Child Welfare Outcomes 2018: Report to Congress

This report to Congress provides information on the performance of states on seven national outcome categories and also includes data on contextual factors and findings of analyses conducted across states.

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Executive Summary

Contextual Factors

State Performance on Outcome Measures

Conclusion and Recommendations for Further Investigation

Child Welfare Outcomes Data Site

Introduction to the Child Welfare Outcomes, Data, and Analysis

Outcome Measures

Context Data

Data Sources

Data Analyses in the Report

The Child Welfare Outcomes Report Data Site

Chapter 1: Child Welfare Outcomes Demographic Data

National Child Population

Children in Foster Care

Foster Care Entry Rates

Children Waiting for Adoption and Children Adopted

Summary

Chapter 2: Keeping Children Safe

Child Victims and Child Fatalities

Range of State Performance on Safety-Related Outcome Measures

Changes Over Time in State Performance on Measures of Maltreatment Recurrence and Maltreatment of Children in Foster Care

Summary of Findings Regarding Keeping Children Safe

Chapter 3: Finding Permanent Homes for Children in Foster Care

Range of Performance in Achieving Permanency for Children in Foster Care

Changes Over Time in State Performance on Measures of Achieving Permanency

Summary of Findings Regarding Achieving Permanency for Children in Foster Care

Chapter 4: Achieving Timely Reunifications and Adoptions for Children in Foster Care

Caseworker Visits

Timeliness of Reunifications

Changes Over Time in State Performance With Regard to Achieving Timely Reunifications

Timeliness of Adoptions

Changes Over Time in State Performance With Regard to Timeliness of Adoptions

Summary of Findings Regarding Achieving Reunifications and Adoptions in a Timely Manner

Chapter 5: Achieving Stable and Appropriate Placement Settings for Children in Foster Care

Changes Over Time in State Performance on Measures of Achieving Stable and Appropriate Placement Settings for Children in Foster Care

Summary of Findings Regarding Achieving Stable and Appropriate Placements for Children in Foster Care

Chapter 6: State Comments on Performance Relevant to the Seven National Child Welfare Outcomes

Appendix A: Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105—89)

Appendix B: Child Welfare Outcomes Report: Outcomes and Measures

Appendix C: Caseworker Visits

Appendix D: Child Welfare Outcomes Report: Data Sources and Elements

Appendix E: Child Maltreatment 2018: Summary of Key Findings

Appendix F: The AFCARS Report: FY 2018 Estimates

Appendix G: Data-Quality Criteria

Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.