Children In Out-of-Home Placement
Date posted: 03/06/2008
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Children are placed out of their homes when there has been confirmed abuse or neglect, or when a family is unable to care for its own children for a variety of reasons (medical or mental condition of child or parent, child has significant behavior or emotional problems, etc.). Out-of-home placements are used in conjunction with therapeutic intervention, parenting classes, and other tools to reach a permanent placement. A permanent placement is reached when a child is reunified with his/her family or adopted. Foster care is the most common type of out-of-home placement; visit the Larimer County Foster Care page for more information.
There are eight types of out-of-home placement available for children in the Larimer County system. The four most common types are shown in the charts; data for all placement types can be found in the data tables. For a list of placement types and definitions, click here.
What this chart shows: Child Abuse Reports by Disposition, Larimer County, 2006
Data Source: Larimer County Human Services - Children, Youth, & Family Division
What these data tell us:
In 2006, there were over 4,400 reports of child abuse or neglect in Larimer County. Over 2,700 cases merited investigation, which resulted in 533 substantiated cases of child abuse. Of those substantiated cases, 325 children and youth were moved to out-of-home placement. See Child Abuse for more information.What this chart shows: Average Number of Children in the Most Common Types of Placement. FY 2002- FY 2006
Data Source: Larimer County Human Services - Children, Youth, & Family Division
What these data tell us:
From FY2002 to FY2006, the most common types of placement were foster home placements, either through the Larimer County Family Foster Home program or through Child Placement Agencies. Over half of Larimer County children in out-of-home placement were placed through one of these programs. In Larimer County, a high priority is placed on ensuring children are in the least restrictive placements possible (i.e. Kinship Placement or Family Foster Home), and pursue the most intensive placements (i.e. Child Placement Agencies or Residential Treatment Centers) only when necessary.Kinship placements nearly doubled from FY2002 to FY2006. Between 2003 and 2004, the greatest year-to-year increase (43%) occurred when work began on a pilot program, Family Options. Formally implemented in January 2005, the Family Options program includes immediate and extended family members in the initial decision-making process. Within 72 hours of a placement, a family meeting is held with an independent facilitator. The initial meeting is designed to determine a plan for the child and the family, ensure that the child is kept safe, and expedite the provision of necessary services. This has resulted in a significant increase in kinship placements as more family members are involved in the process.
What this chart shows: Average Monthly Cost per Child for the Most Common Types of Placement
Data Source: Larimer County Human Services - Children, Youth, & Family Division
What these data tell us:
In general, the higher the level of care, the more expensive the placement. Residential treatment centers provide therapeutic services in an institutional setting, making them the highest level of care short of hospitalization and one of the most expensive types of placement. In contrast, kinship placements, which allow children to be placed with relatives and remain with their extended families, cost 85% less than placements in residential treatment centers in 2006. Kinship care averaged $747 while residential treatment centers averaged $4,920 per month.Additional Information:
'In 1992, the Colorado Department of Social Services was notified by representatives of a consortium of law firms and the American Civil Liberties Union that it was going to be sued for violations of Federal Law governing certain child welfare programs. Negotiations ensued which resulted in a settlement agreement.' (Child Welfare Program Management Guide, Colorado Department of Human Services, 2003) The Agreement listed several requirements to be addressed, including an increased number of caseworkers, a caseload standard of 17 clients per caseworker, and the design and implementation of Family Preservation Services (now Core Services). With a general consensus that goals were met, the Agreement was closed in 2001.
Types of Placements (from least intensive to most intensive care):
Kinship: Placements with a relative of the child (often grandparents, aunts and uncles). Kinship placements, like any Family Foster Home, are trained and certified as safe before a placement is made. This is the lowest (least intensive) level of care and most desirable since kin are family. Kinship placements were not tracked separately from Family Foster Homes until January 1999.
Receiving Home: These homes are recruited, certified, trained, and supported by Larimer County. They are available to take short-term placements 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are helpful in assessing the child's needs. Children stay at these homes up to 60 days until a more permanent placement can be found.
Larimer County Family Foster Homes: Homes recruited, certified, trained, and supported by Larimer County Human Services, Children, Youth, and Family Division. The county also provides case management and may purchase supplementary therapeutic services as needed. This is the lowest (least intensive) level of care next to kinship placements, and more desirable because it is a home/family setting.
Child Placement Agency: Private agencies licensed by the State of Colorado. They recruit, train, support, and certify host families. They also provide case management and therapeutic services. While children still experience a family setting, this is considered a higher level of care than Family Foster Homes because of the more intensive therapeutic and case management intervention.
Group Home: Group homes are operated through Larimer County Human Services, Children, Youth, and Family Division, or through Child Placement Agencies. These homes typically take 6 to 8 children and provide a higher level of care than a regular foster home. The foster parents provide extra support to accommodate the needs of the children placed there.
Independent Living: A placement where a youth lives independently in the community under the supervision of the Department of Human Services. These placements are designed specifically for youth who emancipate from foster care and need assistance transitioning from out-of-home care to living independently.
Residential Treatment Center: Facilities providing intensive therapeutic services in an institutional setting. This is the most intensive level of care short of hospitalization.
Residential Child Care Facility: These facilities provide short-term intensive placements, usually for youth transitioning from detention to a Residential Treatment Center.
On Compass -
Outside Compass -
- American Humane Society: American Humane works to assist the federal, state and local public/private child and family services agencies to respond effectively to the various demands of child welfare work.
- Child Abuse-Statistics, Research, and Resources: Resources on child abuse, including statistics from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
- First Call: Resource lists of basic services available to individuals in Larimer, Routt and Moffat Counties, Colorado. The lists are in English and Spanish and are printable.
- Larimer County Human Services - Children, Youth, and Family Services: Information on Child Protection, foster care, special needs adoption, and other services.
- Larimer County Human Services - Children, Youth, and Family Services Foster Care Page: Information on the County's foster care program and its staff.
- Colorado Foster Care Fact Sheet: Fact sheet for Colorado children in foster care and resources for Coloradoans.
- Child Welfare Information Gateway: A national resource for professionals and others seeking information on child welfare, child abuse and neglect, adoption, search and reunion.
- National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect: A data archive serving researchers performing secondary analysis. Research data relevant to the study of child abuse and neglect.
- Prevent Child Abuse America: Nationwide organization for the prevention of child abuse. Provides parent programs, education, and advocacy to help reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect.
Standards or Targets: The federal Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 set permanency standards for children in state care. A main component of ASFA's goals is to reduce the amount of time children spend in an out-of-home, or a non-permanent, situation. The law states that children who are in continual care of a state for 19 months must have parental rights terminated and be placed for adoption. A summary of the Act can be found on the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) website. CWLA is the nation's oldest (established in 1920) and largest membership-based child welfare organization.
Average Number of Children in Out-of-Home Placement, FY2000-FY2005
|
Fiscal Year |
Kinship Placement |
Receiving Home |
Larimer County Family Foster Home |
Child Placement Agency |
|
FY2000 |
46 |
5 |
97 |
78 |
|
FY2001 |
50 |
1 |
112 |
62 |
|
FY2002 |
54 |
0 |
96 |
49 |
|
FY2003 |
56 |
0 |
98 |
57 |
|
FY2004 |
80 |
3 |
110 |
43 |
|
FY2005 |
85 |
5 |
121 |
43 |
|
FY 2006 |
107 |
5 |
111 |
37 |
|
(continued) |
Group Home |
Independent Living |
Residential Treatment Center |
Residential Child Care Facility |
|
FY2000 |
13 |
4 |
51 |
17 |
|
FY2001 |
10 |
3 |
47 |
13 |
|
FY2002 |
8 |
3 |
54 |
8 |
|
FY2003 |
9 |
7 |
56 |
5 |
|
FY2004 |
8 |
7 |
64 |
1 |
|
FY2005 |
9 |
5 |
57 |
2 |
|
FY 2006 |
9 |
5 |
37 |
5 |
Average Monthly Cost per Child for Out-of-Home Placement, FY2006
|
Average Cost /Child |
|
|
Kinship Placement |
$747 |
|
Receiving Home |
** |
|
Larimer County Family Foster Home |
$1,052 |
|
Child Placement Agency |
$1,052 |
|
Group Home |
** |
|
Independent Living |
** |
|
Residential Treatment Center |
$1,092 |
|
Residential Child Care Facility |
$4,270 |
** not available