| ACF Administration for Children and Families |
|
| 1. Log No.: ACYF-PI-CB-98-15 | 2. Issuance Date: September 10, 1998 |
| 3. Originating Office: Children's Bureau | |
| 4. Key Word: CAPTA Child Abuse and Neglect State Grant, Annual State Data Report; FY 1997Summary Data Component Survey | |
PROGRAM INSTRUCTION
TO: The State Office, Agency or Organization Designated by the Governor to Apply for a Child Abuse and Neglect State Grant, and the State-designated Contacts for the 1997 Summary Data Component Survey
SUBJECT: Summary Data Component Submission for 1997, Including Data Reporting Requirements Associated with the Child Abuse and Neglect State Grant under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)
LEGAL AND RELATED REFERENCES: Section 106(d) of CAPTA and ACYF-IM-CB-98-02, dated March 2, 1998
PURPOSE: The purpose of this Program Instruction is to transmit to the States the 1997 Summary Data Component Survey for completion.
The form includes instructions and procedures associated with the sections of CAPTA relating to the collection and reporting of data on child abuse and neglect.
BACKGROUND: The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act Amendments of 1996 (Public Law 104-235) added a provision requiring States that receive a Child Abuse and Neglect State Grant to submit an annual State data report. Specifically, Section 106(d) of CAPTA requires that "Each State to which a grant is made under this section shall annually work with the Secretary to provide, to the maximum extent practicable, a report that includes the following:
-
The number of children who were reported to the State during the year as abused or neglected.
-
Of the number of children described in paragraph (1), the number with respect to whom such reports were--
- substantiated;
- unsubstantiated; or
- determined to be false.
-
Of the number of children described in paragraph (2)--
-
the number that did not receive services during the year under the State program funded under this section or an equivalent State program;
-
the number that received services during the year under the State program funded under this section or an equivalent State program; and
-
the number that were removed from their families during the year by disposition of the case.
-
The number of families that received preventive services from the State during the year.
The number of deaths in the State during the year resulting from child abuse and neglect.
Of the number of children described in paragraph (5), the number of such children who were in foster care.
The number of child protective services workers responsible for the intake and screening of reports filed in the previous year.
The agency response time with respect to each such report with respect to initial investigation of reports of child abuse or neglect.
The response time with respect to the provision of services to families and children where an allegation of abuse or neglect has been made.
The number of child protective services workers responsible for intake, assessment, and investigation of child abuse and neglect reports relative to the number of reports investigated in the previous year.
The number of children reunited with their families or receiving family preservation services that, within five years, result in subsequent substantiated reports of child abuse and neglect, including the death of the child.
The number of children for whom individuals were appointed by the court to represent the best interests of such children and the average number of out of court contacts between such individuals and children."
In the committee report that accompanied the CAPTA reauthorization bill, the Congress encouraged the Department to identify the most effective and efficient means for collecting these data items, noting that some of the information is already reported by the majority of States through the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS). After reviewing the new data requirements and consulting with State representatives, the Children's Bureau determined that the most effective and efficient means for collecting the new data items would be to incorporate them into the Summary Data Component of the NCANDS, to which all States have been supplying data on an annual basis for the past seven years. This approach will build on the existing infrastructure for collecting and analyzing data, and will prevent unnecessary duplication of effort at the State or Federal level.
In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and Families published a notice in the Federal Register on January 9, 1998 soliciting comments from the public on the proposed revision of this information collection. No comments were received.
The 1997 Summary Data Component Survey has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget until 5/31/00 (No. 0980-0229).
INSTRUCTIONS:
States agencies are requested to complete and return the 1997 Summary Data Component Survey by November 30, 1998. Questions corresponding to the required data items are italicized to identify them clearly on the Survey (see Attachment).
The submission of other data items remains voluntary for States receiving funds under the Child Abuse and Neglect State Grant. Submission of all data items is voluntary for those States that do not receive the Basic State Grant.
State data should reflect information collected about child maltreatment for either the past calendar year (January 1 through December 31, 1997), the past Federal fiscal year (October 1, 1996 through September 30, 1997), or the past State fiscal year (July 1, 1996 through June 30, 1997).
If data are consolidated across codes or categories within an item, clarification should be provided. If the information requested cannot be submitted, the most relevant data should be provided with an explanation. A Glossary accompanies the Survey.
States are encouraged to use the comments section of the 1997 Summary Data Component Survey to provide feedback on the extent to which submission of requested data is practicable, including any information on the future availability of data the State is currently unable to report. This information will assist the Children's Bureau in analyzing results and making recommendations for any future changes in the data elements.
The completed Survey may be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS)
c/o Walter R. McDonald & Associates, Inc.
12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 310
Rockville, MD 20852-1606
Phone: (301) 881-2590
FAX: (301) 881-0093
E-mail: wrma_wdc@compuserve.com
To e-mail the completed Survey, a word processing file in WordPerfect 6.1 or Word 7.0 for Windows 95 may be requested by calling (301) 881-2590.
INQUIRIES TO:
John A. Gaudiosi
Division of Data, Research and Innovation
Children's Bureau
Administration on Children, Youth and Families
330 C Street, SW - Room 2425
Washington, DC 20447
Phone: (202) 205-8625
FAX: (202) 401-5917
E-mail: jgaudiosi@acf.dhhs.gov
/s/
James A. Harrell
Deputy Commissioner
Administration on Children, Youth and Families
Attachments:
1997 Summary Data Component
Survey
1997 Summary Data Component Glossary
