Resource Library

This technical bulletin provides agencies with information required to create the AFCARS data files.  It provides technical specifications on the structural layout of the XML data and shares the XML schema for the Out-of-Home Care File and the Adoption and Guardianship Assistance File.  It also covers information on encryption of the file records. This Technical Bulletin was last revised on October 10, 2023.

This TB describes how ACF will identify and finalize each cohort of youth in the NYTD follow-up population (or follow-up population sample for those States that opt to sample) for the purposes of assessing States' compliance with NYTD data collection and reporting requirements.

The DCU contains the same data compliance checks as the federal AFCARS and creates a report showing if a title IV-E AFCARS file meets federal standards.

This webpage includes the documentation from Oregon's Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) assessment review for fiscal year 2013.

This is an overview presentation on the AFCARS final rule.

This is a brief presentation on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) soliciting comments and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to provide an additional two fiscal years to comply with the AFCARS requirements in the December 2016 final rule that were published in the Federal Register on March 15, 2018.

This guide describes the standard and specialized calls used in planning for a NYTD Review. It includes a general timeline for the calls, and the time frame, participants, and content discussed for each type of call.

The Children's Bureau Data Analytics and Reporting Team held their final AFCARS Open Office Hours for 2023. These sessions are for state and tribal program administrators, child welfare data leaders, and information system programmers. It provides an opportunity to ask questions specific to your agency's implementation of AFCARS 2020. The April session covered questions and answers, as well as updates from NCWDMS.

The Children's Bureau Data Analytics and Reporting Team held an AFCARS Open Office Hours for the implementation of AFCARS 2020 in December 2022. This session was for state and tribal program administrators, child welfare data leaders, and information system programmers. It was an opportunity to ask questions specific to an agency's implementation. Below is the slide deck of the question and answers that were presented during the session.

This technical bulletin is a revision to the Technical Bulletin #1 that was originally published on August 19, 2019.  This revised Technical Bulletin #1 provides additional information regarding the file structure for the data elements to be submitted by IV-E agencies for each child who received IV-E prevention services, as required by FFPSA.