Federal Reporting Systems

Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS)

The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) collects case level information on all children in foster care for whom State and Tribal title IV-E agencies have responsibility for placement, care or supervision, and on children who are adopted under the auspices of the State and Tribal title IV-E agency. See Adoption and Foster Care Statistics for the latest AFCARS reports, and Child Welfare Research for the Child Welfare Outcomes Reports, which include AFCARS data.

• About AFCARS - General information about AFCARS.
• Federal Guidance on AFCARS - Policy issuances related to AFCARS.
• AFCARS Assessment Review - Current information on AFCARS Assessment Reviews, including schedules, and final reports.
• State Guide to an AFCARS Assessment Review - Guidance for State child welfare program and technology staff regarding the AFCARS Assessment Review process. (PDF - 528 KB)
• AFCARS Resources - Technical bulletins, software utilities, Federal Information Processing Standards Codes, and Disability/Special Needs Code Table.

National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS)

The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) is a voluntary national data collection and analysis system created in response to the requirements of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (Public Law 93-247) as amended. See Child Welfare Research for Child Welfare Outcomes Reports, which include NCANDS data, as well as Child Abuse and Neglect Research for the Child Maltreatment Reports.

• National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect - A service of the Children's Bureau provided through Cornell University that offers information and assistance on the NCANDS system.
• NCANDS Survey Instrument - This section contains the survey instruments for the Summary Data Component and the Detailed Case Data Component, as well as the glossary of terms.
• Data Profile Programming Logic - Programming logic (SPSS syntax) for use with both NCANDS and AFCARS data for the Child Welfare Outcomes and Measures and the Child and Family Services Review Data Profile.

National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD)

The National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) will collect case-level information on youth in care including the services paid for or provided by the State agencies that administer the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP), as well as the outcome information on youth who are in or who have aged out of foster care.

• About NYTD - General information about NYTD.
• NYTD Data Review Utility (NDRU) - Desktop application available to States for checking data file compliance and quality prior to transmitting files to the Federal NYTD system.
• Federal Guidance on NYTD - Policy issuances and other guidance related to NYTD, including questions and answers.
• Other NYTD Resources - Contains technical assistance documents related to NYTD.

Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS)

The Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS) is a comprehensive automated case management tool that supports social workers' foster care and adoptions assistance case management practice.

• SACWIS Managers Page – Information to orient states to SACWIS and available technical assistance.
• About SACWIS - Detailed information about a statewide automated child welfare information system.
• Federal Guidance on SACWIS - Statutes, regulations, and other SACWIS-related policy guidance.
• SACWIS Assessment Review Process - Information about the review process, as well as the latest SACWIS Assessment Review Guide.
• SACWIS Meetings and Conferences - Upcoming SACWIS-related meetings and conferences.
• SACWIS Status - A chart that provides the status of each state's SACWIS.
  • State's Transfer Systems
• About the Division of State Systems - Information about ACF's group that partners with States to develop, maintain, and operate SACWIS.
• Consultation Regarding Child Welfare Automation - Summary of DSS providing consultation on SACWIS regulations.
• Related SACWIS Links - Resources of interest to those planning, developing, and operating SACWIS.

Other Related Links

• CBX Video - View here to find out more about the Children's Bureau's online digest.
• Child Welfare Monitoring - Information on the programs provided by the Children's Bureau that monitor State child welfare services, including the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs), Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Reviews, the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis Reporting System (AFCARS), the State Wide Automated Child Welfare Information Systems (SACWIS), and the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS).
• Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) - AFCARS data from case level information on all children in foster care for whom State child welfare agencies have responsibility for placement, care or supervision and on children who are adopted under the auspices of the State's public child welfare agency.