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SACWIS

Automated Child Welfare Reporting Systems, including SACWIS

Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information Systems (SACWIS) are in some stage of planning, development, implementation, or operations in many States and the District of Columbia to collect and report data on children in care, providers, and services offered by State agencies.  A SACWIS is a comprehensive automated case management tool that supports social workers' foster care and adoptions assistance case management practice.  The Division of State Systems (DSS) serves as the focal point for the funding and oversight for SACWIS for the Children’s Bureau.

For various reasons, other States elected to utilize other information systems to capture and report data. AFCARS and NCANDS reporting continue to be made through their local system.

• SACWIS Products and Resources
• SACWIS Technical Assistance

On July 13, 2010, a Request for Public Comment Concerning the Redesign of Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information Systems (SACWIS) was published in the Federal Register. Please note that written comments must be received, as instructed in the announcement, on or before October 21, 2010.

The announcement is available in HTML and PDF

SACWIS Products and Links

Links to Federal Resources

• Children’s Bureau DSS
• SACWIS-Related Guidance Documents
• Division of State Systems SACWIS Managers Page
• Map of States’ SACWIS Status

Other Resources

• SITC – Child Welfare:  This site contains several resources related to child welfare information systems on a wide range of topics.

		Program Instruction: ACYF-CB-PI-06-01	PDF
		SACWIS Transfer Systems: Some states' SACWIS are based on systems transferred from other states. This chart shows these relationships between state systems.	Word	PDF
		SACWIS Component Matrix: This form may be submitted with the State's Advance Planning Document Updates to summarize progress on the system.	Word	PDF
		Acquisition Checklist: This optional checklist for States may be used to provide assurances that an acquisition of automated data processing equipment and/or services complies with all Federal regulations and policies.	Word	PDF
SACWIS Conference Call Materials
		New! Request for Public Comment concerning the redesign of SACWIS requirements (8/12/2010 Conference Call) (see Federal Register announcement above)
		New! New SACWIS Program Instructions Related to NYTD and Conducting Pilots (4/29/10 Conference Call)	PPT
		Joint NYTD/SACWIS Technical Assistance (1/14/2010 Conference Call)	WMV
		Joint NYTD/SACWIS Technical Assistance (1/14/2010 Conference Call)	PPT	PDF
		Project Connect: Linking SACWIS to the AdoptUsKids Website (4/23/09 Conference Call)
		AdoptUsKids PowerPoint	PPT	PDF
		AdoptUsKids Presentation to SACWIS Managers Conference Call	Word	PDF
		Tennessee Technical Document	Word	PDF
		Review of SACWIS and Private Providers Program Instruction (3/26/09 Conference Call)	PPT	PDF
		Advance Planning Document NPRM briefing (3/20/2008 Conference Call)	PPT	PDF
		AFCARS NPRM briefing (2/21/2008 Conference Call)	PPT	PDF
To view archived conference call materials, please click [here].
State Examples
The products listed below were submitted by states in support of SACWIS development activities. With the permission of the submitting states, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is making these products available to all states as examples demonstrating different approaches, formats, designs, and solutions. Their inclusion on the NRC-CWDT website does not imply an endorsement by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) / Children's Bureau (CB). Because practices and policies vary between states, one state's design may not be suitable for wholesale adoption by another state. However, states report that seeing ideas from other states helps guide their own efforts. We encourage states to review these examples culled from "real-life" SACWIS projects and benefit from the lessons learned by other states. ACF notes that neither submitting states nor their vendors are obliged to provide support and/or technical assistance for these products.
		DC FACES Financial System	Word	PDF
		DC FACES IV-E Foster Care Operation Guide	Word	PDF
		MA Title IV-E Project		PDF

If you use special adaptive equipment to access the Web and encounter problems with any of these docsuments, please contact us at nrccwdt@cwla.org and we will provide this information in an alternate format.

SACWIS and Child Welfare Information Systems Technical Assistance

The NRC-CWDT is available to provide customized, State-specific technical assistance in all areas of data collection and reporting.  For example, in one State the resource center provided consultation on data conversion and issues that impact it.  In another State the resource center offered a review and consultation on enhancing the use of the system by field staff and program managers. The NRC-CWDT also creates the opportunity for peer consultation among similar States who have faced similar issues.  Some of the issues addressed in peer consultation include change management, user buy-in, training issues and others.

Please contact us at nrccwdt@cwla.org to discuss your particular technical assistance needs.

This site contains links to other web sites that may be of interest to you. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) / Children's Bureau (CB) does not endorse the views expressed or the facts presented on these sites. Their contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not represent the official views or policies of the Children's Bureau. Access to this information does not in any way constitute an endorsement by the Department of Health and Human Services. Furthermore, ACF/CB does not endorse any commercial products that may be advertised or available on these sites.

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