Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS)
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
06/30/2026
table that charts list comparision
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
07/31/2026
280
207
1,250,485
1,180,590
0
0
State and tribal title IV-E agencies are required to report Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) case-level information on all children in foster care and children who have been adopted or placed in a guardianship with title IV-E agency involvement. AFCARS is a data collection system for national adoption and foster care data authorized under section 479 of the Social Security Act (the Act). Section 479(c)(3)(A) of the Act requires the collection of comprehensive national information with respect to the demographic characteristics of children in foster care and those who are adopted with state involvement and their biological, foster, and adoptive parents. The regulation at 45 CFR 1355 sets forth the requirements of the Act for the collection of uniform, reliable information on children who are under the responsibility of the state or tribal title IV-B/IV-E agency for placement, care, guardianship, and adoption.
States have been required to submit the AFCARS data since 1993. The regulations were updated via the final rule published in May 2020 (85 FR 28410) and again in December 2024 (89 FR 96569) with the requirement for additional data related to the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA). The first submission of the new data related to ICWA is May 15, 2029.
ACF is requesting a revision of the AFCARS OMB approval. Sixty-two data elements have been added to AFCARS, per a December 2024 final rule. This has increased the burden for reporting for state child welfare agencies only.
US Code:
42 USC 679
Name of Law: Children and Child Welfare Services - Sec 479 of SSA
EO: EO 13777 Name/Subject of EO: Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda
This information collection is a regulated dataset. The AFCARS dataset recently underwent a revision with a final rule in December 2024 (89 FR 96569) which added 55 data elements to require reporting of more detailed information related to Indian Child Welfare Actâs procedural protections. This increased the reporting burden for state title IV-E child welfare agencies only.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System - Tribe Recordkeeping