Statistics for Blue Ridge Circuit
Charts:
Statistics for Individual County: Cherokee.
Tables:
| Blue Ridge 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 | 2,570 | 33.7 per 10K | 37.6 per 10K | 39 |
| Unique Children Subject of Maltreatment Reports | 2,248/2,570 | 87.5% | 88.3% | 32.5 |
| Children Subject of Maltreatment Investigations | 1,013 | 13.3 per 10K | 13.9 per 10K | 30 |
| Children Subject of Alternative Response | 595 | 7.8 per 10K | 10.1 per 10K | 44 |
| Children Subject of Undetermined Reports | 0 | 0.0 per 10K | 0.0 per 10K | 26 |
| Children Subject of Non-Alleged Reports | 962 | 12.6 per 10K | 13.6 per 10K | 39 |
| Victim Reports | 285 | 3.7 per 10K | 3.9 per 10K | 35 |
| Victim Reports of Neglect | 140 | 1.8 per 10K | 2.5 per 10K | 38.5 |
| Victim Reports of Physical Abuse | 47 | 0.6 per 10K | 0.5 per 10K | 25.5 |
| Victim Reports of Sexual Abuse | 18 | 0.2 per 10K | 0.2 per 10K | 23.5 |
| Victim Reports of Other Abuse | 80 | 1.1 per 10K | 0.7 per 10K | 18 |
| Victims Removed to Foster Care | 96/285 | 33.7% | 24.3% | 7 |
| Non-Victims Removed to Foster Care | 33/1,323 | 2.5% | 2.1% | 13.5 |
| Children Subject of Alternative Response Removed to Foster Care | 5/595 | 0.8% | 0.6% | 12.5 |
| Children Subject of Undetermined Reports Removed to Foster Care | 0/0 | na | na | na |
| Removed to Foster Care Before Report | 4/163 | 2.5% | 0.6% | 4 |
| Removed to Foster Care within 3 Days of Report | 58/163 | 35.6% | 28.4% | 15 |
| Removed to Foster Care within 7 Days of Report | 69/163 | 42.3% | 37.6% | 19.5 |
| Median Days from Report to Removal | 163 | 16.0 days | 22.0 days | 30.5 |
| 90th Percentile Days from Report to Removal | 163 | 198.0 days | 238.0 days | 28 |
| Removed to Foster Care Prior to Start of Investigation | 6/163 | 3.7% | 1.2% | 4 |
| Victims Revictimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2024 to March 2025 | 4/264 | 1.5% | 3.1% | 37.5 |
| Removed Victims Revictimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2024 to March 2025 | 0/90 | 0% | 1.2% | 34.5 |
| Non-Removed Victims Revictimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2024 to March 2025 | 4/174 | 2.3% | 3.8% | 29.5 |
| Non-Victims Victimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2024 to March 2025 | 35/1,354 | 2.6% | 2.4% | 21.5 |
| Alternative Response Victimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2024 to March 2025 | 14/571 | 2.5% | 1.8% | 14.5 |
| Undetermined Reports Victimized within 6 Months, Disposed April 2024 to March 2025 | 0/0 | na | na | na |
| Blue Ridge 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 | 126 | 19.8 per 10K | 17.6 per 10K | 26 |
| Average Monthly Removals to Foster Care | 10.5 | 1.6 per 10K | 1.5 per 10K | 27 |
| Reentries to Foster Care | 17/126 | 13.5% | 13.1% | 21.5 |
| Reentries to Foster Care within 12 months of Previous Discharge | 15/126 | 11.9% | 5% | 5 |
| Removals for Neglect | 20/126 | 16% | 36% | 46 |
| Removals for Caretaker Drug or Alcohol Use | 57/126 | 45% | 36% | 16.5 |
| Removals for Physical Abuse | 22/126 | 17% | 9% | 6 |
| Removals for Caretaker Inability to Cope | 3/126 | 2% | 9% | 46.5 |
| Removals for Inadequate Housing | 34/126 | 27% | 18% | 11.5 |
| Removals for Incarceration | 22/126 | 17% | 13% | 13.5 |
| Removals for Child Behavior | 8/126 | 6% | 8% | 23.5 |
| Removals for Abandonment | 5/126 | 4% | 11% | 42 |
| Removals for Sexual Abuse | 10/126 | 8% | 3% | 5.5 |
| Removals to Non-Relative Foster Care First Setting | 40/57 | 70% | 60% | 13.5 |
| Removals to Relative Foster Care First Setting | 11/57 | 19% | 35% | 43.5 |
| Removals to Pre-Adoptive Home First Setting | 0/57 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Removals to Group Home First Setting | 0/57 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Removals to Institution First Setting | 6/57 | 11% | 5% | 6 |
| Removals to Home Visit First Setting | 0/57 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Removals to Runaway First Setting | 0/57 | 0% | 0% | 27.5 |
| Removals to ILP First Setting | 0/57 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Discharged within 1 Month of April 2025 through February 2026 Removal | 4/115 | 3% | 9% | 34.5 |
| Permanence within 12 months of April 2024 through March 2025 Removal | 57/145 | 39% | 31% | 13 |
| IV-E Reimbursed in Removal Cohort (excludes latest 6 months) | 0/72 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Blue Ridge 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 | 63,563 | na | na | 9 |
| AIAN Children on AIAN Lands in Region on March 31 2026 | na | na | na | na |
| Children in Care on March 31 2025 | 340 | 54.0 per 10K | 43.0 per 10K | 22.5 |
| Children in Care on March 31 2026 | 303 | 48.0 per 10K | 40.0 per 10K | 24.5 |
| Average Daily Children in Care | 322 | 50.6 per 10K | 41.7 per 10K | 24 |
| Total Children Served in Foster Care During April 2025 through March 2026 | 466 | na | na | 9 |
| Total Days Children Spent in Foster Care During April 2025 through March 2026 | 118,186 | 18,608.0 per 10K | 15,308.0 per 10K | 24 |
| Total Days Children Spent in Foster Care Away From Family During April 2025 through March 2026 | 90,560 | 14,258.0 per 10K | 11,885.0 per 10K | 25 |
| Accumulated Out of Home Placement-Days on March 31 2026 | 238,062 | 37,453.0 per 10K | 32,395.0 per 10K | 23 |
| 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 | 43 | 6.8 per 10K | 5.9 per 10K | 25 |
| Children In Care with Both TPRs on March 31 2026 | 41 | 6.5 per 10K | 6.0 per 10K | 26.5 |
| 17-Year-Olds In Care with Both TPRs on March 31 2026 | 3 | 0.5 per 10K | 0.6 per 10K | 32 |
| Children in Non-Relative Foster Care on Last Day | 185/303 | 61% | 63% | 33 |
| Children in Relative Foster Care on Last Day | 58/303 | 19% | 17% | 18.5 |
| Children in Pre-Adoptive Home on Last Day | 11/303 | 4% | 3% | 18 |
| Children in Group Home on Last Day | 0/303 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Children in Institution on Last Day | 43/303 | 14% | 15% | 28.5 |
| Children in Home Visit on Last Day | 0/303 | 0% | 1% | 38.5 |
| Children in Runaway on Last Day | 0/303 | 0% | 1% | 34.5 |
| Children in ILP on Last Day | 6/303 | 2% | 0% | 2.5 |
| Children Investigated for Maltreatment in Care during October 2024 through September 2025 | 12/517 | 2.32% | 3.46% | 36 |
| Children Victimized in Care during October 2024 through September 2025 | 0/517 | 0% | 0.71% | 43 |
| Children Victimized in Care during October 2024 through September 2025 by Parent | 0/517 | 0% | 0.09% | 31.5 |
| Children Victimized in Care during October 2024 through September 2025 by Foster Parent or Facility Staff | 0/517 | 0% | 0.4% | 40 |
| Children Over 12 in Group Settings on March 31 2026 | 42/43 | 98% | 91% | 15 |
| Placement Moves During First 12 Months In Care per 1,000 Child-Days | 140/23,716 | 5.9 Per 1K Days | 5.9 Per 1K Days | 19 |
| Placements Moves Toward Permanence | 112/471 | 24% | 25% | 31.5 |
| Lateral Placements Moves | 280/471 | 59% | 57% | 21.5 |
| Placements Moves Away from Permanence | 79/471 | 17% | 18% | 20.5 |
| IV-E Reimbursement Rate, Children In Care on March 31 2026 | 0/303 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Long Term Foster Care Plan Goal, Children In Care on March 31 2026 | 27/303 | 9% | 9% | 25 |
| Median Length of Stay, Children In Care on March 31 2025 | 340 | 19.3 months | 16.3 months | 14 |
| Median Length of Stay, Children In Care on March 31 2026 | 303 | 17.7 months | 18.6 months | 25 |
| Permanence within 12 Months, Children In Care on March 31 2025 | 117/340 | 34% | 33% | 26.5 |
| Permanence within 12 Months, Children with Both TPRs In Care on March 31 2025 | 17/33 | 52% | 45% | 18 |
| In Care Over 18 Months on March 31 2026 | 151/303 | 50% | 51% | 24.5 |
| In Care Over 24 Months on March 31 2026 | 128/303 | 42% | 40% | 16.5 |
| In Non-Relative Care Over 24 Months on March 31 2026 | 113/303 | 37% | 36% | 22.5 |
| In Non-Relative Care Over 24 Months with Both TPRs on March 31 2026 | 25/113 | 22% | 31% | 47 |
| In Care Over 18 Months on March 31 2025 Permanent within 12 Months | 48/179 | 27% | 30% | 31.5 |
| In Care Over 24 Months on March 31 2025 Permanent within 12 Months | 28/126 | 22% | 28% | 36.5 |
| Entering 18th Month In Care during April 2024 through March 2025 Permanent within 12 Months | 44/125 | 35% | 37% | 31 |
| Blue Ridge Circuit Children Discharged During April 2025 through March 2026 | Count | Rate | State Rate | Rank (high=1 to low=51) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Discharges | 151/63,515 | 23.8 per 10K | 19.6 per 10K | 26 |
| Children Discharged for Reunification | 98/151 | 65% | 46% | 1.5 |
| Children Discharged for Relative | 3/151 | 2% | 4% | 39.5 |
| Children Discharged for Adoption | 19/151 | 13% | 21% | 40.5 |
| Children Discharged for Transfer | 0/151 | 0% | 0% | 29.5 |
| Children Discharged for Emancipation | 19/151 | 13% | 10% | 14.5 |
| Children Discharged for Guardianship | 12/151 | 8% | 17% | 36.5 |
| Children Discharged for Runaway | 0/151 | 0% | 0% | 29 |
| Children Discharged for Death | 0/151 | 0% | 0% | 32.5 |
| Children Discharged for Unknown | 0/151 | 0% | 0% | 26 |
| Median Length of Stay in Foster Care | 151 | 19.9 months | 17.9 months | 20 |
| Median Months from Removal to Reunification Discharge | 98 | 13.3 months | 11.9 months | 24.5 |
| Median Months from Removal to Relative Discharge | 3 | 23.0 months | 12.0 months | 7 |
| Median Months from Removal to Guardianship Discharge | 12 | 20.4 months | 14.9 months | 17 |
| Median Months from Removal to Adoption Discharge | 19 | 37.1 months | 35.4 months | 24 |
| Reunified within 72 Hours | 1/98 | 1% | 3% | 24.5 |
| Reunified within 12 Months | 46/98 | 47% | 52% | 25.5 |
| Adopted within 24 Months | 1/19 | 5% | 20% | 36.5 |
| Adopted within 48 Months | 12/19 | 63% | 72% | 37 |
| Median Months from Removal to TPR Among Adoptions During Latest 12 Months | 18 | 26.9 months | 23.6 months | 17 |
| Median Months from TPR to Final Adoption Among Adoptions During Latest 12 Months | 18 | 6.2 months | 10.9 months | 47 |
| In Care 12+ Months at Age 16, Discharged to Permanence by Age 18 | 4/5 | 80% | 61% | 15.5 |
| In Care with Both TPRs at Age 16, Discharged to Permanence by Age 18 | 1/1 | 100% | 71% | 9 |
| Adoption Discharges | 19/63,515 | 3 per 10K | 4.1 per 10K | 38 |
| Non-Permanent Discharges | 19/63,515 | 3 per 10K | 2.2 per 10K | 19.5 |
| Non-Permanent Discharges Among Children with Both TPRs | 0/18 | 0% | 2% | 35 |
| 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 | 2/198 | 1% | 1.7% | 29 |
| Children Discharged for Reunification April 2024 through March 2025 Reentering within 12 Months | 11/103 | 10.7% | 8.2% | 11 |
| Children Discharged for Relative April 2024 through March 2025 Reentering within 12 Months | 0/1 | 0% | 5.5% | 28.5 |
| Children Discharged for Adoption April 2024 through March 2025 Reentering within 12 Months | 0/37 | 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 | 2/24 | 8.3% | 3.9% | 12 |
| Children Discharged for Guardianship April 2024 through March 2025 Reentering within 12 Months | 0/33 | 0% | 2.7% | 30.5 |
| Children Discharged for Runaway April 2024 through March 2025 Reentering within 12 Months | 0/0 | na | 0% | na |
| Blue Ridge 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 | 2,570 | 33.7 per 10K | 37.6 per 10K | 39 |
| Substantiated Maltreatment Victims During October 2024 through September 2025 | 285 | 3.8 per 10K | 3.9 per 10K | 35 |
| Removals During Period | 126 | 1.6 per 10K | 1.5 per 10K | 27 |
| In-care on March 31 2026 | 303 | 48.0 per 10K | 40.0 per 10K | 24.5 |
| Total Children Served | na | na | na | na |
| Discharges During Period | 151 | na | na | 9 |
| S1.1: Non-Recurrence of Substantiated Maltreatment within 6 Months | 172/174 | 98.9% | 97% | 13.5 |
| S1.2: Non-Maltreated by Foster Parent or Facility Staff October 2024 through September 2025 | 517/517 | 100% | 99.54% | 13 |
| C1.1: Discharged to Reunification or Relative within 12 Months | 45/100 | 45% | 49% | 26 |
| C1.2: Discharged to Reunification or Relative Median Length of Stay | 100 | 15.3 months | 12.3 months | 18 |
| C1.3: Removed During 6-Months before April 01 2025, Discharged to Reunification or Relative | 38/79 | 48% | 23% | 3 |
| C1.4: Discharged During 12-Months before April 01 2025, Reentering within 12 Months | 14/107 | 13.1% | 8.5% | 10 |
| C2.1: Discharged to Adoption within 24 Months | 1/19 | 5% | 20% | 36.5 |
| C2.2: Discharged to Adoption Median Length of Stay | 19 | 37.1 months | 35.4 months | 24 |
| C2.3: In-care 17+ Months on April 01 2025, Adopted During Period | 18/121 | 15% | 21% | 41.5 |
| C2.4: In-care 17+ Months on April 01 2025, Freed for Adoption During First 6 Months of Period | 9/101 | 9% | 9% | 26 |
| C2.5: Legally Freed April 2024 through March 2025 , Adopted within 12 Months | 14/31 | 45% | 50% | 30 |
| C3.1: In-care 24+ Months on April 01 2025, Permanent By 18th Birthday | 28/98 | 29% | 32% | 29.5 |
| C3.2: Discharges to Permanence Among Legally Free Children | 18/18 | 100% | 98% | 17 |
| C3.3: Emancipated After In-care 3+ Years | 4/13 | 31% | 39% | 38 |
| C4.1: Two or Fewer Placement Settings, In-care <12 Months | 114/160 | 71% | 76% | 40.5 |
| C4.2: Two or Fewer Placement Settings, In-care 12 to 24 Months | 50/109 | 46% | 51% | 38 |
| C4.3: Two or Fewer Placement Settings, In-care Over 24 Months | 48/162 | 30% | 26% | 11 |
| Blue Ridge 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 | 77/134 | 57% | 53% | 17 |
| CIP1.2: Discharged within 1 Month of April 2025 through February 2026 Removal | 4/115 | 3% | 9% | 34.5 |
| CIP1.3: Permanent within 12 Months of April 2024 through March 2025 Removal | 57/145 | 39% | 31% | 13 |
| CIP1.4: In Care Over 24 Months on March 31 2025 Permanent within 12 Months | 28/126 | 22% | 28% | 36.5 |
| CIP1.5: TPRs Completed during Latest 12 Months within 15 Months of Removal | 11/27 | 41% | 25% | 12 |
| CIP1.6: In Care with Both TPRs on March 31 2025 Permanent within 12 Months | 17/33 | 52% | 45% | 18 |
| CIP1.7: In Care 12+ Months at Age 16, Discharged to Permanence by Age 18 | 4/5 | 80% | 61% | 15.5 |
| CIP1.8: In Care 12+ Months with Both TPRs at Age 16, Discharged to Permanence by Age 18 | 1/1 | 100% | 71% | 9 |