Statistics for Cherokee County
Charts:
Statistics for Larger Regions: Region 1, North District, Blue Ridge Circuit, Non-CII.
Tables:
| Cherokee County Children Subject of Maltreatment Reports (duplicated) During October 2023 through September 2024 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=159) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children Subject of Maltreatment Reports | 2,448 | 32.2 per 10K | 39.1 per 10K | 137.5 |
| Unique Children Subject of Maltreatment Reports | 2,135/2,448 | 87.2% | 86.4% | 75 |
| Children Subject of Maltreatment Investigations | 922 | 12.1 per 10K | 14.3 per 10K | 114.5 |
| Children Subject of Alternative Response | 666 | 8.8 per 10K | 10.7 per 10K | 126 |
| Children Subject of Undetermined Reports | 0 | 0.0 per 10K | 0.0 per 10K | 80 |
| Children Subject of Non-Alleged Reports | 860 | 11.3 per 10K | 14.1 per 10K | 127 |
| Victim Reports | 234 | 3.1 per 10K | 3.9 per 10K | 124.5 |
| Victim Reports of Neglect | 113 | 1.5 per 10K | 2.7 per 10K | 130.5 |
| Victim Reports of Physical Abuse | 38 | 0.5 per 10K | 0.5 per 10K | 100.5 |
| Victim Reports of Sexual Abuse | 16 | 0.2 per 10K | 0.2 per 10K | 79.5 |
| Victim Reports of Other Abuse | 67 | 0.9 per 10K | 0.5 per 10K | 53 |
| Victims Removed to Foster Care | 66/234 | 28.2% | 26.1% | 73.5 |
| Non-Victims Removed to Foster Care | 62/1,354 | 4.6% | 3.1% | 28 |
| Children Subject of Alternative Response Removed to Foster Care | 16/666 | 2.4% | 1.3% | 30.5 |
| Children Subject of Undetermined Reports Removed to Foster Care | 0/0 | na | na | na |
| Removed to Foster Care Before Report | 0/154 | 0% | 0.5% | 85.5 |
| Removed to Foster Care within 3 Days of Report | 46/154 | 29.9% | 25.2% | 54 |
| Removed to Foster Care within 7 Days of Report | 57/154 | 37% | 31.6% | 54 |
| Median Days from Report to Removal | 154 | 16.0 days | 43.0 days | 115 |
| 90th Percentile Days from Report to Removal | 154 | 363.0 days | 365.0 days | 42 |
| Removed to Foster Care Prior to Start of Investigation | 0/154 | 0% | 1.3% | 94 |
| Victims Revictimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2023 to March 2024 | 3/347 | 0.9% | 3.1% | 83.5 |
| Removed Victims Revictimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2023 to March 2024 | 0/122 | 0% | 1.5% | 88.5 |
| Non-Removed Victims Revictimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2023 to March 2024 | 3/225 | 1.3% | 3.7% | 77 |
| Non-Victims Victimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2023 to March 2024 | 28/1,309 | 2.1% | 2.6% | 89 |
| Alternative Response Victimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2023 to March 2024 | 9/581 | 1.5% | 2.1% | 83.5 |
| Undetermined Reports Victimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2023 to March 2024 | 0/0 | na | na | na |
| Cherokee County Children Removed to Foster Care During October 2024 through September 2025 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=159) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Removals to Foster Care | 171 | 26.9 per 10K | 19.7 per 10K | 71 |
| Average Monthly Removals to Foster Care | 14.2 | 2.2 per 10K | 1.6 per 10K | 73 |
| Reentries to Foster Care | 18/171 | 10.5% | 13.6% | 69.5 |
| Reentries to Foster Care within 12 months of Previous Discharge | 9/171 | 5.3% | 4.7% | 36 |
| Removals for Neglect | 35/171 | 20% | 35% | 99.5 |
| Removals for Caretaker Drug or Alcohol Use | 86/171 | 50% | 39% | 57 |
| Removals for Physical Abuse | 33/171 | 19% | 9% | 24 |
| Removals for Caretaker Inability to Cope | 13/171 | 8% | 9% | 60 |
| Removals for Inadequate Housing | 54/171 | 32% | 18% | 28.5 |
| Removals for Incarceration | 30/171 | 18% | 13% | 42.5 |
| Removals for Child Behavior | 13/171 | 8% | 8% | 49.5 |
| Removals for Abandonment | 3/171 | 2% | 11% | 81 |
| Removals for Sexual Abuse | 18/171 | 11% | 3% | 11 |
| Removals to Non-Relative Foster Care First Setting | 57/96 | 59% | 57% | 78.5 |
| Removals to Relative Foster Care First Setting | 28/96 | 29% | 37% | 80 |
| Removals to Pre-Adoptive Home First Setting | 0/96 | 0% | 0% | 71 |
| Removals to Group Home First Setting | 0/96 | 0% | 0% | 70.5 |
| Removals to Institution First Setting | 6/96 | 6% | 5% | 45 |
| Removals to Home Visit First Setting | 0/96 | 0% | 0% | 70.5 |
| Removals to Runaway First Setting | 5/96 | 5% | 1% | 2 |
| Removals to ILP First Setting | 0/96 | 0% | 0% | 70.5 |
| Discharged within 1 Month of October 2024 through August 2025 Removal | 12/164 | 7% | 8% | 43 |
| Permanence within 12 months of October 2023 through September 2024 Removal | 38/122 | 31% | 30% | 57.5 |
| IV-E Reimbursed in Removal Cohort (excludes latest 6 months) | 0/76 | 0% | 0% | 68 |
| Cherokee County Children in Foster Care During October 2024 through September 2025 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=159) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children in Region on September 30 2025 | 63,511 | na | na | 9 |
| AIAN Children on AIAN Lands in Region on September 30 2025 | na | na | na | na |
| Children in Care on September 30 2024 | 349 | 55.0 per 10K | 44.0 per 10K | 86 |
| Children in Care on September 30 2025 | 332 | 52.0 per 10K | 43.0 per 10K | 84.5 |
| Average Daily Children in Care | 345 | 54.2 per 10K | 43.1 per 10K | 82.5 |
| Total Children Served in Foster Care During October 2024 through September 2025 | 520 | na | na | 6 |
| Total Days Children Spent in Foster Care During October 2024 through September 2025 | 126,106 | 19,871.0 per 10K | 15,770.0 per 10K | 81 |
| Total Days Children Spent in Foster Care Away From Family During October 2024 through September 2025 | 99,167 | 15,626.0 per 10K | 12,143.0 per 10K | 81 |
| Accumulated Out of Home Placement-Days on September 30 2025 | 234,713 | 36,956.0 per 10K | 32,934.0 per 10K | 73 |
| Average Monthly Foster Care Costs During October 2024 through September 2025 | 0 | 0.0 per 10K | 0.0 per 10K | 80 |
| Children in Congregate Settings on September 30 2025 | 49 | 7.7 per 10K | 6.1 per 10K | 74.5 |
| Children In Care with Both TPRs on September 30 2025 | 12 | 1.9 per 10K | 3.5 per 10K | 110 |
| 17-Year-Olds In Care with Both TPRs on September 30 2025 | 2 | 0.3 per 10K | 0.4 per 10K | 53.5 |
| Children in Non-Relative Foster Care on Last Day | 202/332 | 61% | 62% | 95 |
| Children in Relative Foster Care on Last Day | 74/332 | 22% | 19% | 53.5 |
| Children in Pre-Adoptive Home on Last Day | 3/332 | 1% | 3% | 76 |
| Children in Group Home on Last Day | 0/332 | 0% | 0% | 80 |
| Children in Institution on Last Day | 49/332 | 15% | 14% | 77 |
| Children in Home Visit on Last Day | 0/332 | 0% | 1% | 103.5 |
| Children in Runaway on Last Day | 0/332 | 0% | 1% | 91.5 |
| Children in ILP on Last Day | 4/332 | 1% | 0% | 7 |
| Children Investigated for Maltreatment in Care during October 2023 through September 2024 | 22/565 | 3.89% | 4.84% | 70 |
| Children Victimized in Care during October 2023 through September 2024 | 1/565 | 0.18% | 0.77% | 50 |
| Children Victimized in Care during October 2023 through September 2024 by Parent | 1/565 | 0.18% | 0.21% | 17 |
| Children Victimized in Care during October 2023 through September 2024 by Foster Parent or Facility Staff | 0/565 | 0% | 0.32% | 93 |
| Children Over 12 in Group Settings on September 30 2025 | 45/49 | 92% | 89% | 80 |
| Placement Moves During First 12 Months In Care per 1,000 Child-Days | 155/27,469 | 5.6 Per 1K Days | 5.8 Per 1K Days | 65.5 |
| Placements Moves Toward Permanence | 107/464 | 23% | 25% | 97 |
| Lateral Placements Moves | 279/464 | 60% | 57% | 67.5 |
| Placements Moves Away from Permanence | 78/464 | 17% | 17% | 72.5 |
| IV-E Reimbursement Rate, Children In Care on September 30 2025 | 0/332 | 0% | 0% | 79.5 |
| Long Term Foster Care Plan Goal, Children In Care on September 30 2025 | 22/332 | 7% | 8% | 70 |
| Median Length of Stay, Children In Care on September 30 2024 | 349 | 18.1 months | 16.3 months | 57.5 |
| Median Length of Stay, Children In Care on September 30 2025 | 332 | 17.0 months | 17.0 months | 72.5 |
| Permanence within 12 Months, Children In Care on September 30 2024 | 113/349 | 32% | 32% | 86 |
| Permanence within 12 Months, Children with Both TPRs In Care on September 30 2024 | 11/18 | 61% | 54% | 65.5 |
| In Care Over 18 Months on September 30 2025 | 164/332 | 49% | 48% | 66.5 |
| In Care Over 24 Months on September 30 2025 | 136/332 | 41% | 37% | 59.5 |
| In Non-Relative Care Over 24 Months on September 30 2025 | 119/332 | 36% | 34% | 53.5 |
| In Non-Relative Care Over 24 Months with Both TPRs on September 30 2025 | 8/119 | 7% | 19% | 107 |
| In Care Over 18 Months on September 30 2024 Permanent within 12 Months | 61/176 | 35% | 31% | 69.5 |
| In Care Over 24 Months on September 30 2024 Permanent within 12 Months | 37/118 | 31% | 28% | 70.5 |
| Entering 18th Month In Care during October 2023 through September 2024 Permanent within 12 Months | 51/109 | 47% | 39% | 62 |
| Cherokee County Children Discharged During October 2024 through September 2025 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=159) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Discharges | 170/63,463 | 26.8 per 10K | 19.4 per 10K | 80 |
| Children Discharged for Reunification | 110/170 | 65% | 47% | 21 |
| Children Discharged for Relative | 2/170 | 1% | 5% | 69 |
| Children Discharged for Adoption | 21/170 | 12% | 21% | 107.5 |
| Children Discharged for Transfer | 0/170 | 0% | 1% | 83.5 |
| Children Discharged for Emancipation | 17/170 | 10% | 10% | 61.5 |
| Children Discharged for Guardianship | 20/170 | 12% | 17% | 75.5 |
| Children Discharged for Runaway | 0/170 | 0% | 0% | 80.5 |
| Children Discharged for Death | 0/170 | 0% | 0% | 84 |
| Children Discharged for Unknown | 0/170 | 0% | 0% | 77 |
| Median Length of Stay in Foster Care | 170 | 20.0 months | 18.4 months | 74 |
| Median Months from Removal to Reunification Discharge | 110 | 12.8 months | 12.3 months | 70 |
| Median Months from Removal to Relative Discharge | 2 | 12.8 months | 11.0 months | 30.5 |
| Median Months from Removal to Guardianship Discharge | 20 | 25.0 months | 15.8 months | 20.5 |
| Median Months from Removal to Adoption Discharge | 21 | 41.3 months | 34.6 months | 43.5 |
| Reunified within 72 Hours | 4/110 | 4% | 5% | 25 |
| Reunified within 12 Months | 55/110 | 50% | 51% | 65 |
| Adopted within 24 Months | 1/21 | 5% | 19% | 63 |
| Adopted within 48 Months | 14/21 | 67% | 73% | 91 |
| Median Months from Removal to TPR Among Adoptions During Latest 12 Months | 18 | 28.6 months | 22.8 months | 33.5 |
| Median Months from TPR to Final Adoption Among Adoptions During Latest 12 Months | 18 | 4.6 months | 10.1 months | 120.5 |
| In Care 12+ Months at Age 16, Discharged to Permanence by Age 18 | 3/5 | 60% | 61% | 53.5 |
| In Care with Both TPRs at Age 16, Discharged to Permanence by Age 18 | 1/1 | 100% | 67% | 13.5 |
| Adoption Discharges | 21/63,463 | 3.3 per 10K | 4.1 per 10K | 95.5 |
| Non-Permanent Discharges | 17/63,463 | 2.7 per 10K | 2.1 per 10K | 65 |
| Non-Permanent Discharges Among Children with Both TPRs | 0/20 | 0% | 3% | 75.5 |
| Discharged Runaways Under 18 on September 30 2025 | 0 | 0.0 per 1M | 4.3 per 1M | 84 |
| Children Victimized within 6 Months After Discharge during April 2023 through March 2024 | 0/217 | 0% | 1.9% | 97.5 |
| Children Discharged for Reunification October 2023 through September 2024 Reentering within 12 Months | 9/101 | 8.9% | 8% | 34 |
| Children Discharged for Relative October 2023 through September 2024 Reentering within 12 Months | 0/0 | na | 6.9% | na |
| Children Discharged for Adoption October 2023 through September 2024 Reentering within 12 Months | 0/47 | 0% | 0% | 62 |
| 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 | 2/31 | 6.5% | 2.9% | 12 |
| Children Discharged for Guardianship October 2023 through September 2024 Reentering within 12 Months | 0/33 | 0% | 2.8% | 63.5 |
| Children Discharged for Runaway October 2023 through September 2024 Reentering within 12 Months | 0/0 | na | 0% | na |
| Cherokee County Child and Family Services Review Measures During October 2024 through September 2025 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=159) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maltreatment Reports During October 2023 through September 2024 | 2,448 | 32.2 per 10K | 39.1 per 10K | 137.5 |
| Substantiated Maltreatment Victims During October 2023 through September 2024 | 234 | 3.1 per 10K | 3.9 per 10K | 124.5 |
| Removals During Period | 171 | 2.2 per 10K | 1.6 per 10K | 73 |
| In-care on September 30 2025 | 332 | 52.0 per 10K | 43.0 per 10K | 84.5 |
| Total Children Served | na | na | na | na |
| Discharges During Period | 170 | na | na | 4 |
| S1.1: Non-Recurrence of Substantiated Maltreatment within 6 Months | 154/155 | 99.4% | 96.6% | 86.5 |
| S1.2: Non-Maltreated by Foster Parent or Facility Staff October 2023 through September 2024 | 563/565 | 99.65% | 99.58% | 134 |
| C1.1: Discharged to Reunification or Relative within 12 Months | 49/105 | 47% | 48% | 63 |
| C1.2: Discharged to Reunification or Relative Median Length of Stay | 105 | 15.2 months | 12.5 months | 47.5 |
| C1.3: Removed During 6-Months before October 01 2024, Discharged to Reunification or Relative | 6/35 | 17% | 21% | 61 |
| C1.4: Discharged During 12-Months before October 01 2024, Reentering within 12 Months | 9/101 | 8.9% | 8.4% | 38 |
| C2.1: Discharged to Adoption within 24 Months | 1/21 | 5% | 19% | 63 |
| C2.2: Discharged to Adoption Median Length of Stay | 21 | 41.3 months | 34.6 months | 43.5 |
| C2.3: In-care 17+ Months on October 01 2024, Adopted During Period | 20/118 | 17% | 21% | 91 |
| C2.4: In-care 17+ Months on October 01 2024, Freed for Adoption During First 6 Months of Period | 11/119 | 9% | 6% | 41 |
| C2.5: Legally Freed October 2023 through September 2024 , Adopted within 12 Months | 17/24 | 71% | 61% | 54.5 |
| C3.1: In-care 24+ Months on October 01 2024, Permanent By 18th Birthday | 37/95 | 39% | 32% | 59.5 |
| C3.2: Discharges to Permanence Among Legally Free Children | 20/20 | 100% | 97% | 54.5 |
| C3.3: Emancipated After In-care 3+ Years | 7/18 | 39% | 41% | 62.5 |
| C4.1: Two or Fewer Placement Settings, In-care <12 Months | 136/183 | 74% | 77% | 105 |
| C4.2: Two or Fewer Placement Settings, In-care 12 to 24 Months | 55/106 | 52% | 52% | 71 |
| C4.3: Two or Fewer Placement Settings, In-care Over 24 Months | 62/188 | 33% | 28% | 42 |
| Cherokee County Court Improvement Program Reporting Measures During October 2024 through September 2025 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=159) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIP1.1: Free for Adoption or Living with Family within 15 Months of July 2023 through June 2024 Removal | 65/116 | 56% | 50% | 51 |
| CIP1.2: Discharged within 1 Month of October 2024 through August 2025 Removal | 12/164 | 7% | 8% | 43 |
| CIP1.3: Permanent within 12 Months of October 2023 through September 2024 Removal | 38/122 | 31% | 30% | 57.5 |
| CIP1.4: In Care Over 24 Months on September 30 2024 Permanent within 12 Months | 37/118 | 31% | 28% | 70.5 |
| CIP1.5: TPRs Completed during Latest 12 Months within 15 Months of Removal | 2/14 | 14% | 26% | 52 |
| CIP1.6: In Care with Both TPRs on September 30 2024 Permanent within 12 Months | 11/18 | 61% | 54% | 65.5 |
| CIP1.7: In Care 12+ Months at Age 16, Discharged to Permanence by Age 18 | 3/5 | 60% | 61% | 53.5 |
| CIP1.8: In Care 12+ Months with Both TPRs at Age 16, Discharged to Permanence by Age 18 | 1/1 | 100% | 67% | 13.5 |