Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
COMPASS
Children's Outcomes Measured in Protection And Safety Statistics

Measure Definitions

Absence of Maltreatment Recurrence
Of all children who were victims of abuse or neglect during the first 6 months of the reporting year, the percent that were not victims of another maltreatment within a 6 months period.
Absence of Maltreatment of Children in Foster Care
Of all children who were in foster care during the reporting year, the percent that were not victims of maltreatment by a foster parent or facility staff member.
Reunification Composite
The Reunification Composite looks at timeliness and permanency of reunifications. The Reunification Composite includes four measures: Reunification in Less Than 12 Months, Median Time to Reunification, Entry Cohort Reunification in Less Than 12 Months, and Permanence of Reunification.
Reunification in Less Than 12 Months
For the reporting year, of all children discharged from foster care to reunification who had been in foster care for 8 days or longer, the percent that met either of the following criteria: (1) the child was reunified in less than 12 months from the date of the latest removal from the home, or (2) the child was placed in a trial home visit within 11 months of the date of the latest removal and the child's last placement prior to discharge to reunification was the trial home visit.
Median Time to Reunification
For the reporting year, of all children discharged from foster care to reunification who had been in foster care for 8 days or longer, the median length of stay in months from the date of the most recent entry into foster care until either of the following: (1) the date of discharge to reunification; or (2) the date of placement in a trial home visit that exceeded 30 days and was the last placement setting prior to discharge to reunification.
Entry Cohort Reunification in Less Than 12 Months
For the prior reporting year, of all children entering foster care in the second 6 months of the year who remained in foster care for 8 days or longer, the percent who met either of the following criteria: (1) the child was reunified in less than 12 months from the date of entry into foster care, or (2) the child was placed in a trial home visit in less than 11 months from the date of entry into foster care and the trial home visit was the last placement setting prior to discharge to reunification.
Permanence of Reunification
Of all children discharged from foster care to reunification in the year prior to the reporting year, the percent that re-entered foster care in less than 12 months from discharge from a prior episode. A lower score is preferable.
Adoption Composite
The Adoption Composite is concerned with the timeliness of adoptions and includes the following five measures: Adoption in Less Than 24 Months, Median Time to Adoption, Children in Care for 17 Months or Longer Who Are Adopted by the End of the Year, Children in Care for 17 Months or Longer Who Are Legally Free for Adoption within 6 Months, and Children Who Are Legally Free for Adoption Who Are Adopted within 12 Months.
Adoption in Less Than 24 Months
For the reporting year, of all children who were discharged from foster care to a finalized adoption during the year, the percent that were discharged in less than 24 months from the date of the latest removal from the home.
Median Time to Adoption
For the reporting year, of all children who were discharged from foster care to a finalized adoption, the median length of stay in foster care (in months) from the date of removal from the home to the date of discharge to adoption.
Children in Care for 17 Months or Longer Who are Adopted by the End of the Year
For the reporting year, of all children in foster care on the first day of the year who were in foster care for 17 continuous months or longer, the percent that was discharged from foster care to a finalized adoption before the end of the fiscal year.
Children in Care for 17 Months or Longer Who Are Legally Free for Adoption within 6 Months
For the reporting year, of all children in foster care on the first day of the year who were in foster care for 17 continuous months or longer, the percent that became legally free for adoption within 6 months from the beginning of the reporting year.
Children Who Are Legally Free for Adoption Who Are Adopted within 12 Months
Of all children who became legally free for adoption in the prior reporting year, what percent was discharged from foster care to a finalized adoption in less than 12 months.
Permanency Composite
Exits to Permanency Prior to the Child's 18th Birthday for Children in Care for 24 Months or More, Exits to Permanency for Children Free for Adoption, and Children Emancipated Who Were in Foster Care of 3 Years or More.
Exits to Permanency Prior to the Child's 18th Birthday for Children in Care for 24 Months or More
Of all children in foster care for 24 months or longer on the first day of the reporting year shown, the percent that were discharged to a permanent home prior to their 18th birthday and by the end of the reporting year. A permanent home is defined as having a discharge reason of adoption, guardianship or reunification.
Exits to Permanency for Children Free for Adoption
Of all children who were discharged from foster care in the year shown, and who were legally free for adoption at time of discharge, (there was a parental rights termination date reported to AFCARS for both mother and father), the percent that were discharged to a permanent home prior to their 18th birthday. A permanent home is defined as having a discharge reason of adoption, guardianship, or reunification.
Children Emancipated Who Were in Foster Care for 3 Years or More
Of all children who during the year shown, either (1) were discharged from foster care prior to age 18 with a discharge reason of emancipation, or (2) reached their 18th birthday while in foster care, the percent that were in foster care for 3 years of longer. A lower score is preferable.
Placement Stability Composite
Two or Fewer Placement Settings for Children in Care for Less Than 12 Months, Two or Fewer Placement Setting for Children in Care for 12 to 24 Months, and Two or Fewer Placement Settings for Children in Care for More Than 24 Months.
Two or Fewer Placement Settings for Children in Care for Less Than 12 Months
Of all children served in foster care during the 12 month target period that were in foster care for at least 8 days but less than 12 months, the percent that had two or fewer placement settings.
Two or Fewer Placement Settings for Children in Care for 12 to 24 Months
Of all children served in foster care during the 12 month target period that were in foster care for at least 12 months but less than 24 months, the percent that had two or fewer placement settings.
Two or Fewer Placement Settings for Children in Care for 24 Months or More
Of all children served in foster care during the 12 month target period that were in foster care for at least 24 months, the percent that had two or fewer placement settings.