Description
The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) is a federally mandated data collection system intended to provide case specific information on all children covered by the protections of Title IV-B/E of the Social Security Act (Section 427). Under the Final 1993 AFCARS’ rule, states are required to collect and submit data on all children who are under the responsiblity of the title IV-B/IV-E agency for placement, care, or supervision.
Units of Response: Children in Foster Care
Type of Data: Administrative
Tribal Data: Unavailable
Periodicity: Semiannual
Demographic Indicators: Disability;Geographic Areas;Sex
SORN: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/12/14/2016-29366/adoption-and-foster-care-analysis-and-reporting-system
Data Use Agreement: https://www.ndacan.acf.hhs.gov/datasets/order_forms/termsofuseagreement.pdf
Data Use Agreement Location: https://www.ndacan.acf.hhs.gov/datasets/order_forms/termsofuseagreement.pdf
Granularity: Individual
Spatial: United States
Geocoding: FIPS Code
Resources
| Name | Format | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| The AFCARS Report Preliminary FY 2018 Estimates as of August 10, 2018 - No. 25 | HTML | This report provides preliminary estimates of Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) data for FY 2017. As states are permitted to resubmit AFCARS data, the estimates may change over time. This report reflects all AFCARS data received as of August 10, 2018 related to AFCARS reporting periods through September 30, 2017. Data Product Type: Report | Open resource |
| The AFCARS Report Preliminary FY 2018 Estimates as of August 22, 2019 - No. 26 | HTML | This report provides preliminary estimates of Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) data for FY 2018. As states are permitted to resubmit AFCARS data, the estimates may change over time. This report reflects all AFCARS data received as of August 22, 2019 related to AFCARS reporting periods through September 30, 2018. Data Product Type: Report | Open resource |
| The AFCARS Report Preliminary FY 2019 Estimates as of June 23, 2020 - No. 27 | HTML | This report provides preliminary estimates of Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) data for FY 2019. As states are permitted to resubmit AFCARS data, the estimates may change over time. This report reflects all AFCARS data received as of June 23, 2020 related to AFCARS reporting periods through September 30, 2019. Data Product Type: Report | Open resource |
| The AFCARS Report Preliminary FY 2018 Estimates as of October 4, 2021 - No. 28 | HTML | This report provides preliminary estimates of Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) data for FY 2020. As states are permitted to resubmit AFCARS data, the estimates may change over time. This report reflects all AFCARS data received as of October 4, 2021 related to AFCARS reporting periods through September 30, 2020. Data Product Type: Report | Open resource |
| Trends in Foster Care & Adoption: FY 2011- 2020 State Data Tables | HTML | This data file includes state estimates related to children who experience time in foster care and who are adopted from the foster care system, relative to each Federal Fiscal Year shown. Temporal: 2011-2020, Restriction: Public-use Aggregate, Formats: EXCEL | Open resource |
| Trends in Foster Care & Adoption: FY 2011- 2020 National Dataset | HTML | This data file includes national estimates related to children who experience time in foster care and who are adopted from the foster care system, relative to each Federal Fiscal Year shown. Temporal: 2011-2020, Restriction: Public-use Aggregate, Formats: EXCEL | Open resource |
| Trends in Foster Care and Adoption: FY 2011 -FY 2020 | HTML | This chart and other data in this document include data submitted to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) by states and the District of Columbia by October 04, 2021. Data Product Type: Report | Open resource |
| AFCARS Foster Care File, 6-month periods (FY2016A - 2021A) | HTML | The AFCARS Foster Care File, 6-month periods (FY2016A - 2021A) contain 96 variables (73 original variables and 23 NDACAN-derived variables). Temporal: 2016-2021, Restriction: Restricted-use Micro, Formats: ASCII, DELIMITED, R, SAS, SPSS, STATA | Open resource |
| AFCARS Foster Care File, 6-month periods (FY2010A - 2016B) | HTML | The AFCARS Foster Care File, 6-month periods (FY2016A - 2021A) contain 96 variables (73 original variables and 23 NDACAN-derived variables). Temporal: 2010-2016, Restriction: Restricted-use Micro, Formats: ASCII, DELIMITED, R, SAS, SPSS, STATA | Open resource |
| Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), Adoption File 2016 | HTML | The Adoption File 2016 contains 37 elements that provide information on the adopted child’s race, birth date, ethnicity and prior relationship with the adoptive parents. The date the adoption was finalized, as well as dates parental rights were terminated, characteristics of birth and adoptive parents, and whether the child was placed from within the United States or from another country are also captured. Temporal: 10/1/2015-9/30/2016, Restriction: Restricted-use Micro, Formats: ASCII, DELIMITED, SAS, SPSS, STATA | Open resource |
| Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), Adoption File 2017 | HTML | The Adoption File 2017 contains 37 elements that provide information on the adopted child’s race, birth date, ethnicity and prior relationship with the adoptive parents. The date the adoption was finalized, as well as dates parental rights were terminated, characteristics of birth and adoptive parents, and whether the child was placed from within the United States or from another country are also captured. Temporal: 10/1/2016-9/30/2017, Restriction: Restricted-use Micro, Formats: ASCII, DELIMITED, SAS, SPSS, STATA | Open resource |
| Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), Adoption File 2018 | HTML | The Adoption File 2018 contains 37 elements that provide information on the adopted child’s race, birth date, ethnicity and prior relationship with the adoptive parents. The date the adoption was finalized, as well as dates parental rights were terminated, characteristics of birth and adoptive parents, and whether the child was placed from within the United States or from another country are also captured. Temporal: 10/1/2017-9/30/2018, Restriction: Restricted-use Micro, Formats: ASCII, DELIMITED, SAS, SPSS, STATA | Open resource |
| Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), Adoption File 2019 | HTML | The Adoption File 2019 contains 37 elements that provide information on the adopted child’s race, birth date, ethnicity and prior relationship with the adoptive parents. The date the adoption was finalized, as well as dates parental rights were terminated, characteristics of birth and adoptive parents, and whether the child was placed from within the United States or from another country are also captured. Temporal: 10/1/2018-9/30/2019, Restriction: Restricted-use Micro, Formats: ASCII, DELIMITED, SAS, SPSS, STATA | Open resource |
| Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), Adoption File 2020 | HTML | The Adoption File 2020 contains 37 elements that provide information on the adopted child’s race, birth date, ethnicity and prior relationship with the adoptive parents. The date the adoption was finalized, as well as dates parental rights were terminated, characteristics of birth and adoptive parents, and whether the child was placed from within the United States or from another country are also captured. Temporal: 10/1/2019-9/30/2020, Restriction: Restricted-use Micro, Formats: ASCII, DELIMITED, R, SAS, SPSS, STATA | Open resource |
| Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), Adoption File 2017 | HTML | The Adoption File 2017 contains 37 elements that provide information on the adopted child’s gender, race, birth date, ethnicity and prior relationship with the adoptive parents. The date the adoption was finalized, as well as dates parental rights were terminated, characteristics of birth and adoptive parents, and whether the child was placed from within the United States or from another country are also captured. Temporal: 10/1/2016-9/30/2017, Restriction: Restricted-use Micro, Formats: ASCII, DELIMITED, SAS, SPSS, STATA | Open resource |
| Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), Adoption File 2016 | HTML | The Adoption File 2016 contains 37 elements that provide information on the adopted child’s gender, race, birth date, ethnicity and prior relationship with the adoptive parents. The date the adoption was finalized, as well as dates parental rights were terminated, characteristics of birth and adoptive parents, and whether the child was placed from within the United States or from another country are also captured. Temporal: 10/1/2015-9/30/2016, Restriction: Restricted-use Micro, Formats: ASCII, DELIMITED, SAS, SPSS, STATA | Open resource |
| Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), Adoption File 2018 | HTML | The Adoption File 2018 contains 37 elements that provide information on the adopted child’s race, birth date, ethnicity and prior relationship with the adoptive parents. The date the adoption was finalized, as well as dates parental rights were terminated, characteristics of birth and adoptive parents, and whether the child was placed from within the United States or from another country are also captured. Temporal: 10/1/2017-9/30/2018, Restriction: Restricted-use Micro, Formats: ASCII, DELIMITED, SAS, SPSS, STATA | Open resource |
| Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), Adoption File 2020 | HTML | The Adoption File 2020 contains 37 elements that provide information on the adopted child’s gender, race, birth date, ethnicity and prior relationship with the adoptive parents. The date the adoption was finalized, as well as dates parental rights were terminated, characteristics of birth and adoptive parents, and whether the child was placed from within the United States or from another country are also captured. Temporal: 10/1/2019-9/30/2020, Restriction: Restricted-use Micro, Formats: ASCII, DELIMITED, R, SAS, SPSS, STATA | Open resource |
| Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), Adoption File 2019 | HTML | The Adoption File 2019 contains 37 elements that provide information on the adopted child’s gender, race, birth date, ethnicity and prior relationship with the adoptive parents. The date the adoption was finalized, as well as dates parental rights were terminated, characteristics of birth and adoptive parents, and whether the child was placed from within the United States or from another country are also captured. Temporal: 10/1/2018-9/30/2019, Restriction: Restricted-use Micro, Formats: ASCII, DELIMITED, SAS, SPSS, STATA | Open resource |
| AFCARS Foster Care File, 6-month periods (FY2010A - 2016B) | HTML | The AFCARS Foster Care File, 6-month periods (FY2016A - 2021A) contain 96 variables (73 original variables and 23 NDACAN-derived variables). Temporal: 2010-2016, Restriction: Restricted-use Micro, Formats: ASCII, DELIMITED, R, SAS, SPSS, STATA | Open resource |
| AFCARS Foster Care File, 6-month periods (FY2016A - 2021A) | HTML | The AFCARS Foster Care File, 6-month periods (FY2016A - 2021A) contain 96 variables (73 original variables and 23 NDACAN-derived variables). Temporal: 2016-2021, Restriction: Restricted-use Micro, Formats: ASCII, DELIMITED, R, SAS, SPSS, STATA | Open resource |