The Permanency Enhancement Project: Working Together for Change

1. Improving Permanency and Addressing Disproportionality and Disparity in Peoria County Prepared by the Center for Adoption Studies School of Social Work at Illinois State University, September 2010 The Permanency Enhancement Project: Working Together for Change

2. Overview Of Illinois Permanency Enhancement Initiatives 2

3. Illinois Permanency Strategy

4. Permanency Enhancement Project (PEP) Partnership between: Community Stakeholders IDCFS IDCFS AA Advisory Council Illinois AA Family Commission State Universities Illinois State University (Lead University) Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville University of Illinois at Chicago Northern Illinois University

5. Overall goals of PEP: Improve permanency outcomes for all children in foster care Reduce disparities in the number of African American children in foster care Promote community based solutions to improve permanency among DCFS involved youth Monitor child welfare and permanency outcomes for youth

6. What We’ve Accomplished So Far… -16 Local Action Teams have been established to address permanency in Central Illinois -50+ Local Action Teams have been established throughout the State of Illinois

7. Court Partnership Projects

8. Community Partnerships/Outreach

9. Parenting Support/Outreach

10. University Partnerships

11. WE’RE ON THE RIGHT PATH, BUT… THERE’S A LOT MORE WORK AHEADMoving forward we need the FULL FORCE of our STAFF, COMMUNITY LEADERS, and local CITIZENS to bring about major systemic changes . 11

12. RACE AND PERMANENCY: Having the Difficult Discussions: 12

13. Racial Disproportionality DISPROPORTIONALITY: The percentage of children in a population as compared to the percentage of children in the same group in the child welfare system.

14. Racial Disparities DISPARITY: • Unequal treatment and/or outcomes when comparing a African Americans to non-minority. African American children are negatively affected by both.

15. Disproportionality and Disparity Systemic Factors that impact Permanency for African American Children

16. AGENCY RELATED FACTORS:-Lack of culturally responsive family engagement practices -Lack of collaboration with courts-Lack of sufficient linkages to community‐based resources (See: Houston, 2007)

17. COURT RELATED FACTORS:-Lack of judicial training on minimum parenting standards and risk- Lack of awareness about emotional trauma caused by parent‐child separation- Unrealistic “middle class expectations” for parents- Lack of awareness about cultural differences among diverse family types (See: Houston, 2007)

18. COMMUNITY FACTORS:-Lack of culturally responsive service providers -Lack of community ownership and investment in families-Perception that DCFS can solve the problem-Insufficient cross‐systems collaboration (See: Houston, 2007)

19. Why Issues of Permanency and Overrepresentation Matter Racial Disparity and Overrepresentation of African Americans in Child Welfare is a Current and Historical Reality: AA children comprise 31% of the U.S. population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000) AA children comprise 50% of the foster care population(US ACYF, 2005). 19

20. Why Issues of Race and Permanency Matter AA children are more likely to age out of foster care without reunification or other permanency options (Courtney and Wong, 1996; Wulczyn, 2004). Nationally, Caucasian children are 4 times more likely to be reunited with family (Hill, 2006) 20

21. National Evidence of Racial Disparity and Disproportionality African Americanmothers more likely to be tested/reported for pre-natal drug exposure than Caucasian mothers(Chasnoff, 1990) Doctorsmore likely to diagnose “abuse” for low income families and “accident” for affluent families(Lane, Rubin, Monteith, & Christian, 2002). Low income African American families receiving public assistance are more likely to have allegations substantiated(Barth, 2005) 21

22. National Evidence of Racial Disparityand Disproportionality Once a report is made…African American Families are more likely to be screened for an abuse/neglect investigation (Gryzlak, Wells, and Johnson (2005) Investigations of African American families are more likely when reports come from social service providers. A report is more likely to be indicated when initiated by a professional AND the family is African American AA youth 36 % more likely to be removed from the home following a substantiated report(U.S. DHHS, 2005). 22

23. Once a Case is Substantiated for Abuse/Neglect… Black children(families) are less likely to receive in-home preservation services(Hill, 2006). Less likely to receive mental health services Less likely to be returned home Remain in care longer before achieving permanency through adoption/guardianship More likely to age out of care without permanency 23

24. Talking About PERMANENCY in Our Community What Does the DATA Tell Us? Peoria County

25. How do Peoria County Children Enter the Child Welfare System? Indicated reports FY 2010 Source Number Percent of total Law enforcement 192 35% Medical 131 24% Social services 72 13% School personnel 61 11% Relative/neighbor 47 9% “Other” 28 5% DCFS personnel 8 1% Child care centers 6 1% Coroner/Medical Exam 1<1% 546 100% Source: DCFS QA FY 2010 Peoria County

26. How do Children Enter the Child Welfare System? As shown above, law enforcement was the largest source of indicated reports in Peoria County. Further, law enforcement reports overall were more likely to be indicated than reports from other sources. - 54% of reports (192 reports out of 356) from law enforcement personnel were indicated in FY2010. - 48% of reports from medical sources were indicated. Source: DCFS QA FY 2010 Peoria County

27. What Types of Harm do Children Experience? Type N indicated % of total ABUSE Substantial risk of harm 101 12% Physical abuse 73 9% Sexual abuse 40 5% Emotional abuse 7 1% NEGLECT Blatant disregard 404 50% Lack of supervision 117 14% Environmental 34 4% Lack of health 33 4% 809 100% Source: DCFS QA FY 2010 Peoria County

28. What Types of Harm …? By far the most common harm to children is neglect/ blatant disregard for child’s welfare, representing half (50%) of all indicated reports. The second most common is lack of supervision (14%), followed by substantial risk(12%). Sexual abuse per se accounts for 5% of indicated cases. However, when this is combined with substantial risk of sexual injury (n=41), then 10% of cases relate to sexual harm to children. Source: DCFS QA FY 2010 Peoria County

29. Who Entered Care in 2010? In 2010, 200 children and youth entered foster care in Peoria County. Gender: female – 47% male – 53% Race: African American 66% White 32% Hispanic 02% Source: DCFS QA FY 2010 Peoria County

30. Who is in Care? • At the close of FY10, 843 children were in out-of-home care in Peoria County. This was a slight decrease from the previous year (904). • 62% of children were African American • 33% were White • 3% were unknown • 2% were Hispanic Source: DCFS QA FY 2010. *There are on-going concerns about how Latino or Hispanic ethnicity is determined for DCFS clients. This percent is based on classification in QA data. Peoria County

31. Who is in Care? GENDER 46% of youth are female, 54% male AGE 23% 2 or under 23% 3 - 5 19% 6 - 9 14% 10 - 13 13% 14 - 17 7% 18+ Source: DCFS QA 2010 Peoria County

32. What are the Permanency Goals for Youth in Care?* Reunification 314 42% Adoption 279 37% Independence 101 13% Guardianship 55 7% 749 100% Source: DCFS QA FY 2010 *This table excludes the 94 children for whom data were missing or coded as “other” Peoria County

33. Where are Children Placed?* - with kin (46%) - traditional foster care (31%) - specialized care (18%) - institution/group care (5%) * QA data combines foster and relative care, thus this information is from CFRC for FY09. Peoria County

34. How was Permanency Achieved For Children in 2010? 248 children achieved permanency in FY10 Adoption 74 -- 30% Reunification 167 -- 67% Subsidized Guardianship 7 -- 3% Source: DCFS QA FY 2010 Peoria County

35. How have Permanency Rates Changed over Time? Source: CFRC 2009 Peoria County

36. How have 24 Month Permanency Rates Changed Over Time? Source: CFRC 2009 Peoria County

37. What are the Permanency Trends in our County? Peoria County has relatively low rates of 12 month permanency, ranging from a high of 18% for those placed in 2007 to just 8% for those placed in 2005. For the most recent year for which data are available, 14% of children who entered care in 2008 achieved 12 month permanency. 24 month permanency has improved, from 33% of children who entered care in 2003 to 38% of children who entered care in 2007 and exited by 2009. Source: CFRC 2009. [Such data are not yet available from QA] Peoria County

38. Disproportionality and Disparity in our Action Team Area Peoria County DISPROPORTIONALITY: The percentage of children in a population as compared to the percentage of children in the same group in the child welfare system. For example, if 25% of the children in a county were African American, then 25% of those in foster care should be African American, all things being equal. That would be proportional. If these percents differ there is disproportionality. DISPARITY: Unequal treatment and/or outcomes when comparing children of color to non-minority children. For example, if Hispanic children are less likely to achieve permanency than white children then there is disparity - disparate outcomes by race/ethnicity

39. Is There Disproportionality in Peoria County? YES. African American children continue to be overrepresented among children in care in our County. 30% of the child population is African American, compared to 64% of those in care. 65% of the child population is White, compared to 34% of those in care. 5% of the child population is Hispanic, compared to 2% of those in care This overrepresentation has been the case for many years. However, 64% is a reduction from the 68% of youth in care who were African American in 2005 and 2006. Source: 2009 population data come from CFRC, 2010 placement data from QA Peoria County

40. Disproportionality Peoria County

41. Disproportionality Over Time Peoria County

42. Are There Differences in Permanency Goals by Race?* YES African American White Reunification 207 44% 94 39% Adoption 160 34% 97 40% Guardianship 38 8% 15 6% Independence 66 14%3515% 471 100% 241 100% African American children are more likely to have a goal of reunification, White children to have a goal of adoption. *This table excludes children for whom permanency goals were missing or coded as “other”. Source: DCFS QA FY 2010 Peoria County

43. Is There Disparity in Permanency Achievement? YES In FY10, 125 African American children and 107 white children achieved permanency. African American children and White children who were in care in FY10 left care at different rates, with White children more likely to leave care than African American children (White 38% & African American 24%) White youth were much more likely than African American youth to exit via reunification (79% vs. 58%) African American youth were much more likely than White youth to exit via adoption (40% vs. 20%) Source: DCFS QA FY 2010 Peoria County

44. Is There Disparity in Permanency Achievement Over Time? Source: CFRC 2009 Peoria County

45. Is There Disparity in Permanency Achievement Over Time? Peoria County

46. What is the “Bottom Line” on Disproportionality? Are African American children more likely to be reported as neglected / abused than White children in Peoria County? YES Children in Peoria County are reported at very different rates, with African American children reported at higher rates than their numbers in the population would predict. In FY 10, AA children represented about 30% of the child population but 47% of the reported cases. Source: DCFS QA FY 2010 Peoria County

47. What is the “Bottom Line” on Disproportionality? Once reported, are African American children more likely to be indicated than White children? YES In FY10 of all reports for African American children, 32% were indicated. Of all reports for White children, 26% were indicated. Source: DCFS QA FY 2010 Peoria County

48. What is the “Bottom Line” on Disparity? Once indicated do African American and White children enter care at similar rates? NO In FY10, African American children were more likely to enter care. 36% of African American children of those indicated entered care 22% of White children of those indicated entered care Source: DCFS QA FY 2010 Peoria County

49. Disparity Are African American children less likely to have reunification as a goal than White children? NO However, in FY10 African American children are more likely to have a goal of reunification. White children are more likely to have a goal of adoption. Are African American children less likely to exit care than White children? YES In FY10 24% of African American children in care achieved permanency compared to 38% of White children. Source: DCFS QA FY 2010 Peoria County

50. Disparity Do African American children achieve permanency differently from White children? YES In FY10, White children who exited care were much more likely to exit via reunification (79%) than African American children (58%). African American children who exited care were more likely to exit via adoption (40%) than were White children (20%). Source: DCFS QA FY 2010 Peoria County