ACYF-IM-93-27 12/28/93

ACF Administration for Children and Families	U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children, Youth and Families
	1. Log No.: ACYF-IM-93-27	2. Issuance Date: 12/28/93
	3. Originating Office: Children's Bureau
	4. Key Word: Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) and Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS)

INFORMATION MEMORANDUM

TO: State Agencies Administering or Supervising the Administration of Titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act

SUBJECT: Final Rules for the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) and the Statewide Automated child Welfare Information System (SACWIS)

LEGAL AND RELATED REFERENCES: Section 479 of Title IV-E of the Social Security Act and Section 13713 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1993 (Pub. L. 103-66) respectively.

PURPOSE: This memorandum is intended to inform the States of the publication of two Final Rules in the Federal Register including the Final Rule for AFCARS and the Interim Final Rule for SACWIS.

BACKGROUND: Section 479 of the Social Security Act requires that regulations be developed to implement an Adoption and Foster Care Data Collection System. On September 27, 1990 the Department of Health and Human Services published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register for implementing the required system. Many comments were received and, since that time, significant changes were made, in preparation of the final rule. In addition, the OBRA of 1993 has provided, at Section 13713, for 75 percent Federal Financial Participation (FFP) for the planning, design, and implementation of a Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System.

INFORMATION: The AFCARS final regulations have been published in part II of the Federal Register of December 22, 1993. These regulations will be incorporated in the Code of Federal Regulations at 45 CFR Part 1355 et seq.

The final AFCARS regulations provide for an implementation date of October 1, 1994. The States' first submission of data is expected no later than May 15, 1995. However, no penalty for failure to submit data will be assessed for the first three years.

Prior to official implementation of AFCARS, States are encouraged to submit AFCARS data, if available, in the specified electronic format.

Any such data submissions will be strictly voluntary and will provide a basis for assisting the States in making a smooth transition at the time of official AFCARS implementation.

On December 22, 1993 the Department also published in part II of the Federal Register, as an Interim Final Rule, guidelines for the 75 percent FFP (enhanced match) for SACWIS. The regulation, which will be incorporated in the Code of Federal Regulations at 45 CFR parts 1355 and 1356, sets out the approval process for SACWIS. The SACWIS regulation offers States the opportunity to plan, design, and install a comprehensive, automated statewide child welfare information system with the enhanced (75 percent) title IV-E funding during a three year period. The enhanced match is available for Federal fiscal years 1994, 1995, and 1996, after which the FFP rate will decline to 50 percent. The Department encourages States to take full advantage of this opportunity for Federal/State partnership in establishing or expanding a comprehensive, multi-purpose information system to support State administration of programs serving children and families.

INQUIRIES: Regional Administrators, ACF
Regions I - X

Olivia A. Golden
Commissioner
Administration on Children, Youth and Families

Attachments:

AFCARS Final Rule
SACWIS Interim Final Rule

Attachment are currently unavailable in electronic format.