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
American Indian Children in Arizona