Statistics for Southern Circuit
Charts:
Statistics for Individual County: Lowndes, Thomas, Colquitt, Brooks, Echols.
Tables:
| Southern Circuit Children Subject of Maltreatment Reports (duplicated) During October 2023 through September 2024 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=51) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children Subject of Maltreatment Reports | 3,959 | 59.2 per 10K | 39.1 per 10K | 7 |
| Unique Children Subject of Maltreatment Reports | 3,360/3,959 | 84.9% | 86.4% | 37 |
| Children Subject of Maltreatment Investigations | 1,765 | 26.4 per 10K | 14.3 per 10K | 3 |
| Children Subject of Alternative Response | 632 | 9.4 per 10K | 10.7 per 10K | 39 |
| Children Subject of Undetermined Reports | 0 | 0.0 per 10K | 0.0 per 10K | 26 |
| Children Subject of Non-Alleged Reports | 1,562 | 23.4 per 10K | 14.1 per 10K | 4 |
| Victim Reports | 671 | 10.0 per 10K | 3.9 per 10K | 3 |
| Victim Reports of Neglect | 489 | 7.3 per 10K | 2.7 per 10K | 5 |
| Victim Reports of Physical Abuse | 60 | 0.9 per 10K | 0.5 per 10K | 6.5 |
| Victim Reports of Sexual Abuse | 26 | 0.4 per 10K | 0.2 per 10K | 7 |
| Victim Reports of Other Abuse | 96 | 1.4 per 10K | 0.5 per 10K | 5 |
| Victims Removed to Foster Care | 117/671 | 17.4% | 26.1% | 44 |
| Non-Victims Removed to Foster Care | 31/1,726 | 1.8% | 3.1% | 43.5 |
| Children Subject of Alternative Response Removed to Foster Care | 3/632 | 0.5% | 1.3% | 39.5 |
| Children Subject of Undetermined Reports Removed to Foster Care | 0/0 | na | na | na |
| Removed to Foster Care Before Report | 5/208 | 2.4% | 0.5% | 2 |
| Removed to Foster Care within 3 Days of Report | 38/208 | 18.3% | 25.2% | 37 |
| Removed to Foster Care within 7 Days of Report | 47/208 | 22.6% | 31.6% | 43 |
| Median Days from Report to Removal | 208 | 98.5 days | 43.0 days | 7 |
| 90th Percentile Days from Report to Removal | 208 | 377.0 days | 365.0 days | 13 |
| Removed to Foster Care Prior to Start of Investigation | 6/208 | 2.9% | 1.3% | 6.5 |
| Victims Revictimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2023 to March 2024 | 28/581 | 4.8% | 3.1% | 9 |
| Removed Victims Revictimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2023 to March 2024 | 2/79 | 2.5% | 1.5% | 10.5 |
| Non-Removed Victims Revictimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2023 to March 2024 | 26/502 | 5.2% | 3.7% | 12 |
| Non-Victims Victimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2023 to March 2024 | 105/1,864 | 5.6% | 2.6% | 3 |
| Alternative Response Victimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2023 to March 2024 | 19/551 | 3.4% | 2.1% | 11.5 |
| Undetermined Reports Victimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2023 to March 2024 | 0/0 | na | na | na |
| Southern Circuit Children Removed to Foster Care During October 2024 through September 2025 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=51) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Removals to Foster Care | 220 | 39.5 per 10K | 19.7 per 10K | 5 |
| Average Monthly Removals to Foster Care | 18.3 | 3.3 per 10K | 1.6 per 10K | 5.5 |
| Reentries to Foster Care | 47/220 | 21.4% | 13.6% | 5.5 |
| Reentries to Foster Care within 12 months of Previous Discharge | 20/220 | 9.1% | 4.7% | 6 |
| Removals for Neglect | 111/220 | 50% | 35% | 8.5 |
| Removals for Caretaker Drug or Alcohol Use | 97/220 | 44% | 39% | 23 |
| Removals for Physical Abuse | 18/220 | 8% | 9% | 23 |
| Removals for Caretaker Inability to Cope | 12/220 | 5% | 9% | 39.5 |
| Removals for Inadequate Housing | 37/220 | 17% | 18% | 23 |
| Removals for Incarceration | 19/220 | 9% | 13% | 38 |
| Removals for Child Behavior | 10/220 | 5% | 8% | 35.5 |
| Removals for Abandonment | 12/220 | 5% | 11% | 34 |
| Removals for Sexual Abuse | 5/220 | 2% | 3% | 25 |
| Removals to Non-Relative Foster Care First Setting | 61/132 | 46% | 57% | 44.5 |
| Removals to Relative Foster Care First Setting | 67/132 | 51% | 37% | 8.5 |
| Removals to Pre-Adoptive Home First Setting | 0/132 | 0% | 0% | 26.5 |
| Removals to Group Home First Setting | 0/132 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Removals to Institution First Setting | 4/132 | 3% | 5% | 36 |
| Removals to Home Visit First Setting | 0/132 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Removals to Runaway First Setting | 0/132 | 0% | 1% | 29.5 |
| Removals to ILP First Setting | 0/132 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Discharged within 1 Month of October 2024 through August 2025 Removal | 18/209 | 9% | 8% | 18 |
| Permanence within 12 months of October 2023 through September 2024 Removal | 35/134 | 26% | 30% | 30 |
| IV-E Reimbursed in Removal Cohort (excludes latest 6 months) | 0/98 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Southern Circuit Children in Foster Care During October 2024 through September 2025 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=51) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children in Region on September 30 2025 | 55,614 | na | na | 15 |
| AIAN Children on AIAN Lands in Region on September 30 2025 | na | na | na | na |
| Children in Care on September 30 2024 | 408 | 73.0 per 10K | 44.0 per 10K | 14 |
| Children in Care on September 30 2025 | 475 | 85.0 per 10K | 43.0 per 10K | 8 |
| Average Daily Children in Care | 442 | 79.3 per 10K | 43.1 per 10K | 9 |
| Total Children Served in Foster Care During October 2024 through September 2025 | 628 | na | na | 6 |
| Total Days Children Spent in Foster Care During October 2024 through September 2025 | 160,285 | 28,802.0 per 10K | 15,770.0 per 10K | 9 |
| Total Days Children Spent in Foster Care Away From Family During October 2024 through September 2025 | 117,488 | 21,111.0 per 10K | 12,143.0 per 10K | 10 |
| Accumulated Out of Home Placement-Days on September 30 2025 | 384,709 | 69,175.0 per 10K | 32,934.0 per 10K | 7 |
| Average Monthly Foster Care Costs During October 2024 through September 2025 | 0 | 0.0 per 10K | 0.0 per 10K | 26 |
| Children in Congregate Settings on September 30 2025 | 35 | 6.3 per 10K | 6.1 per 10K | 28.5 |
| Children In Care with Both TPRs on September 30 2025 | 17 | 3.1 per 10K | 3.5 per 10K | 33.5 |
| 17-Year-Olds In Care with Both TPRs on September 30 2025 | 5 | 0.9 per 10K | 0.4 per 10K | 15.5 |
| Children in Non-Relative Foster Care on Last Day | 302/475 | 64% | 62% | 21.5 |
| Children in Relative Foster Care on Last Day | 132/475 | 28% | 19% | 5 |
| Children in Pre-Adoptive Home on Last Day | 3/475 | 1% | 3% | 43.5 |
| Children in Group Home on Last Day | 0/475 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Children in Institution on Last Day | 35/475 | 7% | 14% | 49 |
| Children in Home Visit on Last Day | 1/475 | 0% | 1% | 42.5 |
| Children in Runaway on Last Day | 2/475 | 0% | 1% | 35 |
| Children in ILP on Last Day | 0/475 | 0% | 0% | 29.5 |
| Children Investigated for Maltreatment in Care during October 2023 through September 2024 | 28/584 | 4.79% | 4.84% | 20 |
| Children Victimized in Care during October 2023 through September 2024 | 5/584 | 0.86% | 0.77% | 19.5 |
| Children Victimized in Care during October 2023 through September 2024 by Parent | 1/584 | 0.17% | 0.21% | 15 |
| Children Victimized in Care during October 2023 through September 2024 by Foster Parent or Facility Staff | 2/584 | 0.34% | 0.32% | 18 |
| Children Over 12 in Group Settings on September 30 2025 | 30/35 | 86% | 89% | 38.5 |
| Placement Moves During First 12 Months In Care per 1,000 Child-Days | 156/35,223 | 4.4 Per 1K Days | 5.8 Per 1K Days | 35 |
| Placements Moves Toward Permanence | 94/489 | 19% | 25% | 43.5 |
| Lateral Placements Moves | 311/489 | 64% | 57% | 10.5 |
| Placements Moves Away from Permanence | 84/489 | 17% | 17% | 24 |
| IV-E Reimbursement Rate, Children In Care on September 30 2025 | 0/475 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Long Term Foster Care Plan Goal, Children In Care on September 30 2025 | 19/475 | 4% | 8% | 43 |
| Median Length of Stay, Children In Care on September 30 2024 | 408 | 24.3 months | 16.3 months | 3 |
| Median Length of Stay, Children In Care on September 30 2025 | 475 | 17.6 months | 17.0 months | 21 |
| Permanence within 12 Months, Children In Care on September 30 2024 | 100/408 | 25% | 32% | 43 |
| Permanence within 12 Months, Children with Both TPRs In Care on September 30 2024 | 14/29 | 48% | 54% | 34.5 |
| In Care Over 18 Months on September 30 2025 | 237/475 | 50% | 48% | 18.5 |
| In Care Over 24 Months on September 30 2025 | 198/475 | 42% | 37% | 14 |
| In Non-Relative Care Over 24 Months on September 30 2025 | 163/475 | 34% | 34% | 21.5 |
| In Non-Relative Care Over 24 Months with Both TPRs on September 30 2025 | 16/163 | 10% | 19% | 43 |
| In Care Over 18 Months on September 30 2024 Permanent within 12 Months | 59/250 | 24% | 31% | 41.5 |
| In Care Over 24 Months on September 30 2024 Permanent within 12 Months | 50/208 | 24% | 28% | 38.5 |
| Entering 18th Month In Care during October 2023 through September 2024 Permanent within 12 Months | 42/127 | 33% | 39% | 39 |
| Southern Circuit Children Discharged During October 2024 through September 2025 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=51) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Discharges | 153/55,652 | 27.5 per 10K | 19.4 per 10K | 22 |
| Children Discharged for Reunification | 73/153 | 48% | 47% | 24.5 |
| Children Discharged for Relative | 4/153 | 3% | 5% | 32.5 |
| Children Discharged for Adoption | 20/153 | 13% | 21% | 40.5 |
| Children Discharged for Transfer | 0/153 | 0% | 1% | 31.5 |
| Children Discharged for Emancipation | 21/153 | 14% | 10% | 11.5 |
| Children Discharged for Guardianship | 32/153 | 21% | 17% | 15 |
| Children Discharged for Runaway | 0/153 | 0% | 0% | 29.5 |
| Children Discharged for Death | 3/153 | 2% | 0% | 4 |
| Children Discharged for Unknown | 0/153 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Median Length of Stay in Foster Care | 153 | 22.6 months | 18.4 months | 13 |
| Median Months from Removal to Reunification Discharge | 73 | 14.6 months | 12.3 months | 19 |
| Median Months from Removal to Relative Discharge | 4 | 12.6 months | 11.0 months | 18 |
| Median Months from Removal to Guardianship Discharge | 32 | 22.8 months | 15.8 months | 14 |
| Median Months from Removal to Adoption Discharge | 20 | 61.0 months | 34.6 months | 3 |
| Reunified within 72 Hours | 0/73 | 0% | 5% | 39 |
| Reunified within 12 Months | 35/73 | 48% | 51% | 25 |
| Adopted within 24 Months | 1/20 | 5% | 19% | 37 |
| Adopted within 48 Months | 5/20 | 25% | 73% | 50 |
| Median Months from Removal to TPR Among Adoptions During Latest 12 Months | 17 | 40.2 months | 22.8 months | 2 |
| Median Months from TPR to Final Adoption Among Adoptions During Latest 12 Months | 17 | 23.0 months | 10.1 months | 3 |
| In Care 12+ Months at Age 16, Discharged to Permanence by Age 18 | 6/10 | 60% | 61% | 26 |
| In Care with Both TPRs at Age 16, Discharged to Permanence by Age 18 | 1/2 | 50% | 67% | 23 |
| Adoption Discharges | 20/55,652 | 3.6 per 10K | 4.1 per 10K | 32 |
| Non-Permanent Discharges | 24/55,652 | 4.3 per 10K | 2.1 per 10K | 7.5 |
| Non-Permanent Discharges Among Children with Both TPRs | 1/22 | 5% | 3% | 13 |
| Discharged Runaways Under 18 on September 30 2025 | 0 | 0.0 per 1M | 4.3 per 1M | 30 |
| Children Victimized within 6 Months After Discharge during April 2023 through March 2024 | 6/123 | 4.9% | 1.9% | 7 |
| Children Discharged for Reunification October 2023 through September 2024 Reentering within 12 Months | 10/97 | 10.3% | 8% | 12.5 |
| Children Discharged for Relative October 2023 through September 2024 Reentering within 12 Months | 2/9 | 22.2% | 6.9% | 4.5 |
| Children Discharged for Adoption October 2023 through September 2024 Reentering within 12 Months | 0/23 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Children Discharged for Transfer October 2023 through September 2024 Reentering within 12 Months | 0/0 | na | 0% | na |
| Children Discharged for Emancipation October 2023 through September 2024 Reentering within 12 Months | 0/15 | 0% | 2.9% | 32.5 |
| Children Discharged for Guardianship October 2023 through September 2024 Reentering within 12 Months | 3/30 | 10% | 2.8% | 5 |
| Children Discharged for Runaway October 2023 through September 2024 Reentering within 12 Months | 0/0 | na | 0% | na |
| Southern Circuit Child and Family Services Review Measures During October 2024 through September 2025 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=51) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maltreatment Reports During October 2023 through September 2024 | 3,959 | 59.2 per 10K | 39.1 per 10K | 7 |
| Substantiated Maltreatment Victims During October 2023 through September 2024 | 671 | 10.1 per 10K | 3.9 per 10K | 3 |
| Removals During Period | 220 | 3.3 per 10K | 1.6 per 10K | 5.5 |
| In-care on September 30 2025 | 475 | 85.0 per 10K | 43.0 per 10K | 8 |
| Total Children Served | na | na | na | na |
| Discharges During Period | 153 | na | na | 10 |
| S1.1: Non-Recurrence of Substantiated Maltreatment within 6 Months | 308/332 | 92.8% | 96.6% | 49 |
| S1.2: Non-Maltreated by Foster Parent or Facility Staff October 2023 through September 2024 | 581/584 | 99.49% | 99.58% | 37 |
| C1.1: Discharged to Reunification or Relative within 12 Months | 35/77 | 45% | 48% | 23.5 |
| C1.2: Discharged to Reunification or Relative Median Length of Stay | 77 | 14.0 months | 12.5 months | 26 |
| C1.3: Removed During 6-Months before October 01 2024, Discharged to Reunification or Relative | 16/61 | 26% | 21% | 17.5 |
| C1.4: Discharged During 12-Months before October 01 2024, Reentering within 12 Months | 12/106 | 11.3% | 8.4% | 11 |
| C2.1: Discharged to Adoption within 24 Months | 1/20 | 5% | 19% | 37 |
| C2.2: Discharged to Adoption Median Length of Stay | 20 | 61.0 months | 34.6 months | 3 |
| C2.3: In-care 17+ Months on October 01 2024, Adopted During Period | 19/206 | 9% | 21% | 50 |
| C2.4: In-care 17+ Months on October 01 2024, Freed for Adoption During First 6 Months of Period | 5/194 | 3% | 6% | 33 |
| C2.5: Legally Freed October 2023 through September 2024 , Adopted within 12 Months | 1/3 | 33% | 61% | 46.5 |
| C3.1: In-care 24+ Months on October 01 2024, Permanent By 18th Birthday | 50/198 | 25% | 32% | 43.5 |
| C3.2: Discharges to Permanence Among Legally Free Children | 21/22 | 95% | 97% | 39 |
| C3.3: Emancipated After In-care 3+ Years | 8/20 | 40% | 41% | 25.5 |
| C4.1: Two or Fewer Placement Settings, In-care <12 Months | 188/228 | 82% | 77% | 16.5 |
| C4.2: Two or Fewer Placement Settings, In-care 12 to 24 Months | 90/121 | 74% | 52% | 2 |
| C4.3: Two or Fewer Placement Settings, In-care Over 24 Months | 116/253 | 46% | 28% | 1 |
| Southern Circuit Court Improvement Program Reporting Measures During October 2024 through September 2025 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=51) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIP1.1: Free for Adoption or Living with Family within 15 Months of July 2023 through June 2024 Removal | 58/115 | 50% | 50% | 24 |
| CIP1.2: Discharged within 1 Month of October 2024 through August 2025 Removal | 18/209 | 9% | 8% | 18 |
| CIP1.3: Permanent within 12 Months of October 2023 through September 2024 Removal | 35/134 | 26% | 30% | 30 |
| CIP1.4: In Care Over 24 Months on September 30 2024 Permanent within 12 Months | 50/208 | 24% | 28% | 38.5 |
| CIP1.5: TPRs Completed during Latest 12 Months within 15 Months of Removal | 4/10 | 40% | 26% | 11 |
| CIP1.6: In Care with Both TPRs on September 30 2024 Permanent within 12 Months | 14/29 | 48% | 54% | 34.5 |
| CIP1.7: In Care 12+ Months at Age 16, Discharged to Permanence by Age 18 | 6/10 | 60% | 61% | 26 |
| CIP1.8: In Care 12+ Months with Both TPRs at Age 16, Discharged to Permanence by Age 18 | 1/2 | 50% | 67% | 23 |