December 1, 2007

Permanency of Reunification: Definitions for Foster Care Entry and Re-entry To Promote Consistency in State Data Reporting for the Federal Outcome Measure. First Edition, Final Version

This report by Carrie Friedman presents the National Working Group to Improve Child Welfare Data (NWG) definitions for foster care entry and re-entry. The NWG seeks to promote consistency among States in their Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) submissions through the development of common definitions. A survey conducted by the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) illustrated definitional disparities in the way States report AFCARS data used for the federal measures pertaining to reunification and re-entry. In order to supplement the NWG reunification definitions and promote more consistency in the federal measure of foster care re-entries, this report reviews the permanency of reunification measure and defines terms related to entry and re-entry into foster care. Information is provided on: AFCARS elements used in calculating the permanency of reunification measure; clarification of Date of Latest Removal from Home and Reason for Discharge, and related NWG definitions; clarification of Total Number of Removals from Home to Date and Reason for Discharge, and related NWG definitions; clarification of Date of Discharge From Foster Care and Date Child Was Discharged From Last Foster Care Episode, and related NWG definitions; and the definitions of foster care, substitute care, and voluntary placement.