View Information Collection Request (ICR) Package
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View ICR - Agency Submission
COMMENT
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Days
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OMB Control No:
0970-0422
ICR Reference No:
202606-0970-022
Status:
Received in OIRA
Previous ICR Reference No:
202305-0970-011
Agency/Subagency:
HHS/ACF
Agency Tracking No:
CB
Title:
Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS)
Type of Information Collection:
Revision of a currently approved collection
Common Form ICR:
No
Type of Review Request:
Regular
Date Submitted to OIRA:
06/30/2026
Requested
Previously Approved
Expiration Date
36 Months From Approved
07/31/2026
Responses
280
207
Time Burden (Hours)
1,250,485
1,180,590
Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
Abstract:
State and tribal title IV-E agencies are required to report Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) case-level information on all children in foster care and children who have been adopted or placed in a guardianship with title IV-E agency involvement. AFCARS is a data collection system for national adoption and foster care data authorized under section 479 of the Social Security Act (the Act). Section 479(c)(3)(A) of the Act requires the collection of comprehensive national information with respect to the demographic characteristics of children in foster care and those who are adopted with state involvement and their biological, foster, and adoptive parents. The regulation at 45 CFR 1355 sets forth the requirements of the Act for the collection of uniform, reliable information on children who are under the responsibility of the state or tribal title IV-B/IV-E agency for placement, care, guardianship, and adoption. States have been required to submit the AFCARS data since 1993. The regulations were updated via the final rule published in May 2020 (85 FR 28410) and again in December 2024 (89 FR 96569) with the requirement for additional data related to the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA). The first submission of the new data related to ICWA is May 15, 2029. ACF is requesting a revision of the AFCARS OMB approval. Sixty-two data elements have been added to AFCARS, per a December 2024 final rule. This has increased the burden for reporting for state child welfare agencies only.
Authorizing Statute(s):
US Code:
42 USC 679
Name of Law: Children and Child Welfare Services - Sec 479 of SSA
Citations for New Statutory Requirements:
EO: EO 13777 Name/Subject of EO: Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda
Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:
Stage of Rulemaking:
Federal Register Citation:
Date:
Not associated with rulemaking
Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
91 FR 15622
03/30/2026
30-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
91 FR 39625
06/30/2026
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR?
Yes
Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR:
3
IC Title
Form No.
Form Name
Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System - Reporting
Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System - State Recordkeeping
Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System - Tribe Recordkeeping
ICR Summary of Burden
Total Request
Previously Approved
Change Due to New Statute
Change Due to Agency Discretion
Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses
280
207
0
73
0
0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)
1,250,485
1,180,590
0
69,895
0
0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
0
0
0
0
Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
Yes
Burden Increase Due to:
Miscellaneous Actions
Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
Yes
Burden Reduction Due to:
Miscellaneous Actions
Short Statement:
This information collection is a regulated dataset. The AFCARS dataset recently underwent a revision with a final rule in December 2024 (89 FR 96569) which added 55 data elements to require reporting of more detailed information related to Indian Child Welfare Act’s procedural protections. This increased the reporting burden for state title IV-E child welfare agencies only.
Annual Cost to Federal Government:
$23,956,520
Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods?
No
Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see
OMB Circular No. A-130
for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.
No
Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see
5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3)
)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.
No
Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]?
No
Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]?
No
Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)?
No
Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response?
No
Agency Contact:
Molly Buck 202 205-4724 mary.buck@acf.hhs.gov
Common Form ICR:
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date:
06/30/2026
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