%	18,308	6%	16,560
19 Years	2%	3,947	1%	3,430	1%	3,369	1%	3,050	1%	3,776
20 Years	1%	2,479	1%	2,136	1%	1,825	1%	1,944	1%	2,801

NOTE: For a discussion of why the age distribution is presented in this format, see NOTE #3 in the Technical Notes at the end of this report.

What was the race/ethnicity of the children who exited care during each year?

	FY 1998		FY 1999		FY 2000		FY 2001		FY 2002
AI/AN-Non Hispanic	2%	5,911	3%	6,386	2%	6,520	2%	6,579	2%	6,331
Asian-Non Hispanic	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	1%	3,307	1%	2,714	1%	2,757
Asian/PI-Non Hispanic	2%	4,227	2%	3,771	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Hawaiian/ PI-Non Hispanic	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0%	1,006	0%	1,037	0%	977
Black -Non Hispanic	32%	82,666