American Indian Children in ArizonaFred FisherNovember 15, 2013

What do we need to know about the data?

American Indian Children in Arizona

Challenges in collecting accurate data on AIAN children in care• undercounting/limited data collection• diffusion of responsibility for AIAN children who

have experienced abuse and/or neglect • lack of consistency in the tracking of ethnicity

and tribal membership

So…to what extent do these challenges persist in Arizona?

Pathway through the child welfare system: data at various decision points (FY11)

* note: based on primary race/ethnicity

• Data source throughout slides: AFCARS data, made available by National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect Data (NDACAN), Cornell University

children

in ge

neral p

opulation

children

in pover

ty

children

in sc

reened

in re

ports

children

in su

bstantiate

d reports

children

enter

ing care

children

in ca

re

children

exiting c

are

children

exiting c

are to

perman

ency

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

American IndianOtherLatinoBlackWhite

What does the data we have tell us about American Indian

children in foster care?

American Indian Children in Arizona

Since FY05, between 7-8 percent of children entering care in Arizona are American Indian*

• Unless otherwise noted, data is presented for any child identified as American Indian, alone or in combination with other races/ethnicities• Data source throughout slides: AFCARS data, made available by National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect Data (NDACAN), Cornell University

FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY120

100200300400500600700800900

0%1%2%3%4%5%6%7%8%9%

% of children entering # of children entering

The majority of AIAN children enter care due to neglect and parental substance abuse

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100% AIAN children All non-AIAN children

Reasons Children Enter Care (FY12)Of all children entering care, what percentage enter for each reason?(note: more than one removal reason may be selected)

Young children make up a larger percentage of children entering care

The number of young, school-age AIAN children entering care are increasing.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

-175

-125

-75

-25

25

75

125

175

-150%-125%-100%-75%-50%-25%0%25%50%75%100%125%150%

American Indian Children Entering Care, By Age

% 05-12 change FY2005 FY2012

A slightly larger percentage of AIAN children are placed in non-relative foster care

Foster care Kinship care Congregate care

Pre-Adopt home

Trial home visit0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50% AIAN children All non-AIAN children

Placement Types for Children in Care (FY12)Among children in care, where are they placed?

A smaller percent of AIAN children in non-relative foster care are placed with an AIAN caregiver

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%AIAN children All non-AIAN children

Percent of children in Non-Relative Foster Care Placed with Caregivers of the Same Race/Ethnicity

In most years, AIAN children are as likely as non-AIAN children to be in care 2 years or longer

FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY120%5%

10%15%20%25%30%

Percent In Care At Least 2 YearsOf all children in care, what percent have been in care at least 2

years or longer?

AIAN children All non-AIAN children

Most long staying AIAN youth have a permanent case plan goal

Placement Setting for AIAN Children In Care 2+ Years

Case

Pla

n Go

al fo

r AIA

NCh

ildre

n In

Car

e 2+

Yea

rs

Foster home,non-relative

Foster home,relative Institution Pre-adoptive

home

Adoption

Reunification

Age out

Guardianshipor Live withrelatives

1%

12%

1%

3%

1%

1%

12%

12%

5%

20%

32%

AIAN children leaving care are less likely to achieve permanency

FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY120%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Percent of Children Exiting to Permanency, by RaceOf all children leaving care, what percent are discharged to adoption, reunification, live with relative, or guardianship?

AIAN children All non-AIAN children

In FY12, 23% of AIAN children leaving care are not achieving permanency

FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY120

50

100

150

200

250

300

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

Number and Percent of American Indian Children Exiting Care, by Type of Discharge

% Permanency

Reunification

Live with Relatives

Adoption

Guardianship

Non-Permanent Exit

In summary, 7- 8% of all children entering care in AZ are AIAN. These children are…

– More likely to be from families dealing with neglect and parental substance abuse

– More likely to be placed in non-relative foster care– Less likely to be placed with same race/ethnicity

caregivers – As likely as non-AIAN children to have been in care for

many years– Less likely to achieve permanency

How can we improve outcomes for these children?

Contact InformationFred Fisher

ffisher@casey.org206.378.4638

American Indian Children in Arizona