ABOUT CHILDREN'S

Results - Introduction

Every state is different and, consequently, the result of every review varies. Each state has strengths and areas needing improvement. To date, state child welfare systems are performing better on the systemic factors than they are on the actual outcomes.

Washington, like the other 41 states that completed the review, did not meet the federal standards in all areas examined by the reviewers.

Highlights from the Review Where Washington Meets National Standards

• We protect foster children, with low abuse rates of children in foster care that far exceed federal standard. This is the result of the state's effective system for screening prospective foster and adoptive parents. During the review, no children were found to be at imminent risk of harm.
• We reunite 82 percent of foster children with their families within a year, well exceeding the federal standard.
• We successfully place more children than ever with relatives, preserving powerful family ties when children can't return home to their parents.
• We found adoptive homes for more children in 2003 than at any time in our history.
• We successfully place children with their siblings and in close proximity to their parents.
• We coordinate and integrate services for children and families served by various agencies and are responsive to the needs of the community.
• We developed an excellent quality assurance system, with standards in place that ensure children in foster care are provided quality services that protect their safety and health.
• We developed a strong computer data system to track children, help us best use our resources and provide the technical support our program requires.
• We provide effective competency-based training to new social workers.
• We came within five percentage points of achieving the federal standards for timely adoptions and for placement stability.