States are encouraged to create statewide automated child welfare information systems (SACWIS) to establish electronic case files that include data to be reported in compliance with the requirements of the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis Reporting System (AFCARS). Once the system has been operational for a year, a Federal review team makes an assessment of the system's functionality; States then have an opportunity to take corrective action for quality improvement of their systems. Resources in this section focus on the requirements and processes involved in SACWIS Assessment Reviews.

Child Welfare: Most States Are Developing Statewide Information Systems, but the Reliability of Child Welfare Data Could Be Improved (PDF - 1,843 KB)
U.S. General Accounting Office (2003)
Reviews State experiences in developing SACWIS, factors that affect the reliability of data, and practices to address challenges associated with improving data reliability.

Continuous Quality Improvement: Integrating Client Outcome Data Into Ongoing Service Design and Delivery Using SACWIS and Other Data
Tindall & Metz
Protecting Children, 18, 2004
View Abstract
Discusses use of client-centered data as a basis for continuous quality improvement and profiles one State's process for inputting case and client information.

Improved Monitoring of Vulnerable Children: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Eighth Congress, First Session, November 19, 2003 (PDF - 814 KB)
Testimony on what data States collect in order to monitor the care and supervision of children in foster care and children for whom adoption subsidies are paid, how the data are used, and what additional data or applications of these data might better ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of children.