This evaluation examined the permanency placement rates for children in foster care prior to and following implementation of structured decisionmaking (SDM) procedures for use in case management and found that prior to implementation of SDM procedures, 60.1 percent of children entering foster care in the pilot counties and 64.1 percent of children entering foster care in comparison counties had a permanent placement within 15 months of case opening. Following implementation of SDM procedures, 67.2 percent of children entering foster care in pilot counties achieved permanent placement within 15 months of case opening, compared to only 56.1 percent of children entering foster care in comparison counties. This evaluation examined the effect of implementation of SDM procedures for foster care case management in Michigan. Data for the evaluation were obtained from an analysis of permanency placement rates in selected counties for children in foster care for the pre-implementation period of April 1996 to September 1997 and for the post-implementation period of April 1998 through September 1999. In this evaluation, permanency was defined as a return home to the removal family, permanent placement with another family member or guardian, termination of parental rights and adoption, or other permanent arrangements. The evaluation found that counties that used SDM procedures significantly improved the permanency placement rates for children entering foster care. Tables, figures, and appendixes