Data & Research

Current as of:

Data and Statistics

The Division of Performance Measurement and Improvement (DPMI) houses the Data Analytics and Reporting Team (DART). DART is responsible for collecting, processing, analyzing, and disseminating program data including AFCARS, NYTD, Family First Prevention Data, and NCANDS.

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Adoption and Foster Care Statistics

AFCARS collects case-level information on children in foster care and those who have been adopted with title IV-E agency involvement.

  • National Trends Chart
  • National AFCARS Reports
  • State by State data

National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS)

NCANDS is a voluntary data collection system that gathers information from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico about reports of child abuse and neglect.

National Youth in Transition Database

The National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) collects information about youth in foster care, including outcomes for those who have aged out of foster care. The Children’s Bureau issues Services and Outcomes Reports as well as periodic data briefs highlighting findings from NYTD.

  • State Specific Data

Child Welfare Outcomes

The Children's Bureau prepares Child Welfare Outcomes Data and makes it available online, and also publishes an annual Child Welfare Outcomes Report to Congress, a requirement of the Adoption and Safe Families Act. The report highlights each state's performance in seven outcome areas. Data for the reports come largely from NCANDS and the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS).

Program Reports

Annual Report of State Child Welfare Expenditures

Each year, states are required to submit to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) information on their planned and actual expenditures for several child welfare programs. HHS then synthesizes the information from the state reports and provides national totals of planned spending by service category for the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services program and planned and actual spending by service category for the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program.

Title IV-E Data

The Children’s Bureau posts an annual summary of financial expenditure and caseload data for title IV-E programs reported on Form CB-496 by states and tribes operating title IV-E foster care, adoption assistance, guardianship assistance, prevention services, and kinship navigator programs. Data reflect information reported by states and tribes on Form CB-496. Information is available beginning with fiscal year 2019.

Funded Research

Funded Research

The Children's Bureau funds and supports research initiatives and submits mandated reports to Congress to better disseminate child welfare information as well as improve practices and policies.