Which State Child Welfare Systems Are Right for Kids?

Right for Kids Ranking-Which State Child Welfare Systems Are Right for Kids? 

Definitely NOT New Hampshire!

Note: For more specific statistics on NH's Failed Assessment, click on http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/documents/childfamilyservicesreport112010.pdf, also on the right side of my blog.

F O U N D A T I O N  F O R
GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY


Each state’s child welfare system typically operates out of the public eye unless a tragedy, often the death a
child, pulls the system from the shadows to the front page. It should not be this way. Protecting children from
abuse and neglect is a fundamental responsibility of a civil society.
Yet, the average American, and even most policymakers and members of the media, has little understanding of how
their state’s child welfare system performs. The annual RIGHT FOR KIDS RANKING provides the hard facts about how
well states are serving vulnerable kids. The RIGHT FOR KIDS RANKING and the companion RightForKids.org Web site
answers basic questions like:
• Which states are doing the best job overall in serving children who are abused and neglected?
And more focused questions like:
• Which states are best serving teenagers in foster care by helping them move on to permanency and stability?
The 2012 RIGHT FOR KIDS RANKING shows which states are best and worst at this tough but critical job, using a
methodology that scores all states in 11 key outcome areas and 41 different data measures. This comprehensive
list is the first of its kind.
The five major findings from this year’s RIGHT FOR KIDS RANKING are:
1. Only 11 states have a 24-hour rapid response to investigate claims of abuse or neglect.
2. Only 12 states visit the vast majority of foster kids monthly.
3. Only 9 states quickly and safely return foster children home to their biological families when possible.
4. Only 9 states ensure short and stable stays in foster care as general practice.
5. Only 11 states help find forever families ASAP for a large share of foster children.
Americans, most importantly abused and neglected kids, pay a significant price as a result of some states doing
a much worse job than others. What if all states performed at the level of the Top 10 Right for Kids States? If that
happened:
1. There would be 72,000 fewer kids in foster care (17% fewer).
2. There would be almost 19,000 more adoptions from foster care each year (36% more).
Helping kids is not just good social policy. It is good economic policy as well. Child abuse and neglect costs
more than $100 billion every year in direct ($33 billion) and indirect ($71 billion) costs.
This annual ranking is a reality check on how well each state is serving the most vulnerable children, and
celebrates top performing states overall and in specific outcome areas. These bright spots can lead by example,
and highlight successful public policies, funding structures, and leadership to best serve kids. Understanding why
a state ranks where it does is the first step toward positive, pro-active reforms. Learn more about how your state
performs by reading this report and state specific profiles at RightForKids.org

Click on the above link to see how each state ranks.