Children's Bureau Express

Child Welfare Outcomes 2003

Child Welfare Outcomes 2003: Annual Report to Congress provides information on the performance of each State, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico in seven areas or "outcomes" for children and families during the year 2003. Data on child abuse, neglect, reunification, and adoption were used to rate each State in the following areas:

Outcome 1—Reduction in the recurrence of child abuse and/or neglect
Outcome 2—Reduction in the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
Outcome 3—Increase in permanency for children in foster care
Outcome 4—Reduction in the time in foster care to reunification without increasing re-entry
Outcome 5—Reduction in the time in foster care to adoption
Outcome 6—Increase in placement stability
Outcome 7—Reduction in placements of young children in group homes or institutions

Notable improvements occurred in 2003, including the reduction of maltreatment of children in foster care, increases in achieving adoptions within 24 months of children entering foster care, placement of young children in foster families rather than institutions, and achievement of reunification within 12 months of children entering foster care. Challenges continued in a number of areas, especially the achievement of permanency for older children and youth.

To read Child Welfare Outcomes 2003, visit the Children's Bureau website:

www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cwo03/index.htm

This publication can be ordered through Child Welfare Information Gateway:

www.childwelfare.gov

<—Previous Article Next Article—> Next Section—>