The purpose of the Foster Care Facts is to summarize key data points for Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) knowledge and management, have consistent data released to the DCBS Field Staff or external partners who request data on specific points and produce data for comparisons over time and between DCBS Service Regions.
The creation of Foster Care Facts is intended to create consistency in how DCBS reports to others. These are the numbers to provide in response to inquiries such as the number of children in Out Of Home Care (OOHC). Here we would always release the same total number of children in OOHC with active placements. The data can be verified using standard TWIST reports.
The Foster Care Facts are based on the TWS W058 dataset from TWIST. This dataset includes all children in DCBS custody, their placement and demographic and cost data. The TWS W058 Fact sheet will be generated monthly (first full week of the month) and serve as the numbers to report for the entire month.
Relative and Fictive Kin Placement
The placement category Placed in Relative or Fictive Kin Placement refers to children in Cabinet custody placed with a relative or fictive kin caregiver not licensed as a foster home.
The following placement categories may include licensed relative and fictive kin foster homes: Placed in PCP Foster Homes, Total Number Placed in DCBS Foster Homes all Types, Placed in DCBS Child Specific Foster Homes, Placed in DCBS Basic and Advanced Foster Homes, Placed in DCBS Care Plus or Medically Complex Homes and Placed in DCBS Adoptive Homes.
Children designated as African Amercian
This category also includes youth who identify as bi- or multi-racial.