At case initiation:
- African American children are more likely than Caucasian children to be in care rather than served in intact families.
- African American children consistently achieve permanency more slowly than white children.
- Caucasian children were more likely to return home within 12 months than African American children.
- A large percentage (34%) of children in care are teens with 17% over 18.
- Almost 60% of the children 18 or over are African American.
- African American children make up only 8 % of the population in Central region but are 43% of the children in care. Caucasian children make up 52%. Very few Hispanic children are in care in Central region.
- For year 2006, the significant majority of children (79%) in care were in family foster care either traditional or kin.
- African American children are considerably over represented (66%) among children in independent living.
- Central region is more likely than the state as a whole to reunify children (permanency) within 12 months of their entry into care.
- Reunifications are the most common type of permanency, followed by adoption. Subsidized guardianship in infrequently used in Central region.
- In Central region, the median time in care for all children has gone up (from 14 to 21 months in 2004) since 1998.
- African American children consistently have higher median months in care than Caucasian children. By 2004 the median length of care for them was 4 months longer than for white children.
