Opioid Crisis Impact on DCYF and Foster Care Program in NH
The opioid crisis that has affected so many families is evident in data collected on DCYF assessments.
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In 2015, 44.46% of assessments had alcohol or substance abuse as a risk factor.
In 2016, 51.05% of assessments reports had alcohol or substance abuse as a risk factor.
In 2015, there were 21,598 total assessments, and 1609 or 7.45% had heroin as a risk factor.
In 2016, there were 22,008 total assessments, and 1823 or 8.28% had heroin as a risk factor

The number of accepted assessments has increased since 2013, and the number of assessments with a
substance use risk factor has increased at a higher rate, as have the number of assessments with an
allegation that includes substance abuse:
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2013: 9248 assessments, 3755 with SUD risk factor, 2302 with SUD allegation
2014: 9762 assessments, 4007 with SUD risk factor, 2550 with SUD allegation
2015: 10516 assessments, 4675 with SUD risk factor, 3147 with SUD allegation
2016: 11304 assessments, 5771 with SUD risk factor, 3364 with SUD allegation

The number of children in accepted DCYF reports that were born drug exposed is also increasing:
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2012: 155 children in accepted assessments born drug exposed
2013: 329
2014: 367
2015: 504
2016: 467

The impact on the foster care program is equally compelling:
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In Feb 2017, DCYF had 1003 children in care. As DCYF seeks to have the children in care receive
care from relatives, 881 of the children in DCYF’s care in February were in family care settings.
In Feb 2017, 329 children were being cared for by relatives who are in the foster care program,
including 170 children with grandparents. In 2016, the average was 150 children in relative care
per month.
In federal FY 2016, 23 children in DCYF care were adopted by relatives, including 12 adopted by
grandparents.

Substance use data in foster care system:
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2010: 302 children removed/85 had assessments with substance abuse
2011: 351/113
2012: 354/110
2013: 313/93
2014: 312/137
2015: 429/208
2016: 547/329

 DCYF Data on Children Entering Out of Home Care/Placement
2010
85 of the children/youth
removed in 2010 had
Count of Person ID
Age group at removal
Total allegation(s) of substance
0-2
98 abuse, drug abuse or
3-5
60 poisoning/noxious
6-8
47 substances in an assessment
9 - 11
32 5 children indicated as "child
12 - 14
25 born drug exposed" at time
15+
40 of referral and allegation
Grand Total
302 founded
There was a risk factor of substance abuse in the family for 132
(44%) children/youth removed from their home at the time of
referral

2011
113 of the children/youth
removed in 2011 had
Count of Person ID
Age Group at removal Total allegation(s) of substance
0-2
121 abuse, drug abuse or
3-5
59 poisoning/noxious
6-8
47 substances in an assessment
9 - 11
42 9 children indicated as "child
12 - 14
46 born drug exposed" at time
15+
36 of referral and allegation
Grand Total
351 founded
There was a risk factor of substance abuse in the family for 172
(49%) children/youth removed from their home at the time of
referral
2012
110 of the children/youth
Count of Person ID
removed in 2012 had
Age Group at removal Total allegation(s) of substance
0-2
123 abuse, drug abuse or
3-5
60 poisoning/noxious
6-8
45 substances in an assessment
9 - 11
27 8 children indicated as "child
12 - 14
50 born drug exposed" at time
15+
49 of referral and allegation
Grand Total
354 founded
There was a risk factor of substance abuse in the family for 171
(48%) children/youth removed from their home at the time of
referral

93 of the children/youth
2013
removed in 2013 had
Count of Person ID
Age Group at removal Total allegation(s) of substance
0-2
111 abuse, drug abuse or
3-5
46 poisoning/noxious substances
in an assessment
6-8
38
9 - 11
36 8 children indicated as "child
12 - 14
48 born drug exposed" at time of
15+
34 referral and allegation
Grand Total
313 founded
There was a risk factor of substance abuse in the family for 183
(58%) children/youth removed from their home at the time of
referral
2014
137 of the children/youth
Count of Person ID
removed in 2014 had
Age Group at removal Total allegation(s) of substance
0-2
118 abuse, drug abuse or
3-5
59 poisoning/noxious
6-8
42 substances in an assessment
9 - 11
26 14 children indicated as
12 - 14
25 "child born drug exposed" at
15+
42 time of referral and
Grand Total
312 allegation founded
There was a risk factor of substance abuse in the family for 185
(59%) children/youth removed from their home at the time of
referral

2015
208 of the children/youth
removed in 2015 had
Count of Person ID
Age Group at removal Total allegation(s) of substance
0-2
148 abuse, drug abuse or
3-5
98 poisoning/noxious
6-8
52 substances in an assessment
9 - 11
51 22 children indicated as
12 - 14
44 "child born drug exposed" at
15+
36 time of referral and
Grand Total
429 allegation founded
There was a risk factor of substance abuse in the family for 266
(62%) children/youth removed from their home at the time of
referral