Historical Information

Current as of:

Please note this page is a record of historical information about child welfare information system regulations, policy, and procedures. It includes content about the now obsolete Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System and Tribal Automated Child Welfare Information System regulations and other obsolete information that may be helpful for research or reference purposes.

Historical Information

SACWIS/TACWIS Information

The Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS) and Tribal Automated Child Welfare Information System (TACWIS) were a federally funded, voluntary, comprehensive, and automated case management tool that supported child welfare practice in states and tribes. This page contains information that was useful to child welfare information technology managers, state and tribal staff, and state and tribal leadership who planned, developed, or maintained a Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS) or Tribal Automated Child Welfare Information System (TACWIS). SACWIS/TACWIS was an option title IV-E agencies could have selected to pursue for their child welfare information system which offered enhanced cost allocation along with federally defined requirements.

SACWIS Status

This page tracks each state's SACWIS standing.

SACWIS Transfer Systems

This page provides information about whether a state chose to use another state's child welfare information system as the basis for its system and the history of system sharing.

SACWIS/TACWIS Basics

The following pages contain basic information about SACWIS/TACWIS:

  • SACWIS 101 - This presentation describes the federal requirements for SACWIS/TACWIS.

SACWIS Assessment Review Process

After a state's SACWIS was operational, DSS conducted a review to assess the system's compliance with federal regulations. The formal SACWIS Assessment Review Process is described on this page.

SACWIS/TACWIS Federal Guidance

Please note these are regulations, procedures, and policies related to SACWIS/TACWIS regulations, procedures, and policy which have been replaced by the Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS). The CCWIS final rule replaced the Statewide/Tribal Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS/TACWIS) regulations at 45 CFR 1355.50 - 57

Action Transmittals

  • ACF-OISM-001 - This Action Transmittal (AT) provides ACF guidance and policy on all areas related to planning, designing, developing, and implementing a SACWIS.
  • ACF-OSS-05 - This AT amends and supplements previous guidance on the implementation and operation of a SACWIS. It also supersedes some sections of AT-ACF-OISM-001. This guidance was issued in response to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-193) and the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-89).
  • ACF-AT-94-5 - This AT provides guidance from HHS, Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), and FNS on modifications to the APD process to increase flexibility.

Information Memoranda

  • ACYF-CB-IM-15-06 - This Information Memorandum (IM) informs state and tribal title IV-E agencies about the publication of the CCWIS NPRM and where to submit comments.
  • ACYF-CB-IM-08-02 - This IM provides information about a technical bulletin from DSS on management information systems issues related to reporting and evaluating caseworker visits.
  • CMS-ACF-IM-08-01 - This IM provides information for states concerning the identification, acquisition, and deployment of an enterprise architecture within and across automated human services information systems.
  • ACYF-CB-IM-07-06 - This document provides states with information to title IV-B/IV-E and title IV-D agencies on the main issues: referrals by child welfare to child support agencies including: what is a referral, requests for location services, applications for child support for children not receiving title IV-E services, and electronic interfaces between child welfare and child support agencies.
  • ACYF-CB-IM-07-03 - This document provides states with information regarding the use of service-oriented architecture.
  • ACYF-CB-IM-05-04 - This IM provides guidance to states and territories regarding the use of master contracts to acquire information technology products and services.
  • ACYF-CB-IM-05-02 - This IM, which was superseded by guidance issued by ACYF-CB-IM-13-01, provides guidance to states and territories seeking an exemption from federal prior approval regulations related to acquisition documents for state information technology products and services.
  • ACYF-CB-IM-04-07 - This IM provides information on technical assistance for developing cost-allocation methodologies for multi-program information system projects.
  • OISM-ACF-IM-93-4 - This IM transmits a revised Feasibility, Alternatives, and Cost/Benefit Analysis Guide, which is designed to assist states in meeting the requirements of 45 CFR part 95 subpart F.
  • Tribal Guidance — Starting a IV-E Program - ACYF-CB-IM-09-02 Issuance Date: July 10, 2009. Information to tribes considering operating a title IV-E program about the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (Public Law (P.L.) 110-351). This IM was replaced by ACYF-CB-IM-10-23.  

Program Instructions

  • ACYF-CB-PI-14-05 - This program instruction (PI) provides guidance to states and tribes that administer child welfare programs funded by title IV-E of the Social Security Act and are preparing for a federal compliance review of their automated child welfare information system. It describes a new SACWIS/TACWIS review instrument used in the process.
  • ACYF-CB-PI-11-08 - This PI provides information to states and tribes concerning changes regarding the Advance Planning Document (APD) waiver process at 45 CFR 95 and offers guidance for requesting a waiver to use a COTS software product designed for the title IV-E or title IV-B programs.
  • ACYF-CB-PI-10-05 - This PI provides guidelines for conducting pilots in a child welfare information system environment.
  • ACYF-CB-PI-10-04 - This PI provides instruction on National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) reporting in a child welfare information system environment.
  • ACYF-CB-PI-09-01 - This PI provides information on federal requirements for the use of SACWIS by private providers.
  • ACYF-CB-PI-07-10 - This PI provides guidance regarding the acquisition and implementation of child welfare information system projects.
  • ACYF-CB-PI-06-01 - This PI provides guidance on the availability of FFP based on the status of a state's SACWIS project. The PI notes that SACWIS projects determined by ACF to be high risk may have operational costs reimbursed at the non-SACWIS administrative rate.
  • ACYF-CB-PI-98-02 - This PI provides guidance on Public Law 105-89, The Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997.
  • ACYF-CB-PI-96-15 - This PI informs states of the extension of enhanced funding through federal fiscal year 1997 and provides guidance on claiming holdback and other types of payments made after September 30, 1997.

SACWIS Regulations

  • 45 CFR 1355  (PDF) - This section of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) contains general requirements for FFP under titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act.

Statutes

  • Public Law 103-66 - This law established general SACWIS requirements and federal funding, including enhanced funding through September 30, 1996 (federal fiscal year 1996).
  • Public Law 104-193 - This law extended enhanced federal funding for SACWIS through September 30, 1997 (federal fiscal year 1997).

Technical Bulletins

SACWIS/TACWIS FAQs

Who used SACWIS/TACWIS?
A state or tribe elected whether to implement a SACWIS/TACWIS. The SACWIS/TACWIS was a comprehensive, automated case management tool that met the needs of all users, including the following state, tribal, county, or privately contracted staff:

  • Caseworkers and supervisors
  • Managers and administrative staff
  • Providers involved in foster care and adoptions assistance case management

How was a SACWIS/TACWIS funded?

SACWIS/TACWIS funding was available for development, implementation, and operational costs. Funding was also available for SACWIS/TACWIS user-training services and SACWIS/TACWIS equipment costs for all staff, including private providers, to use the system.

In exchange for the additional funding provided to a state or tribe that elected to implement a SACWIS/TACWIS, the state or tribe was required to agree that the SACWIS/TACWIS would be the sole case management automation tool used by all public and private social workers responsible for case management activities.

How did a SACWIS/TACWIS support other reporting and data systems?

By law, a SACWIS/TACWIS was required to support the following federal reports:

It was mandatory that a SACWIS/TACWIS had an automated, bidirectional interface with a state's or tribe's title IV-A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), title IV-D (child support), and title XIX (Medicaid) systems .

SACWIS/TACWIS also was required to collect and manage the information necessary to facilitate the delivery of child welfare support services, including family support and family preservation. States and tribes were encouraged to incorporate other programs, such as the following, into a SACWIS/TACWIS:

  • Courts
  • Juvenile justice
  • Mental health
  • Adult protective services
  • Medical providers
  • Family stabilization and child well-being
  • Other programs

Who could have participated in SACWIS/TACWIS?

States developed SACWIS systems, and tribes developed TACWIS systems.