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Outcome Data
Outcome data is the way we track how we are making a real impact in the lives of the kids and families we serve. Currently this section includes information about finalized adoptions and children who still need forever families, the number of kids in kinship legal guardianship arrangements, and data focused on the experience of children when they are placed out of their homes. About Adoption in NJFinalized Adoptions Legally Free Children Awaiting Adoption Permanency for Kids: Subsidized Adoption Placements and Kinship Legal Guardianship Outcome and Chapin Hall data Since early 2006, DCF has been aggressive in creating a strong adoption program to secure every child a permanent and safe family structure. DCF implemented a new adoption model in 2006 by establishing specialized adoption practice units in all offices in DYFS to ensure timely and appropriate permanency results. DCF also invested in additional resources to achieve adoption targets, such as deploying additional staff as adoption workers to create and achieve caseload standards of 15-18 children per worker and creating specialized teams of adoption experts to reduce the significant backlog. At the beginning of the Corzine Administration in 2006, the number of finalized adoptions had fallen more than 14 percent from 2004 to 2005, and a record backlog of 2,300 children were legally free and waiting to be adopted. Since that time, DCF has achieved significant progress with 4,200 former foster children adopted since Governor Corzine took office.
 Click on the chart for larger, printable verion (pdf)
Legally Free Children Awaiting Adoption Reunification between a child and his/her parents is the primary goal for every child in protective care under DCF's Division of Youth and Family Service (DYFS). DCF provides services such as reunification counseling, addiction treatment, and flex funds (monies for utilities, rent, medical co-pays, etc) to help promote reunification. If reunification is not possible, the parental rights will be terminated by the courts, and the child then becomes legally free for adoption.The number of children whose parents’ rights were terminated and who are legally free to be adopted has also decreased to approximately 1,300 children – a 44 percent decrease from January 2006. Historically, there are approximately 1,200-1,300 children who become legally free for adoption each year in New Jersey.  Click on the chart for larger, printable verion (pdf)
Permanency for Kids: Subsidized Adoption Placements and Kinship Legal Guardianship About Subsidized Adoption:The New Jersey Subsidized Adoption Program offers financial assistance to prospective adoptive parents who adopt certain children. About 98% of children adopted through the DCF Division of Youth and Family Services receive adoption subsidy. These children are older, have disabilities or are of an ethnic group for which adoptive homes are not readily available. About Kinship Legal Guardianship (KLG): KLG is New Jersey's newest permanency option. It allows for children to be placed permanently with their extended family without the need for termination of parental rights (TPR) or adoption. This guardian "…has the same rights, responsibilities and authority relating to a child as a birth parent, with the exception of consenting to the adoption of the child or a name change for the child, while the birth parent retains the obligation to pay child support and the right to court-approved visitation or parenting time with the child." For more details regarding KLG, please go to www.judiciary.state.nj.us/legis/2005c95.pdf. For the first time in New Jersey there is a consistently larger investment in permanency for children than in temporary placement.  Click on the chart for larger, printable verion (pdf)  Click on the chart for larger, printable verion (pdf)  Click on the chart for larger, printable verion (pdf)
Percent of Children with Substantiated Abuse/Neglect After Previous Report was Unfounded/Unsubstantiated  Click on chart for larger, printable version (pdf) Percent of Children with Substantiated Abuse/Neglect After Previous Substantiated Report  Click on chart for larger, printable version (pdf) Percent of Children with Substantiated Abuse/Neglect Report within 12 Months of Reunification  Click on chart for larger, printable version (pdf) Children Abused and/or Neglected in Foster Care  Click on chart for larger, printable version (pdf) Rate of Children Initially Placed into DYFS Out-of-Home Care  Click on chart for larger, printable version (pdf) Comparison of Children Entering and Exiting Out-of-Home Placement  Click on chart for larger, printable version (pdf) Median Length of Stay in DYFS Placement, By Age  Click on chart for larger, printable version (pdf) Children Placed with Relatives v. Non-Relatives - 1st Time Placements  Click on chart for larger, printable version (pdf) Percentage of Sibling Groups Placed Together, By Group Size  Click on chart for larger, printable version (pdf) Children Experiencing Multiple Moves after Initial Placement  Click on chart for larger, printable version (pdf) Children Exiting and Re-Entering DYFS Care in 12 months  Click on chart for larger, printable version (pdf)
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