an overview georgia program improvement plan - Department of ...

Quarter 4
# of Differences 31 134 11
COSTAR Moves > AFCARS 17 122 7
Unique Children in Care 12 Months or Less
In order to make comparisons with the federal measure on stability the three county study of children population from COSTAR and AFCARS was
further refined selecting only those children with 2 or less placement moves and in care 12 months or less. The total number of children in FFY
2003 in Carroll, Fulton, and Toombs counties who had been in care less than 12 months with 2 or less placements was 625 unique children.
Carroll County produced 52 matches with the COSTAR database. Thirty-one (60%) children had the same number of moves in both data
systems. In 13 (25%) cases, the number of COSTAR moves exceeded the number of AFCARS moves.
Fulton County produced 544 matches with the COSTAR database. Four hundred five (74%) of these children had the same number of moves in
both data systems. In 117 cases (22%), the number of COSTAR moves exceeded the number of AFCARS moves.
Finally, Toombs County had only 29 matches between the COSTAR and AFCARS databases. Sixteen of the children (55%) were the same in
both systems. In 8 cases (28%), the number of COSTAR moves exceeded the number of AFCARS moves.
The total number of children with equivalent moves was 452 (72%). The number of children who had more moves in COSTAR than AFCARS was
138 (22%).
There were 35 children (6%) who had more moves recorded in AFCARS than COSTAR.
Analysis of the AFCARS moves are greater than COSTAR moves can be explained to some degree by procedures inherent to federal definitions
of a move and the data captured in the COSTAR system. In AFCARS, a move is added when a child is transferred to any non per diem relative
placement. This move would not be recorded in COSTAR. AFCARS current functionality indicates a move when a child’s placement setting
changes to Pre-Adoptive. However, this change should be counted only when the child’s physical setting changes, not if the child’s foster home
becomes the pre-adoptive placement. There is a possibility that placement change is recorded in AFCARS for respite care. Federal AFCARS
regulations exclude respite care from the count of placements.
SUMMARY OF COMPARISON RELATED TO ISSUES OF STABILITY
Comparison of data related to Stability of foster care placements points to the need to clarify with county DFCS staff policies and procedures
regarding placement moves. Emphasis should be placed on consistency of the data entered into the AFCARS and COSTAR systems and
updating all data with every placement in AFCARS. A change in the AFCARS query from the IDS system should be made so as to exclude
counting a move when a child’s placement type is changed to Pre-Adoptive home yet the child remains in the same physical placement.
Qualitative Review of Fulton, Carroll and Toombs County DFCS
Safe Futures – A Plan for Program Improvement
Georgia Department of Human Resources
November, 2004 Quarter 8 - Work Plan C Page 9