Dataset Details
AFCARS Foster Care File, 6-month periods (FY2020A – 2023B)
Dataset Number: 305
Current Data Version: 1
Investigator(s)
Children's Bureau, Department of Health and Human Services
Abstract
The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) is a federally mandated data collection system intended to provide case specific information on all children in foster care for whom the state child welfare agency has responsibility for placement, care, or supervision, regardless of eligibility for Title IV-E funds. AFCARS was designed to address policy development and program management issues at both the state and federal levels. The data are also useful for researchers interested in analyzing aspects of the United States' foster care and adoption programs. An interactive AFCARS dashboard that summarizes and displays national and state foster care data by fiscal year is available from the Children's Bureau Web site (https://acf.gov/cb).
AFCARS’ reporting periods extend from October 1 to September 30 of the following year. States are required to submit all their data electronically to the Children’s Bureau at the close of each of the two semi-annual reporting periods, the “A” period from October 1st to March 31st and the “B” period from April 1st to September 30th. The 6-month files differ from the annual and AB files. In the AB and annual files, if a child has a record in both 6-month periods, the record from the second period is retained, and the record from the first period is not included. The National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect distributes a foster care data file for each fiscal year, as well as updates for previous years, if applicable. The foster care data files contain 104 variables that provide information on child demographics, the number of previous stays in foster care, service goals, availability for adoption, dates of removal and discharge, funding sources, and the biological and foster parents.
Bibliographic Citation
Children’s Bureau. (2025). Adoption and Foster Care Data System (AFCARS) 6mo File 2020-2023 [Data set]. National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN). https://doi.org/10.34681/PYR4-9C20
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