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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  1. Where can I find the latest statistics and current information about child abuse and neglect?
  2. How do I report suspected child abuse and neglect?
  3. What is the difference between data, dataset and findings?
  4. What is secondary data analysis?
  5. How do I join the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect mailing list for receiving announcements?
  6. What is the Child Maltreatment Research Listserv (CMRL)?
  7. How do I request data?
  8. How much does a dataset cost?
  9. How long does it take to get a dataset?
  10. How can I find out more about NDACAN's datasets?
  11. What is the proper format for acknowledging NDACAN in a publication from a dataset?
  12. Who can order data from NDACAN?
  13. Can I use a dataset to teach a class?
  14. What are the differences between the NCANDS, AFCARS, and NYTD datasets?

1. Where can I find the latest statistics and current information about child abuse and neglect?

NDACAN disseminates archived data for the purpose of analysis with statistics software (e.g. SPSS, STATA, R, etc.). We do NOT maintain summary statistics on child abuse and neglect or provide reports of research findings.

Although NDACAN does not have summary statistics of research findings, the U.S. Children's Bureau website external link has this type of information for download and viewing. Here is a list of important reports which may be relevant to your research:

Child Maltreatment Reports

One source of data by state is known as the NCANDS (National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System). The NCANDS Child Maltreatment reports contain information submitted by states over the years and are available from the Child Maltreatment Children's Bureau web page.external link

Child Welfare Outcomes Reports

Another source of findings by state, which includes child maltreatment and foster care information, is known as the Child Welfare Outcomes Report. The Child Welfare Outcomes Reports are available from the Child Welfare Outcomes Children's Bureau web page.external link

AFCARS Reports

Information about the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) is available on the Web. AFCARS was designed to address policy development and program management issues at both the state and federal levels. The data are also useful for researchers interested in analyzing aspects of the United States' foster care and adoption programs. Tables and other reports summarizing the AFCARS data are available from the Adoption & Foster Care Statistics Children's Bureau web page.external link

 

Here are other sources for child welfare statistics and summary information:

Child Welfare Information Gateway external link

Formerly the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, the Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. The Child Welfare Information Gateway is a service of the Children's Bureau external link, Administration for Children and Families external link, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services external link.

ChildStats.gov external link

The Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics (the Forum) is a collection of 20 Federal government agencies involved in research and activities related to children and families. The Forum's annual report, America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, summarizes national indicators of child well-being and monitors changes in these indicators over time.

Chapin Hall external link

Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago is a research and policy center focused on a mission of improving the well-being of children and youth, families, and their communities. Chapin Hall studies and reports in research areas that include child welfare and foster care systems, community change, early childhood initiatives, economic supports for families, home visitation and maltreatment prevention, longitudinal data analytics, schools and school systems, workforce development, youth crime and justice, and youth development and afterschool initiatives. Chapin Hall publishes issue briefs, reports, and articles, many of which are publicly available free of charge.

Crimes Against Children Research Center (CCRC) external link

Based at the University of New Hampshire, CCRC provides research and statistics to the public, policy makers, law enforcement personnel, and other child welfare practitioners. CCRC is concerned with research about the nature of crimes including child abduction, homicide, rape, assault, and physical and sexual abuse as well as their impact.

2. How do I report suspected child abuse and neglect?

NDACAN is not a hotline for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect, and it is not equipped to accept reports of this nature. NDACAN is not equipped to offer crisis counseling. As a service of the Children's Bureau in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NDACAN does not have the authority to intervene or advise in personal situations.

Instructions for how to report child abuse and neglect are published at the Child Welfare Information Gateway How to Report Child Abuse and Neglect external link page. If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, or if you are a child who is being maltreated, contact your local child protective services office or law enforcement agency so that professionals can assess the situation. Many States have a toll-free number to call to report suspected child abuse or neglect. To find out where to call, consult the Information Gateway publication, State Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Numbers external link.

Childhelp external link is a national organization that provides crisis assistance and other counseling and referral services. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with professional crisis counselors who have access to a database of 55,000 emergency, social service, and support resources. All calls are anonymous. Contact them at 1.800.4.A.CHILD (1.800.422.4453).

This notice may be freely reproduced and distributed with credit to: Child Welfare Information Gateway external link.

3. What is the difference between data, dataset and findings?

In this context, data refers to the organized observations of a study (e.g. survey responses) in electronic form. A dataset prepared by NDACAN includes the data in a format which can be used by statistics software (e.g. SPSS, STATA, R, etc.), a data codebook and a brief guide which addresses secondary analysis issues concerning that study. Findings summarize the outcome of a study and are described in a study's final report and other publications, such as journal articles.

4. What is secondary data analysis?

Secondary data analysis means re-examining a study in order to replicate the findings or to test a new hypothesis. It generally involves using statistics software (e.g. SPSS, STATA, R, etc.) to conduct statistical analyses.

5. How do I join the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect mailing list for receiving announcements?

You can sign up on-line on our Join the NDACAN Mailing List page.

6. What is the Child Maltreatment Research List Serve?

The Child Maltreatment Research Listserv is an E-mail based discussion group. Subscribers can post and receive messages on the subject of child maltreatment research. Postings are approved or rejected (no edits) by a moderator based on the relevance of the message to the list's purpose. The purpose of the list is to facilitate information exchange and networking among researchers in the field of child abuse and neglect. The scope of the list includes all areas of CAN research (e.g., epidemiology, etiology, prevention, consequences, intervention, and treatment) and the full range of research issues (e.g., measurement, instrumentation, statistical analysis, ethics). The list is not open to discussions of program-related or clinical issues except as they relate to evaluation research.

To join the CMRL, please go to our How to Subscribe to the CMRL page.

To leave the CMRL, please go to our How to Unsubscribe from the CMRL page.

7. How do I request a dataset?

At the list of datasets, click on the title of the dataset. That will take you to its details page which has a "Request Dataset" link in the left sidebar: click the "Request Dataset" link to see the instructions for ordering that dataset.

8. How much does a dataset cost?

Datasets are free.

9. How long does it take to get a dataset?

Most datasets are delivered electronically within three business days. Orders for restricted date (e.g. NSCAW Restricted Release, NCANDS Child File) require us to review and approve of applications to use the data, and that process can take 1-2 weeks.

10. How can I find out more about NDACAN's datasets?

The Datasets link takes you to the NDACAN list of datasets where you can select a dataset to view its details. Documentation for most datasets is available but if the documentation does not answer your question, please contact us.

11. What is the proper format for acknowledging NDACAN in a publication from a dataset?

Publications (e.g. articles, books, white papers, conference presentations, etc.) which use data obtained from the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN) should acknowledge that source as well as identify the original collector of the data. Please use some adaptation of the following statement, with the bracketed items filled in with the dataset(s) you used.


"This publication utilizes data from the study [dataset title(s)s and author(s)] which have been provided by the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN), a service of the Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Nothing herein should be construed to indicate the support or endorsement of its content by the collector of the original data, their funding agency, NDACAN, or ACF/DHHS."

Upon publication or release of your research, please email the bibliographic citation to the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect at NDACAN@cornell.edu. NDACAN requests this in order to provide funding agencies with essential information about the use of archival resources and to facilitate the exchange of information about new secondary analysis research.

12. Who can order data from NDACAN?

Researchers in the U.S. and territories may order datasets from NDACAN. Access to some datasets in our holdings requires affiliation with an institution that has an Institutional Review Board (IRB). Requests for data from users outside of the U.S. and territories are handled on a case-by-case basis.

13. Can I use a dataset to teach a class?

Every dataset has an ordering instructions page and if classroom use of that dataset is permitted, then a Classroom Terms of Use Agreement form will be provided on its ordering instructions page. Restricted datasets such as NCANDS Child File, NSCAW Restricted, and other restricted datasets cannot be used in a classroom.

14. What are the differences between the NCANDS, AFCARS, and NYTD datasets?

Summary of Differences Between NCANDS, AFCARS, and NYTD Datasets

Dataset

Summary

Data files

Description of data files

NCANDS

(National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System)

NCANDS is a data collection system that contains national case-level data for every investigated report of child maltreatment to Child Protective Services (CPS) agencies from participating states. States voluntarily submit data to the Children’s Bureau, though nearly all states report data.

Child Files

Annual individual-level data for every investigated report of child maltreatment to CPS agencies from participating states. Data are available from 2000 to the most recent year.

Agency Files

Annual state-level aggregate data that provides supplemental measures of reporting characteristics to the Child File. Data are available from 2009 to the most recent year.

AFCARS

(Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System)

AFCARS is a 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), including all children in foster care and children who have been adopted through state child welfare agencies. States are federally mandated to submit data to the Children’s Bureau.

Foster Care Files

Annual individual-level data on all children in foster care or receiving Title IV-B/E services. Data are available from 2000 to the most recent year.

Adoption Files

Annual individual-level data on children who went through an adoption with the involvement of the state agency (i.e. public adoptions). Data are available from 2000 to the most recent year.

6-Month Files

Semiannual 6-month individual-level data on all children in foster care or receiving Title IV-B/E services (note: due to their more extensive review process, AFCARS Foster Care Files are typically recommended for research purposes instead of the 6-month data). Data are available from 2010 to the most recent year.

NYTD

(National Youth in Transition Database)

NYTD is a data collection system for tracking the services provided through the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) to serve youth at risk of exiting foster care without a permanent home, as well as outcome measures to assess the effectiveness of the program. States are federally mandated to submit data to the Children’s Bureau.

Services Files

Annual individual-level data (provided as a cumulative record) of all children receiving services provided through the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP), such as career preparation, academic support, budgeting. Data are available from 2011 to the most recent year.

Outcomes Files

Individual-level survey data with 3 waves, administered to cohorts of children who are aging out of foster care (i.e. in foster care at age 17 with no permanent placement setting). Includes measures of well-being, financial, and educational outcomes as they get older. Cohorts are followed every 2 years. New cohorts are sampled every 3 years. There are 3 cohorts with complete data (e.g. all 3 waves), defined by the year of the first wave: 2011 Cohort, 2014 Cohort, and 2017 Cohort. Data for active cohorts are made available as they complete each wave.

*For more information about NCANDS, AFCARS, and NYTD, visit the Children's Bureau at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb.
**Data disseminated by NDACAN does not include Personally Identifiable Information (PII) that can be used to identify an individual, either directly or indirectly, due to the sensitive nature of the data.