Appendix B
Types of Data Submissions and
Data Element List of the Combined Aggregate Files
Child Maltreatment 2000
Child-level data are collected through an automated file composed of child-specific records. Most States that submitted child-level data used the Child File, which is a revision of the Detailed Case Data Component (DCDC). A few States have not yet converted their child-level data submissions to the Child File and have continued to submit the DCDC. States that submit the Child File also submit the Agency File, which collects aggregate data on such items as preventive services and screened-out reports. The remaining States submitted their data using the Summary Data Component (SDC); see table B-1.
In order to provide State-level statistics, case-level data were aggregated on key variables for those States that submitted either the Child File or the DCDC. The aggregated numbers from the Child File, the Agency file, the DCDC, and the SDC were combined into one data file-the Combined Aggregate File (CAF). Creating this new file enabled the four data sources to be merged into one file that would provide State-level data for all the States. The data element list for the CAF is provided in table B-2.
The majority of analyses in this report are based upon the data in the CAF. This data file will be available from the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN). Certain analyses are based on the full child-level data files submitted by the States. These State data files will also be available from NDACAN. Analyses based on the full State file are indicated by DCDC or Child File in their title.
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