Dumbbell charts use circles and lines to show changes over time. This type of chart is ideal for illustrating and comparing change between groups. Specifically, the circles represent the starting and ending time periods, with a line between them, resembling a dumbbell. The circles for all starting time periods are green, and the circles for all ending time periods are blue. To further aid interpretation, color-coding is also provided for the lines, indicating whether the change over time indicates improving performance (i.e., blue line) or declining performance (i.e., red line). A dumbbell is provided for each age category to allow comparisons.
Substantiation Rates by Age
Substantiation Rates are computed by dividing the unduplicated count of children with a child maltreatment substantiation by the child population, and then multiplying by 1,000. A child is reported to have a maltreatment substantiation when the child welfare agency investigating an allegation of abuse or neglect determines that the allegation is true within the parameters set by state law and policy. The resulting substantiation rate represents the number of children, out of every 1,000 children in the state, reported to have experienced substantiated abuse or neglect.
Substantiation Rates by Ethnicity
Substantiation Rates are computed by dividing the unduplicated count of children with a child maltreatment substantiation by the child population, and then multiplying by 1,000. A child is reported to have a maltreatment substantiation when the child welfare agency investigating an allegation of abuse or neglect determines that the allegation is true within the parameters set by state law and policy. The resulting substantiation rate represents the number of children, out of every 1,000 children in the state, reported to have experienced substantiated abuse or neglect.
Child Maltreatment in Foster Care by Age During 12-Month Period
Maltreatment in Foster Care Rates are computed by dividing the total number of substantiated allegations of maltreatment among children who were placed in out-of-home care by the total number of days that the same children were in foster care, and then multiplying by 100,000. A child is reported to have a substantiated allegation of maltreatment when a child welfare agency investigates an allegation of abuse or neglect and determines that the allegation is true within the parameters set by state law and policy. The numerator for this measure includes any substantiated reports of maltreatment, regardless of perpetrator. Thus it includes maltreatment both in the placement facility and elsewhere, e.g., while on a visit with family. As each substantiated event is counted, a single child may be counted more than once. The resulting Maltreatment in Foster Care rate represents the number of substantiated maltreatment events of children while placed in foster care, out of every 100,000 days spent in care.
