#1 State

U.S. Postal Service two-letter abbreviation for the State submitting the report.

Must be the correct FIPS code for the State.

Best if system hard-coded.

#2 Report Date

___(mo) ___ (year)

The last month and the year for the reporting period.

#3 Local Agency(County or Equivalent Jurisdiction)

Identity of the county or equivalent unit which has responsibility for the case. The 5 digit Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) must be used.

Must be the code of the office responsible for the case - not the residence of the child.

#4 Record Number

The sequential number which the State uses to transmit data to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) or a unique number which follows the child as long as he or she is in foster care. The record number cannot be linked to the child's case I.D. number except at the State or local level.

State must use an identifier that remains the person's identifier statewide.

The record number should not be a social security number.

#5 Date of Most Recent Periodic Review (if applicable)

___(mo) ___ (day)____(year)

For children who have been in care seven months or longer, enter the month, day and year of the most recent administrative or court review, including dispositional hearing. For children who have been in care less than seven months, leave the field blank.

Must be the most recent review for the current removal episode.

Must be actual review dates and not the due date for the next review.

Must not include supervisory reviews, must only be reviews that meet 422(b)(10) standards.

Must not include review dates after the end of the current report period.

If a periodic review was conducted prior to the seventh month of the child's foster care episode, the date of the review may be included.

Are there review dates that precede the current reporting period?

"An entry in this field certifies that the child's computer record is current up to this date" (Appendix A, section II, of 45 CFR 1355). Does the agency require a review of the accuracy of the information in the automated system at the same time that all aspects of the case are under review?

#6 Child Birth Date

___(mo) ___ (day)____(year)

Month, day and year of the child's birth. If the child is abandoned or the date of birth is otherwise unknown, enter an approximate date of birth. Use the 15 th as the day of birth.

Are there system edits to verify the accuracy of the child's date of birth in comparison to other factors (child is 18 or younger when entered care, child is not older then the primary caregiver(s) or the foster parents)?

#7 Child Sex

1 = Male

2 = Female

Indicate as appropriate.

If "other" or "unknown" are State values, must be mapped to blank.

#8 Child's Race

In general, a person's race is determined by how they define themselves or by how others define them. In the case of young children, parents determine the race of the child.

Indicate all races (a through e) that apply with a "1." For those that do not apply, indicate a "0." Indicate "f. unable to determine" with a "1"' if it applies and a "0"' if it does not.

If at least one of the race categories "a-e" is selected (coded as 1) then "f" cannot also apply.

A combination of a "1" in any category "a-e" and a "1" in "f" will result in an error. In addition, if all race categories "a-f" are all zeros, this will result in an error.

Every relevant State code must map to an AFCARS value.

State's method of collecting race information must allow for all possible combinations.

Must be treating Hispanic as an ethnicity not race.

This field should not be initialized to zero. If data are missing, each race category should be blank.

a. American Indian or Alaska Native

A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North or South America (including Central America), and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.

b. Asian

A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.

c. Black or African American

A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

d. Native Hawaiian or Other

Pacific Islander

A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

e. White

A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.

f. Unable to Determine

The specific race category is "unable to determine" because the child is very young or is severely disabled and no person is available to identify the child's race.

"Unable to determine" is also used if the parent, relative or guardian is unwilling to identify the child's race.

#9 Hispanic/Latino Origin

1 = Yes

2 = No

3 = Unable to Determine

Answer "yes" if the child is of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American origin, or a person of other Spanish cultural origin regardless of race. Whether or not a person is Hispanic or Latino is determined by how they define themselves or by how others define them. In the case of young children, parents determine the ethnicity of the child.

"Unable to Determine" is used because the child is very young or is severely disabled and no person is available to determine whether or not the child is Hispanic or Latino.

"Unable to determine" is also used if the parent, relative or guardian is unwilling to identify the child's ethnicity.

#10 Has the child been clinically diagnosed as having a disability(ies)?

1=Yes

2=No

3=Not yet Determined

If yes, indicate each type of a disability with a "1."

"Yes" indicates that a qualified professional has clinically diagnosed the child as having at least one of the disabilities listed below.

"No" indicates that a qualified professional has conducted a clinical assessment of the child and has determined that the child has no disabilities.

"Not Yet Determined" indicates that a clinical assessment of the child by a qualified professional has not been conducted.

Does the State have a policy regarding a timeframe for medical and psych evaluations?

Standard for determination of disability must be a diagnosis by a qualified professional.

#11 Mental Retardation

Mental Retardation--

[0 = Does not apply]

1 = Applies

Significantly subaverage general cognitive and motor functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior manifested during the developmental period that adversely affect a child's/youth's socialization and learning.

#12 Visually/Hearing Impaired

[0 = Does not apply]

1 = Applies

Having a visual impairment that may significantly affect educational performance or development; or a hearing impairment, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects educational performance.

#13 Physically Disabled

[0 = Does not apply]

1 = Applies

A physical condition that adversely affects the child's day-to-day motor functioning, such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, orthopedic impairments, and other physical disabilities.

#14 Emotionally Disturbed

[0 = Does not apply]

1 = Applies

A condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree: An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships; inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances; a general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression; or a tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal problems. The term includes persons who are schizophrenic or autistic. The term does not include persons who are socially maladjusted, unless it is determined that they are also seriously emotionally disturbed. The diagnosis is based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

#15 Other Medically

[0 = Does not apply]

1 = Applies

Conditions other than those noted above which require special medical care such as chronic illnesses. Included are children diagnosed as HIV positive or with AIDS.

#16 Has this child ever been adopted?

1 = Yes

2 = No

3 = Unable to Determine

If this child has ever been legally adopted, enter "yes."

If the child has never been legally adopted, enter "no."

Enter "Unable to Determine" if the child has been abandoned or the child's parent(s) are otherwise not available to provide the information.

Should only be answered "yes" if child has been adopted before current/most recent episode.

Is this a question the worker responds to or is it a system created response?

System must be able to report regardless of whether adoption was public or private.

System must be able to report regardless of whether adoption was in-State or in another State.

#17 If yes, how old was the child when the adoption was legalized?

[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

Enter the number which represents the appropriate age range. If uncertain, use an estimate. If no one is available to provide the information, enter "Unable to Determine."

Not applicable should only be used if child is known to have not been previously adopted (response to element #16 is "no").

If the child was previously adopted, but the age is unknown, this element must be left blank.

The responses for "unable to determine" in elements #16 and #17 should be equal.

Removal Episodes

The removal of the child from his/her normal place of residence resulting in his/her placement in a foster care setting.

A removal is either the physical act of a child being taken from his or her normal place of residence, by court order or a voluntary placement agreement and placed in a substitute care setting, or the removal of custody from the parent or relative guardian pursuant to a court order or voluntary placement agreement which permits the child to remain in a substitute care setting (CWPM).

The system must be able to identify an episode according to the AFCARS definition (i.e., from the time of removal from the home and placement in an out of home setting to when the agency no longer has responsibility for placement, care or supervision.

#18 Date of First Removal from Home

___(mo) ___ (day)____(year)

Month, day and year the child was removed from home for the first time for purpose of placement in a foster care setting. If the current removal is the first removal, enter the date of the current removal. For children who have exited foster care, "current" refers to the most recent removal episode and the most recent placement setting.

Must include historical information prior to a conversion from a legacy system to a new information system.

Must include historical information on cases closed prior to a conversion to a new information system that have since re-opened.

Must include dates of removal that occurred in another county within the State.

#19 Total Number of Removals from Home

The number of times the child was removed from home, including the current removal.

Must include historical information prior to a conversion from a legacy system to a new information system.

#20 Date Child was Discharged from last foster care episode (if applicable)

___(mo) ___ (day)____(year)

For children with prior removals, enter the month, day and year they were discharged from care for the episode immediately prior to the current episode. For children with no prior removals, leave blank.

If foster care element #19 is 2, then this field must not be blank.

If this field is not blank, it must be a date prior to foster care element #21 (Date of Latest Removal From Home).

The date of discharge must reflect the date the agency no longer has "care, placement, or supervision" of the child.

Must not include the date the child entered a "trial home visit."

If a child re-enters care from a "trial home visit" that was for a non-specified period of time, and a discharge date is entered that equals six months from the date of placement, then that date must be entered for element #20.

Must include historical information prior to a conversion from a legacy system, or paper files, to a new information system.

#21 Date of Latest Removal

___(mo) ___ (day)____(year)

Month, day and year the child was last removed from his/her home for the purpose of being placed in foster care. This would be the date for the current episode or, if the child has exited foster care, the date of removal for the most recent removal.

Must be the date of the current removal from home (not necessarily the date of case opening).

This date must be equal to or prior to foster care element #23 (Date of Placement in Current Foster Care Setting).

Must include information prior to a conversion from a legacy system to a new information system.

How does the State handle a situation of a child on runaway status at the time the agency obtains responsibility for care and placement?

#22 Date of Latest Removal Transaction Date

___(mo) ___ (day)____(year)

A computer generated date that accurately indicates the month, day and year the response to "Date of Latest Removal From Home" was entered into the information system.

Must be a non-modifiable, computer-generated date that reflects when element #21 was first entered into system.

#23 Date of Placement in Current Foster Care Setting

___(mo) ___ (day)____(year)

Month, day and year the child moved into the current foster home, facility, residence, shelter, institution, etc. for purposes of continued foster care.

Date must not change when there is a change in the status of placement setting (e.g., foster home that becomes pre-adoptive home) (CWPM).

The State must indicate the date the child was placed on the trial home visit, or known to have run away from the last placement setting as the "Date of placement in current foster care setting" (foster care element 23) (CWPM).

How does the State handle a situation of a child on runaway status at the time the agency obtains responsibility for care and placement?

#24 Number of Previous Placement Settings in This Episode

Enter the number of places the child has lived, including the current setting, during the current removal episode.

Placement occurs after removal and is the physical setting in which a child finds himself or herself, that is, the resultant foster care setting. A new Placement setting results when the foster care setting changes, for example, when a child moves from one foster family home to another or to a group home or institution (CWPM).

Must not include change in status of placement setting (e.g., foster home that becomes pre-adoptive home) (CWPM).

The State is required to count a placement that lasts more than 24 hours while the child is in foster care under the placement, care or supervision responsibility of the State agency. See 45 CFR 1355.40 and CWPM 1.2B.7 and 1.3. This includes moves that may be made on an emergency or unplanned basis, such as shelter care placements, treatment facility placements, and certain placements for juvenile justice purposes. See CWPM 1.3. However, there are certain temporary living conditions that are not placements, but rather represent a temporary absence from the child's ongoing foster care placement. As such, the State must exclude the following temporary absences from the calculation of the number of previous placement settings for foster care element 24.

• Visitation with a sibling, relative, or other caretaker (i.e., preplacement visits with a subsequent foster care provider or preadoptive parents)
• Hospitalization for medical treatment, acute psychiatric episodes or diagnosis
• Respite care
• Day or summer camps
• Trial home visits
• Runaway episodes (CWPM)

Must not include return from trial home visit into same placement setting (CWPM).

Must not include return from runaway status and entry to same placement setting (CWPM).

How does the State handle a situation of a child on runaway status at the time the agency obtains responsibility for care and placement?

#25 Manner of Removal From Home for Current placement Episode

1 = Voluntary

2 = Court Ordered

3 = Not Yet Determined

Voluntary Placement Agreement-An official voluntary placement agreement has been executed between the caretaker and the agency. The placement remains voluntary even if a subsequent court order is issued to continue the child in foster care.

Court Ordered-The court has issued an order that is the basis of the child's removal.

Not Yet Determined-A voluntary placement agreement has not been signed or a court order has not been issued. This will mostly occur in very short-term cases. When either a voluntary placement agreement is signed or a court order issued, the record must be updated to reflect the manner of removal at that time.

Does State allow voluntary placements?

Actions or Conditions Associated With Child's Removal (Indicate all that apply with a "1".)

[0-Does not Apply]

1-Applies

At least one of the foster care elements #26 through #40 must have a value equal to 1.

System must have capacity to report on all AFCARS values for element #26 - 40.

System must report only those conditions that existed at the time of removal - it must not report any conditions that are found to exist after the child is removed.

Circumstances associated with removal must be checked for voluntary placements as well as court ordered placement.

#26 Physical Abuse

Alleged or substantiated physical abuse, injury or maltreatment of the child by a person responsible for the child's welfare.

#27 Sexual Abuse

Alleged or substantiated sexual abuse or exploitation of a child by a person who is responsible for the child's welfare.

#28 Neglect

Alleged or substantiated negligent treatment or maltreatment, including failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter or care.

State should map emotional abuse as "Neglect" (CWPM).

#29 Parent Alcohol Abuse

Principal caretaker's compulsive use of alcohol that is not of a temporary nature.

#30 Parent Drug Abuse

Principal caretaker's compulsive use of drugs that is not of a temporary nature.

System must be able to differentiate between drug abuse and alcohol abuse (i.e. cannot have simply "substance abuse").

#31 Child Alcohol Abuse

Child's compulsive use of or need for alcohol. This element must include infants addicted at birth.

System must be able to differentiate between drug abuse and alcohol abuse (i.e. cannot have simply "substance abuse").

System must include children addicted at birth.

#32 Child Drug Abuse

Child's compulsive use of or need for narcotics. This element should include infants addicted at birth.

System must be able to differentiate between drug abuse and alcohol abuse (i.e. cannot have simply "substance abuse").

System should include children addicted at birth.

#33 Child Disability

Clinical diagnosis by a qualified professional of one or more of the following: mental retardation; emotional disturbance; specific learning disability; hearing, speech or sight impairment; physical disability; or other clinically diagnosed handicap. Include only if the disability(ies) was at least one of the factors that led to the child's removal.

Only disabilities that were diagnosed at the time of removal should be considered and contributed to why the child was removed from his/her home.

#34 Child's Behavior Problem

Behavior in the school and/or community that adversely affects socialization, learning, growth, and moral development. These may include adjudicated or nonadjudicated child behavior problems. This would include the child's running away from home or other placement.

Is this being used for children in foster care under a title IV-E agreement with Juvenile Justice?

#35 Death of Parent

Family stress or inability to care for child due to death of a parent or caretaker.

Is the date(s) of death included as the termination of parental rights dates, if applicable?

#36 Incarceration of Parent

Temporary or permanent placement of a parent or caretaker in jail that adversely affects care for the child.

#37 Caretaker Inability to Cope Due to Illness or Other Reasons

Physical or emotional illness or disabling condition adversely affecting the caretaker's ability to care for the child.

Can be marked "applies" if none of the other conditions apply.

#38 Abandonment

Child left alone or with others; caretaker did not return or make whereabouts known.

#39 Relinquishment

Parent(s), in writing, assigned the physical and legal custody of the child to the agency for the purpose of having the child adopted.

#40 Inadequate Housing

Housing facilities were substandard, overcrowded, unsafe or otherwise inadequate resulting in their not being appropriate for the parents and child to reside together. Also includes homelessness.

#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

Identify the type of setting in which the child currently lives.

Pre-Adoptive Home - A home in which the family intends to adopt the child. The family may or may not be receiving a foster care payment or an adoption subsidy on behalf of the child.

Foster Family Home (Relative)--A licensed or unlicensed home of the child's relatives regarded by the State as a foster care living arrangement for the child.

Foster Family Home (Non-Relative)--A licensed foster family home regarded by the State as a foster care living arrangement.

Group Home-A licensed or approved home providing 24-hour care for children in a small group setting that generally has from seven to twelve children.

Institution-A child care facility operated by a public or private agency and providing 24-hour care and/or treatment for children who require separation from their own homes and group living experience. These facilities may include: Child care institutions; residential treatment facilities; maternity homes; etc.

Supervised Independent Living-An alternative transitional living arrangement where the child is under the supervision of the agency but without 24 hour adult supervision, is receiving financial support from the child welfare agency, and is in a setting which provides the opportunity for increased responsibility for self care.

Runaway-The child has run away from the foster care setting.

Trial Home Visit-The child has been in a foster care placement, but, under State agency supervision, has been returned to the principal caretaker for a limited and specified period of time.

If a time period is not specified the child must be identified as having been returned home at the point at which the trial home visit exceeds six months (CWPM).

Multi-service agencies should not be coded as "Institution" - the actual setting should be used.

Licensed Relative foster homes are mapped as relative foster homes.

Non-paid placements must be included.

#42 Is Current Placement Out-of-State?

1=Yes (Out of State placement)

2=No (In-State placement)

"Yes" indicates that the current placement setting is located outside of the state making the report.

"No" indicates that the child continues to reside within the state making the report.

Note: Only the State with placement and care responsibility for the child should include the child in this reporting system.

#43 Most recent case plan goal

1 = Reunify With Parent(s) Or Principal Caretaker(s)

2 = Live With Relative(s)

3 = Adoption

4 = Long Term Foster Care

5 = Emancipation

6 = Guardianship

7 = Case Plan Goal Not Yet Established

Indicate the most recent case plan goal for the child based on the latest review of the child's case plan-whether a court review or an administrative review. If the child has been in care less than six months, enter the goal in the case record as determined by the caseworker.

Reunify With Parents or Principal Caretaker(s)--The goal is to keep the child in foster care for a limited time to enable the agency to work with the family with whom the child had been living prior to entering foster care in order to reestablish a stable family environment.

Live With Other Relatives-The goal is to have the child live permanently with a relative or relatives other than the ones from whom the child was removed. This could include guardianship by a relative(s).

Adoption-The goal is to facilitate the child's adoption by relatives, foster parents or other unrelated individuals.

Long Term Foster Care-Because of specific factors or conditions, it is not appropriate or possible to return the child home or place her or him for adoption, and the goal is to maintain the child in a long-term foster care placement.

Emancipation-Because of specific factors or conditions, it is not appropriate or possible to return the child home, have a child live permanently with a relative or have the child be adopted; therefore, the goal is to maintain the child in a foster care setting until the child reaches the age of majority.

Guardianship-The goal is to facilitate the child's placement with an agency or unrelated caretaker, with whom he or she was not living prior to entering foster care, and whom a court of competent jurisdiction has designated as legal guardian.

Case Plan Goal Not Yet Established-No case plan goal has yet been established other then the care and protection of the child.

If State defaults missing data to "not yet established," then this information should be mapped to blank after 60 days from the date of latest removal.

If State does not list "long term foster care" on the case screen, then program code must list the alternative living arrangement plans that are mapped to it.

"Emancipation" is used for Independent Living services/program.

Is State placing youth that have a long term foster care plan into independent living services and planning for emancipation?

How does the State handle a situation of a child on runaway status at the time the agency obtains responsibility for care and placement?

Principal caretaker(s) information

Provide information on the person(s) from whom the child was removed. This may include biological parents, grandparents, or others.

#44 Caretaker Family Structure

1 = Married Couple

2 = Unmarried Couple

3 = Single Female

4 = Single Male

5 = Unable to Determine

Select from the four alternatives-married couple, unmarried couple, single female, single male-the category which best describes the type of adult caretaker(s) from whom the child was removed for the current foster care episode. Enter "unable to determine" if the child has been abandoned or the child's caretakers are otherwise unknown.

"Separated" must be mapped to "married."

#45 1 st Primary Caretaker's Birth Year

___(mo) ___ (day)____(year)

Enter the year of birth for up to two caretakers.

If the response to data element #44, Caretaker Family Structure, was 1 or 2, enter data for two caretakers. If the response was 3 or 4, enter data only for the first caretaker. If the exact year of birth is unknown, enter an estimated year of birth.

#46 2 nd Primary Caretaker's Birth Year (if applicable)

___(mo) ___ (day)____(year)

Required if foster care element #44 (Caretaker Family Structure) has a value of 1 or 2. (May leave blank if foster care element #44 equals 5.)

#47 Mother's Date of TPR

___(mo) ___ (day)____(year)

Enter the month, day and year that the court terminated the parental rights. If the parents are known to be deceased, enter the date of death.

Is there a goal of adoption and a date of TPR?

If the discharge reason is adoption, is the TPR date missing?

Is the most recent mother's TPR date used?

#48 Legal or Putative Father's TPR

___(mo) ___ (day)____(year)

Enter the month, day and year that the court terminated the parental rights. If the parents are known to be deceased, enter the date of death.

Legal or most recent putative father's TPR date (i.e. the last impediment to freeing the child) must be used.

Is there a goal of adoption and dates of TPR?

If the discharge reason is adoption, is the TPR date missing?

Foster family home - parent(s) data

Provide information only if the response to element #41, current placement setting, is 1, 2, or 3.

System must have capacity to report #49 - 55 if child is in purchased foster home.

#49 Foster Family Structure

0 = Not Applicable

1 = Married Couple

2 = Unmarried Couple

3 = Single Female

4 = Single Male

Foster Family Structure-Select from the four alternatives-married couple, unmarried couple, single female, single male-the category which best describes the nature of the foster parents with whom the child is living in the current foster care episode.

If foster care element #41 (current placement setting) has a value = 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 (indicating that the child is not in a foster family or pre-adoptive home), foster care element #49 must be 0, not applicable.

#50 1 st Foster Caretaker's Birth Year

Enter the year of birth for up to two foster parents. If the response to element #49, foster family structure, was 1 or 2, enter data for two caretakers. If the response was 3 or 4, enter data only for the first caretaker. If the exact year of birth is unknown, enter an estimated year of birth.

If foster care element #41 (current placement setting) has a value = 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 (indicating that the child is not in a foster family or pre-adoptive home), foster care element #50 should be blank.

Are there system edits to verify the accuracy of the foster parent's date? For example, if the date of birth entered would result in the foster parent being 18 or younger.

#51 2 nd Foster Caretaker's Birth Year

If the response to element #49, foster family structure, was 1 or 2, enter a date for the second foster caretaker.

If foster care element #41 (current placement setting) has a value = 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 (indicating that the child is not in a foster family or pre-adoptive home), then foster care element #51 must be blank.

Are there system edits to verify the accuracy of the foster parent's date? For example, if the date of birth entered would result in the foster parent being 18 or younger.

#52 1 st Foster Caretaker's Race

Indicate the race for each of the foster parent(s).

Use "f. unable to determine" only when the individual is unwilling to identify his or her race.

If foster care element #41 (Current Placement Setting) has a value = 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 (indicating that the child is not in a foster family or pre-adoptive home), then foster care race categories must be blank.

If at least one of the race categories "a-e" is selected (coded as 1) then f cannot also apply. A combination of a "1" in any category "a-e" and a "1" in "f" will result in an error. In addition, if all race categories "a-f" are all "0"s, this will result in an error.

This field should not be initialized to zero.

a. American Indian or Alaska Native

A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North or South America (including Central America), and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.

b. Asian

A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.

c. Black or African American

A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

d. Native Hawaiian or Other

Pacific Islander

A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

e. White

A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.

f. Unable to Determine

The specific race category is "unable to determine" because the individual is unwilling to identify a race.

#53 1 st Foster Caretaker's Hispanic or Latino Origin

0 = Not applicable

1 = Yes

2 = No

3 = Unable to Determine

Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity-Indicate the ethnicity for each of the foster parent(s).

Answer "yes" if the individual is of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American origin, or a person of other Spanish cultural origin regardless of race. Whether or not a person is Hispanic or Latino is determined by how they define themselves or by how others define them.

Use "unable to determine" only when a person is unwilling to identify his or her ethnicity.

If foster care element #41 (current placement setting) has a value = 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 (indicating that the child is not in a foster family or pre-adoptive home), then this element must be "0."

#54 2 nd Foster Caretaker's Race (if applicable)

Indicate the race for each of the foster parent(s).

Use "unable to Determine" only when a parent is unwilling to identify his or her race.

If foster care element #41 (current placement setting) has a value = 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 (indicating that the child is not in a foster family or pre-adoptive home), then the race categories must be blank.

If at least one of the race categories "a-e" is selected (coded as 1) then "f" cannot also apply. A combination of a "1" in any category "a-e" and a "1" in "f" will result in an error. In addition, if all race categories "a-f" are all zeros, this will result in an error.

This field should not be initialized to zero.

a. American Indian or Alaska Native

A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North or South America (including Central America), and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.

b. Asian

A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.

c. Black or African American

A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

d. Native Hawaiian or Other

Pacific Islander

A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

e. White

A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.

f. Unable to Determine

The specific race category is "unable to determine" because the person unwilling to identify his/her race.

#55 2 nd Foster Caretaker's Hispanic Origin

[0 = Not Applicable]

1 = Yes

2 = No

3 = Unable to Determine

Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity-Indicate the

ethnicity for each of the foster parent(s).

Answer "yes" if the individual is of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American origin, or a person of other Spanish cultural origin regardless of race. Whether or not a person is Hispanic or Latino is determined by how they define themselves or by how others define them.

Use "3. Unable to Determine" only when a person is unwilling to identify his or her ethnicity.

If foster care element #41 (Current Placement Setting) has a value = 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 (indicating that the child is not in a foster family or pre-adoptive home), then foster care elements #53 must be 0.

Outcome information

Enter data only for children who have exited foster care during the reporting period.

A discharge represents that point in time when the child is no longer in foster care under the care and responsibility or supervision of the State agency. For AFCARS purposes, situations in which the State retains supervision of a child and the child returns home on a trial basis, for an unspecified period of time, are considered a discharge from foster care after a six month period (CWPM).

#56 Date of Discharge from foster care

___(mo) ___ (day)____(year)

Enter the month, day and year the child was discharged from foster care. If the child has not been discharged from care, leave blank.

If this foster care element is applicable, the date entered must be later then the Date of Last Removal From Home (foster care element #21).

If this element is applicable, there must be a reason provided in element #58.

#57 Date of Discharge Transaction Date

___(mo) ___ (day)____(year)

A computer generated date which accurately indicates the month, day and year the response to "Date of Discharge from Foster Care" was entered into the information system.

Must be a non-modifiable computer-generated date that reflects the date element #56 was first entered into system.

#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 = RELATIVE Guardianship

6 = Transfer to Another Agency

7 = Runaway

8 = Death of Child

Reunification With Parents or Primary Caretakers-The child was returned to his or her principal caretaker(s) home.

Living With Other Relatives-The child went to live with a relative other than the one from whose home he or she was removed.

Adoption-The child was legally adopted.

The numbers reported for an outcome of adoption should closely reflect the number of adoptions reported in the adoption file.

Emancipation-The child reached majority according to State law by virtue of age, marriage, etc.

Guardianship-Permanent custody of the child was awarded to an individual.

Transfer to Another Agency-Responsibility for the care of the child was awarded to another agency-either in or outside of the State.

Runaway-The child ran away from the foster care placement.

Death of Child-The child died while in foster care.

If this element has a response, then a date must be in element #56.

Source(s) of Federal financial support/assistance for child

0-Does not apply

1-Applies

Indicate all that apply with a "1."

At least one of the foster care elements #59 through #65 must have a value of 1.

Include all that applied at any time during the six-month reporting period. The payment/benefit can be for less than a full month and still qualify as "applies" for any one of these benefits.

#59 Title IV-E (Foster Care)

Title IV-E foster care maintenance payments are being paid on behalf of the child.

#60 Title IV-E (Adoption Subsidy)

Title IV-E adoption subsidy is being paid on behalf of the child who is in an adoptive home, but the adoption has not been legalized.

#61 Title IV-A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children)

Child is living with relative(s) whose source of support is an AFDC payment for the child.

Must only include title IV-A payments.

Must not include emergency assistance payments.

#62 Title IV-D (Child Support)

Child support funds are being paid to the State agency on behalf of the child by assignment from the receiving parent.

#63 Title XIX (Medicaid)

Child is eligible for and may be receiving assistance under title XIX.

Must be included if child is eligible for Medicaid payments.

#64 SSI or other Social Security Act Benefits

Child is receiving support under title XVI or other Social Security Act titles not included in this section.

#65 None of the Above

Child is receiving support only from the State or from some other source (Federal or non-Federal) which is not indicated above.

#66. Amount Of Monthly Foster Care Payment (regardless of source)

Amount of the monthly foster care payment (regardless of sources)--

Enter the monthly payment paid on behalf of the child regardless of source (i.e., Federal, State, county, municipality, tribal, and private payments). If title IV-E is paid on behalf of the child the amount indicated should be the total computable amount. If the payment made on behalf of the child is not the same each month, indicate the amount of the last full monthly payment made during the reporting period. If no monthly payment has been made during the period, enter all zeros.

Should include all payments made on behalf of the child.

If no payment was made, State uses zeros.

Should be amount of last full monthly payment paid in the AFCARS report period.

A blank in this field indicates that the State does not have the information for this foster care element or that a payment was not made.