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 2024 through September 2025 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=51) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children Subject of Maltreatment Reports | 3,820 | 57.2 per 10K | 37.6 per 10K | 7 |
| Unique Children Subject of Maltreatment Reports | 3,238/3,820 | 84.8% | 88.3% | 48 |
| Children Subject of Maltreatment Investigations | 1,593 | 23.9 per 10K | 13.9 per 10K | 5 |
| Children Subject of Alternative Response | 628 | 9.4 per 10K | 10.1 per 10K | 36 |
| Children Subject of Undetermined Reports | 0 | 0.0 per 10K | 0.0 per 10K | 26 |
| Children Subject of Non-Alleged Reports | 1,599 | 23.9 per 10K | 13.6 per 10K | 3 |
| Victim Reports | 658 | 9.9 per 10K | 3.9 per 10K | 4 |
| Victim Reports of Neglect | 419 | 6.3 per 10K | 2.5 per 10K | 5 |
| Victim Reports of Physical Abuse | 63 | 0.9 per 10K | 0.5 per 10K | 7 |
| Victim Reports of Sexual Abuse | 26 | 0.4 per 10K | 0.2 per 10K | 7.5 |
| Victim Reports of Other Abuse | 150 | 2.2 per 10K | 0.7 per 10K | 4 |
| Victims Removed to Foster Care | 117/658 | 17.8% | 24.3% | 38 |
| Non-Victims Removed to Foster Care | 23/1,563 | 1.5% | 2.1% | 35.5 |
| Children Subject of Alternative Response Removed to Foster Care | 9/628 | 1.4% | 0.6% | 3 |
| Children Subject of Undetermined Reports Removed to Foster Care | 0/0 | na | na | na |
| Removed to Foster Care Before Report | 1/196 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 14 |
| Removed to Foster Care within 3 Days of Report | 31/196 | 15.8% | 28.4% | 48 |
| Removed to Foster Care within 7 Days of Report | 54/196 | 27.6% | 37.6% | 43.5 |
| Median Days from Report to Removal | 196 | 53.0 days | 22.0 days | 5 |
| 90th Percentile Days from Report to Removal | 196 | 278.0 days | 238.0 days | 11.5 |
| Removed to Foster Care Prior to Start of Investigation | 2/196 | 1% | 1.2% | 21 |
| Victims Revictimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2024 to March 2025 | 53/831 | 6.4% | 3.1% | 3 |
| Removed Victims Revictimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2024 to March 2025 | 0/126 | 0% | 1.2% | 34.5 |
| Non-Removed Victims Revictimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2024 to March 2025 | 53/705 | 7.5% | 3.8% | 4 |
| Non-Victims Victimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2024 to March 2025 | 82/1,747 | 4.7% | 2.4% | 3 |
| Alternative Response Victimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2024 to March 2025 | 14/626 | 2.2% | 1.8% | 19.5 |
| Undetermined Reports Victimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2024 to March 2025 | 0/0 | na | na | na |
| Southern Circuit Children Removed to Foster Care During April 2025 through March 2026 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=51) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Removals to Foster Care | 184 | 33.1 per 10K | 17.6 per 10K | 11 |
| Average Monthly Removals to Foster Care | 15.3 | 2.8 per 10K | 1.5 per 10K | 10 |
| Reentries to Foster Care | 34/184 | 18.5% | 13.1% | 9 |
| Reentries to Foster Care within 12 months of Previous Discharge | 20/184 | 10.9% | 5% | 6 |
| Removals for Neglect | 89/184 | 48% | 36% | 9 |
| Removals for Caretaker Drug or Alcohol Use | 68/184 | 37% | 36% | 30.5 |
| Removals for Physical Abuse | 16/184 | 9% | 9% | 21.5 |
| Removals for Caretaker Inability to Cope | 19/184 | 10% | 9% | 23 |
| Removals for Inadequate Housing | 39/184 | 21% | 18% | 22.5 |
| Removals for Incarceration | 14/184 | 8% | 13% | 36 |
| Removals for Child Behavior | 11/184 | 6% | 8% | 23.5 |
| Removals for Abandonment | 6/184 | 3% | 11% | 45.5 |
| Removals for Sexual Abuse | 2/184 | 1% | 3% | 30 |
| Removals to Non-Relative Foster Care First Setting | 44/91 | 48% | 60% | 45.5 |
| Removals to Relative Foster Care First Setting | 43/91 | 47% | 35% | 8.5 |
| Removals to Pre-Adoptive Home First Setting | 0/91 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Removals to Group Home First Setting | 0/91 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Removals to Institution First Setting | 4/91 | 4% | 5% | 25 |
| Removals to Home Visit First Setting | 0/91 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Removals to Runaway First Setting | 0/91 | 0% | 0% | 27.5 |
| Removals to ILP First Setting | 0/91 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Discharged within 1 Month of April 2025 through February 2026 Removal | 16/169 | 9% | 9% | 18 |
| Permanence within 12 months of April 2024 through March 2025 Removal | 49/174 | 28% | 31% | 27 |
| IV-E Reimbursed in Removal Cohort (excludes latest 6 months) | 0/104 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Southern Circuit Children in Foster Care During April 2025 through March 2026 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=51) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children in Region on March 31 2026 | 55,573 | na | na | 15 |
| AIAN Children on AIAN Lands in Region on March 31 2026 | na | na | na | na |
| Children in Care on March 31 2025 | 435 | 78.0 per 10K | 43.0 per 10K | 9 |
| Children in Care on March 31 2026 | 441 | 79.0 per 10K | 40.0 per 10K | 9 |
| Average Daily Children in Care | 453 | 81.4 per 10K | 41.7 per 10K | 9 |
| Total Children Served in Foster Care During April 2025 through March 2026 | 619 | na | na | 6 |
| Total Days Children Spent in Foster Care During April 2025 through March 2026 | 165,218 | 29,710.0 per 10K | 15,308.0 per 10K | 9 |
| Total Days Children Spent in Foster Care Away From Family During April 2025 through March 2026 | 119,537 | 21,495.0 per 10K | 11,885.0 per 10K | 8 |
| Accumulated Out of Home Placement-Days on March 31 2026 | 399,860 | 71,952.0 per 10K | 32,395.0 per 10K | 7 |
| Average Monthly Foster Care Costs During April 2025 through March 2026 | 0 | 0.0 per 10K | 0.0 per 10K | 26 |
| Children in Congregate Settings on March 31 2026 | 41 | 7.4 per 10K | 5.9 per 10K | 19.5 |
| Children In Care with Both TPRs on March 31 2026 | 73 | 13.1 per 10K | 6.0 per 10K | 8 |
| 17-Year-Olds In Care with Both TPRs on March 31 2026 | 5 | 0.9 per 10K | 0.6 per 10K | 22 |
| Children in Non-Relative Foster Care on Last Day | 275/441 | 62% | 63% | 29 |
| Children in Relative Foster Care on Last Day | 101/441 | 23% | 17% | 9 |
| Children in Pre-Adoptive Home on Last Day | 20/441 | 5% | 3% | 10 |
| Children in Group Home on Last Day | 0/441 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Children in Institution on Last Day | 41/441 | 9% | 15% | 47.5 |
| Children in Home Visit on Last Day | 4/441 | 1% | 1% | 20 |
| Children in Runaway on Last Day | 0/441 | 0% | 1% | 34.5 |
| Children in ILP on Last Day | 0/441 | 0% | 0% | 30.5 |
| Children Investigated for Maltreatment in Care during October 2024 through September 2025 | 19/623 | 3.05% | 3.46% | 27 |
| Children Victimized in Care during October 2024 through September 2025 | 10/623 | 1.61% | 0.71% | 5 |
| Children Victimized in Care during October 2024 through September 2025 by Parent | 0/623 | 0% | 0.09% | 31.5 |
| Children Victimized in Care during October 2024 through September 2025 by Foster Parent or Facility Staff | 5/623 | 0.8% | 0.4% | 10 |
| Children Over 12 in Group Settings on March 31 2026 | 37/41 | 90% | 91% | 32.5 |
| Placement Moves During First 12 Months In Care per 1,000 Child-Days | 161/32,068 | 5 Per 1K Days | 5.9 Per 1K Days | 29 |
| Placements Moves Toward Permanence | 116/541 | 21% | 25% | 40 |
| Lateral Placements Moves | 328/541 | 61% | 57% | 16.5 |
| Placements Moves Away from Permanence | 97/541 | 18% | 18% | 16.5 |
| IV-E Reimbursement Rate, Children In Care on March 31 2026 | 0/441 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Long Term Foster Care Plan Goal, Children In Care on March 31 2026 | 19/441 | 4% | 9% | 47 |
| Median Length of Stay, Children In Care on March 31 2025 | 435 | 22.5 months | 16.3 months | 5 |
| Median Length of Stay, Children In Care on March 31 2026 | 441 | 20.2 months | 18.6 months | 15 |
| Permanence within 12 Months, Children In Care on March 31 2025 | 109/435 | 25% | 33% | 43 |
| Permanence within 12 Months, Children with Both TPRs In Care on March 31 2025 | 18/56 | 32% | 45% | 37.5 |
| In Care Over 18 Months on March 31 2026 | 238/441 | 54% | 51% | 16.5 |
| In Care Over 24 Months on March 31 2026 | 201/441 | 46% | 40% | 10 |
| In Non-Relative Care Over 24 Months on March 31 2026 | 168/441 | 38% | 36% | 18 |
| In Non-Relative Care Over 24 Months with Both TPRs on March 31 2026 | 60/168 | 36% | 31% | 24.5 |
| In Care Over 18 Months on March 31 2025 Permanent within 12 Months | 50/235 | 21% | 30% | 43.5 |
| In Care Over 24 Months on March 31 2025 Permanent within 12 Months | 43/207 | 21% | 28% | 39 |
| Entering 18th Month In Care during April 2024 through March 2025 Permanent within 12 Months | 29/84 | 35% | 37% | 31 |
| Southern Circuit Children Discharged During April 2025 through March 2026 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=51) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Discharges | 174/55,611 | 31.3 per 10K | 19.6 per 10K | 18 |
| Children Discharged for Reunification | 79/174 | 45% | 46% | 25.5 |
| Children Discharged for Relative | 8/174 | 5% | 4% | 20 |
| Children Discharged for Adoption | 20/174 | 11% | 21% | 44 |
| Children Discharged for Transfer | 0/174 | 0% | 0% | 29.5 |
| Children Discharged for Emancipation | 24/174 | 14% | 10% | 11.5 |
| Children Discharged for Guardianship | 41/174 | 24% | 17% | 10.5 |
| Children Discharged for Runaway | 0/174 | 0% | 0% | 29 |
| Children Discharged for Death | 2/174 | 1% | 0% | 9.5 |
| Children Discharged for Unknown | 0/174 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Median Length of Stay in Foster Care | 174 | 14.3 months | 17.9 months | 40 |
| Median Months from Removal to Reunification Discharge | 79 | 8.8 months | 11.9 months | 40.5 |
| Median Months from Removal to Relative Discharge | 8 | 12.6 months | 12.0 months | 22 |
| Median Months from Removal to Guardianship Discharge | 41 | 16.1 months | 14.9 months | 23 |
| Median Months from Removal to Adoption Discharge | 20 | 47.1 months | 35.4 months | 11 |
| Reunified within 72 Hours | 0/79 | 0% | 3% | 39 |
| Reunified within 12 Months | 52/79 | 66% | 52% | 9 |
| Adopted within 24 Months | 1/20 | 5% | 20% | 36.5 |
| Adopted within 48 Months | 11/20 | 55% | 72% | 41 |
| Median Months from Removal to TPR Among Adoptions During Latest 12 Months | 19 | 35.8 months | 23.6 months | 7 |
| Median Months from TPR to Final Adoption Among Adoptions During Latest 12 Months | 19 | 11.3 months | 10.9 months | 23.5 |
| In Care 12+ Months at Age 16, Discharged to Permanence by Age 18 | 4/10 | 40% | 61% | 43 |
| In Care with Both TPRs at Age 16, Discharged to Permanence by Age 18 | 0/1 | 0% | 71% | 28.5 |
| Adoption Discharges | 20/55,611 | 3.6 per 10K | 4.1 per 10K | 34 |
| Non-Permanent Discharges | 26/55,611 | 4.7 per 10K | 2.2 per 10K | 5 |
| Non-Permanent Discharges Among Children with Both TPRs | 1/23 | 4% | 2% | 12.5 |
| Discharged Runaways Under 18 on March 31 2026 | 0 | 0.0 per 1M | 3.9 per 1M | 29.5 |
| Children Victimized within 6 Months After Discharge during April 2024 through March 2025 | 6/154 | 3.9% | 1.7% | 9 |
| Children Discharged for Reunification April 2024 through March 2025 Reentering within 12 Months | 13/81 | 16% | 8.2% | 7 |
| Children Discharged for Relative April 2024 through March 2025 Reentering within 12 Months | 1/4 | 25% | 5.5% | 2.5 |
| Children Discharged for Adoption April 2024 through March 2025 Reentering within 12 Months | 0/14 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Children Discharged for Transfer April 2024 through March 2025 Reentering within 12 Months | 0/0 | na | 0% | na |
| Children Discharged for Emancipation April 2024 through March 2025 Reentering within 12 Months | 0/14 | 0% | 3.9% | 34 |
| Children Discharged for Guardianship April 2024 through March 2025 Reentering within 12 Months | 5/40 | 12.5% | 2.7% | 5.5 |
| Children Discharged for Runaway April 2024 through March 2025 Reentering within 12 Months | 0/0 | na | 0% | na |
| Southern Circuit Child and Family Services Review Measures During April 2025 through March 2026 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=51) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maltreatment Reports During October 2024 through September 2025 | 3,820 | 57.2 per 10K | 37.6 per 10K | 7 |
| Substantiated Maltreatment Victims During October 2024 through September 2025 | 658 | 9.8 per 10K | 3.9 per 10K | 4 |
| Removals During Period | 184 | 2.8 per 10K | 1.5 per 10K | 10 |
| In-care on March 31 2026 | 441 | 79.0 per 10K | 40.0 per 10K | 9 |
| Total Children Served | na | na | na | na |
| Discharges During Period | 174 | na | na | 7 |
| S1.1: Non-Recurrence of Substantiated Maltreatment within 6 Months | 352/370 | 95.1% | 97% | 44 |
| S1.2: Non-Maltreated by Foster Parent or Facility Staff October 2024 through September 2025 | 620/623 | 99.52% | 99.54% | 32 |
| C1.1: Discharged to Reunification or Relative within 12 Months | 54/87 | 62% | 49% | 9 |
| C1.2: Discharged to Reunification or Relative Median Length of Stay | 87 | 8.9 months | 12.3 months | 41 |
| C1.3: Removed During 6-Months before April 01 2025, Discharged to Reunification or Relative | 13/74 | 18% | 23% | 28 |
| C1.4: Discharged During 12-Months before April 01 2025, Reentering within 12 Months | 14/85 | 16.5% | 8.5% | 5 |
| C2.1: Discharged to Adoption within 24 Months | 1/20 | 5% | 20% | 36.5 |
| C2.2: Discharged to Adoption Median Length of Stay | 20 | 47.1 months | 35.4 months | 11 |
| C2.3: In-care 17+ Months on April 01 2025, Adopted During Period | 20/192 | 10% | 21% | 48 |
| C2.4: In-care 17+ Months on April 01 2025, Freed for Adoption During First 6 Months of Period | 25/155 | 16% | 9% | 15 |
| C2.5: Legally Freed April 2024 through March 2025 , Adopted within 12 Months | 11/31 | 35% | 50% | 35.5 |
| C3.1: In-care 24+ Months on April 01 2025, Permanent By 18th Birthday | 43/193 | 22% | 32% | 42 |
| C3.2: Discharges to Permanence Among Legally Free Children | 22/23 | 96% | 98% | 39.5 |
| C3.3: Emancipated After In-care 3+ Years | 9/21 | 43% | 39% | 22.5 |
| C4.1: Two or Fewer Placement Settings, In-care <12 Months | 169/208 | 81% | 76% | 13 |
| C4.2: Two or Fewer Placement Settings, In-care 12 to 24 Months | 79/138 | 57% | 51% | 15.5 |
| C4.3: Two or Fewer Placement Settings, In-care Over 24 Months | 108/249 | 43% | 26% | 2 |
| Southern Circuit Court Improvement Program Reporting Measures During April 2025 through March 2026 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=51) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIP1.1: Free for Adoption or Living with Family within 15 Months of January 2024 through December 2024 Removal | 68/136 | 50% | 53% | 30.5 |
| CIP1.2: Discharged within 1 Month of April 2025 through February 2026 Removal | 16/169 | 9% | 9% | 18 |
| CIP1.3: Permanent within 12 Months of April 2024 through March 2025 Removal | 49/174 | 28% | 31% | 27 |
| CIP1.4: In Care Over 24 Months on March 31 2025 Permanent within 12 Months | 43/207 | 21% | 28% | 39 |
| CIP1.5: TPRs Completed during Latest 12 Months within 15 Months of Removal | 6/40 | 15% | 25% | 34 |
| CIP1.6: In Care with Both TPRs on March 31 2025 Permanent within 12 Months | 18/56 | 32% | 45% | 37.5 |
| CIP1.7: In Care 12+ Months at Age 16, Discharged to Permanence by Age 18 | 4/10 | 40% | 61% | 43 |
| CIP1.8: In Care 12+ Months with Both TPRs at Age 16, Discharged to Permanence by Age 18 | 0/1 | 0% | 71% | 28.5 |