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Home > Laws & Policies > Policy/Program Issuances > Information Memoranda > IM-95-32

ACF Administration for Children and Families	U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children, Youth and Families
	1. Log No.: ACYF-95-IM-95-32	2. Issuance Date: 9/18/95
	3. Originating Office: Children's Bureau
	4. Key Words: Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System AFCARS), Foster Care, Data Collection, Monthly Payment

INFORMATION MEMORANDUM

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

SUBJECT:   Publication of an Amendment to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) Regulations.

LEGAL AND RELATED REFERENCES:   Section 479 of Title IV-E of the Social Security Act; 45 CFR 1355 Appendices.

PURPOSE:   This information memorandum informs the States of the publication of an amendment to the AFCARS regulation in the Federal Register, dated August 9, 1995. This final rule adds a financial data element to the appendices of the regulation (45 CFR 1355) and the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) control number for the data collection section of the regulation.

BACKGROUND:   The Administration on Children, Youth and Families published a final rule on December 22, 1993 (58 FR 67912) that implements the requirements of section 479 of the Social Security Act. This section requires that regulations be developed to implement an adoption and foster care data collection system.

The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) is designed to collect uniform, reliable information on children who are under the responsibility of the State title IV-B/IV-E agency for placement and care. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will use this information to respond to questions and requests from Congress, other Departments, States and other interested organizations for current data on children in foster care or who have been adopted.

INFORMATION:   The preamble to the AFCARS final rule announced the Department's intention to add a foster care financial data element to the appendices of the AFCARS regulation. This data element will require information on the monthly amount of foster care benefits paid on behalf of each child in foster care. States are required to begin submitting this information for the fourth AFCARS reporting period, April 1, 1996 - September 30, 1996.

In addition, the preamble identified the need for approval and the assignment of a control number by OMB under the section "Paperwork Reduction Act". OMB approved and assigned a number to the data collection requirements in 45 CFR 1355.40 on August 22, 1994. This amendment adds that number at the end of the section as required by OMB.

INQUIRIES:   Daniel Lewis Children's Bureau, ACYF (202) 205-8618

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

Attachment

Federal Register of AFCARS Final Rule Amendments