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Project Description

Systems Reform:Intervention involves counties that will have flexibility to develop programs that will reduce foster care placements and length of stay in care. Counties will not receive any new or additional money, but will have the flexibility offered under the waiver for IV-E funding. Evaluation involves 19 counties that will participate in demonstration project; an additional group of 19 counties with similar characteristics has been selected to form the comparison group. Evaluation will include all children who enter out-of-home care during the demonstration. Major goals are to reduce rate of initial entry into foster care system, reduce length of stay in foster care, and reduce rate of re-entry into foster care system.

Assisted Guardianship: Intervention involves obtaining legal guardianship and provide subsidy payments for relatives and other care givers approved by the juvenile court, and who have provided a stable placement for the child for at least six months. Assisted guardianship will be an option for children whom adoption and reunification are not possible.

Project duration: Jul 1997 - Nov 2002

Sites studied include North Carolina

Sample Characteristics and Sites Studied

n=175,190 children who received child welfare services in SFY 1994 through SFY 2001.
Children who were received placement services were tracked through March 31, 2002.

Recent Findings in Brief

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