Child Welfare Outcomes 2020: 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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Table of Contents

Executive Summary

• Contextual Factors
• State Performance on Outcome Measures
• Conclusion and Recommendations for Further Investigation
• Child Welfare Outcomes Data Site
• Download the Executive Summary

Introduction to the Child Welfare Outcomes, Data, and Analysis

• Outcome Measures
• Relationship to the Child and Family Services Review
• Context Data
• Data Sources
• Data Analyses in the Report
• Child Welfare Outcomes Report Data Site

Chapter 1: Child Welfare Outcomes Demographic and Contextual Data

• National Child Population
• Children in Foster Care
• Entry into Foster Care
• 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

• Children Exiting 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

• Children in Group Homes and Institutions
• 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