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Methodology
Measure 4B(1) Least Restrictive (First Placement)
Measure 4B(2) Least Restrictive (Predominant Placement)

Notes on Source Data

IMPORTANT NOTE: The following methodology may include references to report features not available on the public site version. On the public site, masking is performed to protect the privacy of individuals served by CDSS and comply with CDSS data de-identification guidelines. Values of 1 to 10 and calculations based on values of 1 to 10 are masked ('M' or '*'). In stratified views of the data, additional values (the lowest available) are masked to prevent calculation of values 1 to 10.

As of Quarter 3, 2021, following the addition of runaway status to CWS/CMS, we modified our foster care placement data to more accurately identify runaway status. Across reports, this has caused shifts versus earlier extracts in placement type distributions, particularly reductions in Group Care and increases in the Runaway and Other categories. Changes are most notable in earlier time periods, in probation-supervised care, and when predominant placement type is selected.
For details regarding the determination of placement type, please see: Placement Type Methodology (Opens in new window)

These reports are derived from a longitudinal database and provide information on entries to out-of-home care during the time period specified.

Denominator: The denominator is the number of entries (first entry and other entry) for children and youth who enter foster care in a 12-month period. Children who are in foster care for less than 8 days are excluded. Children who enter foster care at age 18 or more are excluded. For 4B(1), records with missing first placement type are excluded; for 4B(2), records with missing predominant placement type are excluded.

Numerator: The numerator for 4B(1) is a distribution of children and youth with the indicated first placement type during the specified time period. First Placement Type is placement type on the first day of a placement episode. For 4B(2), the numerator is a predominant placement type distribution. Predominant Placement Type is the placement type that comprises more than 50% of foster care days spent in a placement type category during a placement episode.

For the 4B measures, intended to present a broad overview of trends, the following placement types, presented elsewhere as their own categories, are rolled into ‘Other’: Pre-Adopt, Court Specified, Tribally Approved Home, Non-Foster-Care, Guardian, Runaway, Trial Home Visit, Supervised Independent Living Placement (SILP), Transitional Housing, Other, and, in the case of 4B(2), Mixed.

The ‘Mixed’ placement type category in Measure 4B(2) is the predominant placement designation that applies when no placement type comprises more than 50% of a placement episode.

For information regarding the construction of these categories, please see the ‘Placement Type’ link below.

Please note that since the placement type ‘Other’ designation encompasses a large number of placement settings with different characteristics, this category should be viewed with caution. This is particularly the case for 4B(2), given the inclusion of the ‘Mixed’ placement type. For further investigation, with reference to a fuller range of placement type categories, we recommend using the ‘Entries to Foster Care’ report.

Performance: The performance for 4B(1) is the count of each category in the distribution by first placement, divided by the denominator, and expressed as a percentage. 4B(2) is calculated in the same way, but makes use of the distribution by predominant placement.

Notes:

  • 4B(2) Time Periods: To allow follow-up time in which to determine predominant placement type, the most recent entry cohort presented in the CWS Outcomes workbooks and the default time period online is one year prior to the most recent available.
  • The denominators for measures 4B(1) and 4B(2) each represent a specific subset of the Entries to Foster Care report. As such, filters are automatically applied and specified in the report subheadings. Certain groups are therefore excluded from the 4B(1) and 4B(2) reports, but may be accessed via the Entries to Foster Care report (Entries). For example, children in care less than 8 days are excluded from 4B(1) and 4B(2), but you may choose to include them in the Entries report.
  • Due to these preset filters, certain custom filter options are not available via 4B(1) and 4B(2)
  • County is assigned in this analysis using the county specific code from the case assignment table active at the placement episode start date during the specified time period.
  • Agency Type is assigned based on the responsible agency at the placement episode start date during the specified time period.
  • Age is assigned based on how old a child is at the placement episode start date during the specified time period.

Cells containing a period (".") represent a value of zero. In cells representing quotients, a period may also indicate the indeterminate form 0/0.

Stratification and Filters: This measure may be run with filters to restrict the data to various subgroups of other variables (e.g., Black subgroup of the Ethnicity variable, <1 year old subgroup of the Age variable, etc.). Please see the links below for details:


Age Group

Ethnic Group

Census-based Ethnicity Coding

Sex at Birth

Placement Type

Removal Reason

Caregiver Relationship

Agency Type

Days in Care

Episode Count