Mission: Protect the Vulnerable, Promote Strong and Economically Self- Sufficient Families, and Advance Personal and Family Recovery and Resiliency.

Charlie Crist, GovernorCharlie Crist, GovernorGeorge H. Sheldon, SecretaryGeorge H. Sheldon, Secretary

Tracking Adoption Rate of Tracking Adoption Rate of Children “Available for Adoption” Children “Available for Adoption”

Leadership Briefing

November 1, 2010

2

How many children does Florida have “available for adoption”?

• This depends on the definition of “available for adoption.”

Children TPR’d or who have a goal of adoption 7,623

Children with a goal of adoption regardless of TPR status

7,040

Children TPR’d, regardless of goal 3,029

Children who have been TPR’d and have a goal of adoption

2,449

Children who have been TPR’d, have a goal of adoption, and are on the website

780

• We will track adoption rate using the 3rd definition – Children TPR’d, regardless of goal

3

How will this be Tracked and Why Use This Definition?

• How: – Data reporting unit of FSPO will begin reporting FY-

to-date proportion of children legally free for adoption on July 1 who have been adopted (statewide, by age, and by CBC).

• Why:– This is how “available for adoption” is defined for

federal performance measures (CFSR C2.5)– Allows us to track progress toward additional awards– Potentially comparable to other states– Provides incentive to pursue adoptions for children

TPR’d with goal of APPLA

4

What Do We Know About Adoptions Using This Definition?

Florida’s Performance History:• Florida was top state in the nation on federal

adoption composite measure for last 2.5 years.

• Based on this federal measure, the adoption rate last year was the 2nd highest rate in the last 7 years – Despite a decrease in the number of children

available for adoption.– And despite a decrease in the raw number of

adoptions.

5

Adoption Rates have been High in Last Two Years

Adoptions by Fiscal Year: Of Children Legally Free for Adoption as of 7/1, Proportion Adopted by 6/30

41.8%

37.5%38.5% 37.7%

42.9%

47.5% 46.7%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

6

… Despite Reductions in the Number of Children Available for Adoption...

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

East

West

North

Children Legally Free for Adoption 7/1: Adopted by 6/30 vs. NOT Adopted by 6/30

2,542(41.8%) 2,008

(37.5%)1,935

(38.5%)1,801

(37.7%)

2,057(42.9%)

2,350(47.5%) 1,919

(46.7%)

3,541(58.2%)

3,347(62.5%) 3,093

(61.5%) 2,973(62.3%)

2,733(57.1%)

2,600(52.5%)

2,190(53.3%)

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

# NOT Adopted from 7/1 Cohort

# Adopted from 7/1 Cohort

7

…And a Reduction in the Number of Children Adopted Overall.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

East

West

North

Of Children Legally Free for Adoption July 1, Percent Adopted by June 30Compared to Total Adoptions Each Year

3,389

2,9063,016 3,079

3,6743,777

3,368

41.8%

37.5%38.5% 37.7%

42.9%47.5%

46.7%

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10Fiscal Year

To

tal

Ad

op

tio

ns

Fin

ali

zed

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Pe

rce

nt

Ad

op

ted

8

This Measure will Supplement Existing Measures, as it Does Not Reflect All Adoptions Finalized in the Year

Children Adopted Each FY: Adopted from 7/1 Cohort vs. NOT Legally Free 7/1

847 8981,081

1,2781,617

1,427 1,449

2,542

2,0081,935

2,057 2,3501,919

1,801

25.0%

35.8%

44.0%

37.8%

43.0%

30.9%

41.5%

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

# Adopted from 7/1 Cohort

# Adopted, not Legally Free 7/1

% Adopted, not Legally Free 7/1

•The percent not Legally Free on July 1 may have increased due to:

•Increased speed of foster care adoptions after TPR

•Increases in adoptions by foster parents and relatives

9

Adoption Rates are Much Higher for Children Age 0 – 8 than Children Age 9+

Adoptions by Fiscal Year by Age Group: Of Children Legally Free for Adoption as of 7/1, Proportion Adopted by

6/30

61.4% 60.4%

65.3% 64.5%66.9%

71.1%73.7%

24.9%

20.2% 18.6% 18.0%20.3%

23.0%26.6%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

Ages 0-8 Ages 9+

10

Adoption ReportingThe Data Unit of FSPO ….

• Will begin reporting FY-to-date the number of children adopted as a proportion of children who were legally free for adoption on July 1 (statewide, by age, and by CBC) as well as total adoptions finalized to date;

• Will distribute these numbers monthly via e-mail as an excel workbook, which will replace adoption data contained in weekly OHC e-mail, and post on the Center for the Advancement of Child Welfare Practice Website, starting in December;

• Will work closely with Operations and the Performance Measures Workgroup to incorporate CBC adoption target tracking information, by January; and

• Will also work to develop method of tracking children on website requiring recruitment. The current FSFN report cannot be used, but we are working with Northwood to correct, date TBD.