Outcomes
In the POC Data Portal, ‘outcomes’ (results) refer to the permanency placements for children in out-of-home care (e.g., reunification, adoption). In general, child welfare outcome measures relate to safety, permanency, and well-being. To meet requirements of Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA), the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regularly publishes a Report to Congress called Child Welfare Outcomes. The 2007-2010 report examined seven outcome areas: 1) recurrence of child abuse and/or neglect; 2) incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care; 3) permanency placements for children in foster care; 4) time in foster care to reunification; 5) time in foster care to adoption; 6) the number of placement settings for a child; and 7) the number of placements of young children in group homes or institutions.
http://archive.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cwo07-10/cwo07-10.pdf