Proposed Extension of National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) Data Collection
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
The Administration for Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a three-year extension of the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) data collection authority. The current authorization operates under OMB control number 0970-0424 and is set to expire on July 31, 2026. NCAN DS is the primary federal data system for tracking reported cases of child abuse and neglect across all U.S. states and territories. It aggregates data submitted annually by state child protective services (CPS) agencies, enabling federal monitoring of child maltreatment trends, policy evaluation, and resource allocation at the national level. The proposed extension involves no changes to the existing data collection methodology, forms, or reporting requirements. The request is purely administrative — seeking continuity of an established program beyond its current expiration date through July 2029. Stakeholders and the public are typically offered a comment period through the Federal Register notice process before OMB grants final approval for such extensions.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- No substantive changes to NCANDS data collection — extension only
- OMB control number 0970-0424 authorization extended for 3 years (through approximately July 2029)
- Current expiration date of July 31, 2026 will be extended pending OMB approval
+ 2 more changes with Pro
Obligations
What this law requires
State child protective services (CPS) agencies must submit annual data reports to NCANDS regarding reported cases of child abuse and neglect
ACYF must maintain continuity of NCANDS data collection operations through July 31, 2029, following the current authorization extension approval
ACYF must maintain the existing NCANDS data collection methodology, forms, and reporting requirements without modification during the extension period
OMB must process and make a final approval determination on the NCANDS extension request (OMB control number 0970-0424) prior to the July 31, 2026 expiration date
Federal Register notice must be published to provide stakeholders and the public with a comment period before OMB grants final approval for the NCANDS extension