National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS)

OMB Control No: 0970-0424	ICR Reference No: 202606-0970-004
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202306-0970-008
Agency/Subagency: HHS/ACF	Agency Tracking No: CB
Title: National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS)
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 06/11/2026

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	07/31/2026
Responses	104	104
Time Burden (Hours)	5,616	5,616
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) (42 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) was amended in 1988 (P.L. 100–294) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a national data collection and analysis program, which would make available state child abuse and neglect reporting information. HHS responded by establishing the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) as a voluntary national reporting system. During 1996, CAPTA was amended (42 U.S.C. 5106a(d)) to require all states that receive funds from the Basic State Grant program to work with the Secretary of HHS to provide specific data elements, to the maximum extent practicable, about children who had been maltreated. Most of the required data elements were added to the NCANDS data collection. Subsequent CAPTA reauthorizations and amendments added required data elements. The Children’s Bureau (CB) proposes to extend approval to collect NCANDS data using two files of the Detailed Case Data Component (DCDC): (1) Child File, the case-level component of NCANDS and (2) Agency File, the aggregate data component. No changes are proposed to the requirements, but instructions have been revised to streamline and for clarity.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 42 USC 5106a(d) Name of Law: Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, as amended    US Code: 42 USC 5101 et seq. Name of Law: Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, as amended

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 15620	03/30/2026
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 35482	06/11/2026
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title Form No. Form Name Detailed Case Data Component (Child File and Agency File) - IT Staff Detailed Case Data Component (Child File and Agency File) - Programmatic Staff

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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	104	104	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	5,616	5,616	0	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement:

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $2,342,579

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 [email protected]

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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: 06/11/2026

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