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Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services
ACF Action Transmittal

Transmittal No. ACF-OISM-001

Date: February 24, 1995

Originators: Office of Information Systems Management, and Administration for Children, Youth and Families, Children's Bureau

Key Words: Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information Systems (SACWIS)

TO: State Agencies Administering or Supervising the Administration of Titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act, and Other Interested Parties.

SUBJECT: AUTOMATION OF CHILD WELFARE PROGRAMS

RELATED REFERENCES: Section 13713 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA 93) (Pub. L. 103-66); Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-272); Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information Systems (SACWIS) provisions under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act at Section 474(a)(3); 45 CFR 1355 and 1356; 45 CFR 95 Subparts E, F, and G;

Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) requirements under Section 479(b)(2) of the Social Security Act;

National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), created in response to the Child Abuse Prevention, Adoption and Family Services Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-294);

Title IV-B of the Social Security Act, Subpart 2, Family Preservation and Support Services; Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-66); 45 CFR 92.

PURPOSE: This Action Transmittal (AT) provides systems guidance and identifies the system requirements for States pursuing the development of a Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System under title IV-E. It is intended to establish policy and supplement the intent of OBRA 93 as interpreted through regulation, and to provide technical assistance to States in the design, development and implementation of SACWIS.

CONTENT: This Action Transmittal contains four major sections.

• Part I is a background section which discusses the authorizing legislation, the implementing regulations, and the automated systems which support the child welfare programs, including SACWIS, AFCARS and NCANDS. (Page 3)

• Part II includes more specific agency policies related to SACWIS planning, development and implementation. (Page 4)

• Part III contains detailed information on allowable costs, and additional guidance in the areas of cost allocation and cost/benefit analysis. (Page 10)

• Part IV includes program and systems guidance on the functional requirements of SACWIS, with emphasis on State options for the degree of functionality and interfaces to other systems. (Page 18)

SUPERSEDED MATERIAL: None

EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately

INQUIRIES TO: ACF Regional Administrators