Components and Weights

Component A

Component B

Component C

Permanency Composite 1: Timeliness and Permanency of Reunification ^** (1,975 Counties)

Timeliness of Reunification

Permanency of Reunification

Not Applicable

Measure C1.1: Of all children who were discharged from foster care to reunification in FY 2004, and who had been in foster care for 8 days or longer, what percent were reunified in less than 12 months from the date of the latest removal from home? (This includes the "trial home visit adjustment.") (51 States)

0.462

0.085

Measure C1.2: Of all children who were discharged from foster care to reunification in FY 2004, and who had been in foster care for 8 days or longer, what was the median length of stay in months from the date of the latest removal from home until the date of discharge to reunification? (This includes the "trial home visit adjustment.") (51 States)

0.451

0.070

Measure C1.3: Of all children who entered foster care for the first time in the 6-month period just prior to FY 2004, and who remained in foster care for 8 days or longer, what percent were discharged from foster care to reunification in less than 12 months from the date of latest removal from home? (This includes the "trial home visit adjustment.") (47 States)

0.295

-0.005

Measure C1.4: Of all children who were discharged from foster care to reunification in the 12-month period prior to FY 2004, what percent re-entered foster care in less than 12 months from the date of discharge? (47 States)

0.129

1.025

Permanency Composite 2: Timeliness of Adoptions (1,512 Counties) ^*

Length of time in foster care  to adoption

Progress toward adoption - children in foster care for 17 months or longer

Timeliness of adoptions for children who are legally free

Measure C2.1: Of all children who were discharged from foster care to a finalized adoption during FY 2004, what percent were discharged in less than 24 months from the date of the latest removal from home? (51 States)

0.533

-0.032

-0.026

Measure C2.2: Of all children who were discharged from foster care to a finalized adoption during FY 2004, what was the median length of stay in foster care in months from the date of latest removal from home to the date of discharge to adoption? (51 States)

0.551

0.106

-0.032

Measure C2.3: Of all children in foster care on the first day of FY 2004 who were in foster care for 17 continuous months or longer, what percent were discharged from foster care to a finalized adoption by the last day of FY 2004? The denominator for this measure excludes children who, by the end of FY 2004 had been discharged from foster care with a discharge reason of reunification, live with relative, or guardianship. (51 States)

-0.087

0.526

0.255

Measure C2.4: Of all children in foster care on the first day of FY 2004 who were in foster care for 17 continuous months or longer, and who were not legally free for adoption prior to that day, what percent became legally free for adoption during the first 6 months of FY 2004? (Legally free means that there was a parental rights termination date reported to AFCARS for both mother and father.) The denominator for this measure excludes children who, by the last day of the first 6 months of FY 2004, were not legally free but had been discharged from foster care with a discharge reason of reunification, live with relative, or guardianship. (51 States)

0.140

0.699

-0.256

Measure C2.5: Of all children who became legally free for adoption during FY 2003 (i.e., there was a parental rights termination date reported to AFCARS for both mother and father), what percent were discharged from foster care to a finalized adoption in less than 12 months of becoming legally free? (47 States)  

-0.030

-0.059

0.930

Permanency Composite 3: Achieving permanency for children in foster care for long periods of time (1,681 Counties) ^*

Children discharged to permanent homes

Children discharged to emancipation

Not applicable to this composite

Measure C3.1: Of all children who were in foster care for 24 months or longer on the first day of FY 2004, what percent were discharged to a permanent home prior to their 18th birthday and by the end of the fiscal year? A child is considered discharged to a permanent home if the discharge reason is adoption, guardianship, reunification, or live with relative. (51 States) 

0.545

0.137

No Standard

Measure C3.2: Of all children who were discharged from foster care in FY 2004, and who were legally free for adoption at the time of discharge (i.e., there was a parental rights termination date reported to AFCARS for both mother and father), what percent were discharged to a permanent home prior to their 18th birthday? A child is considered discharged to a permanent home if the discharge reason is adoption, guardianship, reunification, or live with relative. (51 States)  

0.746

-0.220

No Standard

Measure C3.3: Of all children who either (1) were, prior to their 18th birthday, discharged from foster care in FY 2004 with a discharge reason of emancipation, or (2) reached their 18th birthday in FY 2004 while in foster care, what percent were in foster care for 3 years or longer? (51 States)

-0.108

0.979

No Standard

Permanency Composite 4: Placement stability (2,140 Counties) ^*

Placement stability

Not applicable for composite

Not applicable for composite

Measure C4.1: Of all children who were served in foster care during FY 2004, and who were in foster care for at least 8 days but less than 12 months, what percent had two or fewer placement settings? (51 States)

0.398

Measure C4.2: Of all children who were served in foster care during FY 2004, and who were in foster care for at least 12 months but less than 24 months, what percent had two or fewer placement settings? (51 States)

0.421

Measure C4.3: Of all children who were served in foster care during FY 2004, and who were in foster care for at least 24 months, what percent had two or fewer placement settings? (51 States)

0.400