NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE - STATE CHILD WELFARE DATA LINKAGES DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

This purpose of this contract is to further support activities related to this descriptive study examining the data linkage capacities of state child welfare agencies. This effort has a need for the technical and substantive expertise required to continue the initial design and planning work carried out as part of the Child Maltreatment Incidence Data Linkages project and support additional activities necessary to execute and disseminate findings from the descriptive study. This effort aims to complement and build from ACF’s existing portfolio of projects intended to address CAPTA questions and priorities related to the incidence of child abuse and neglect and related risk and protective factors. The Child Maltreatment Incidence Data Linkages project is also supporting the initial planning of a descriptive study intended to systematically examine the data linkage capacities of state child welfare agencies. This descriptive study is intended to provide novel information regarding state data linkages that may be leveraged to improve the ongoing and accurate surveillance of child maltreatment incidence and related risk. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) requires the examination of a wide range of topics related to the incidence of child abuse and neglect with the aim of informing efforts to better protect children from maltreatment and improve the well-being of victims of maltreatment. These topics include, but are not limited to, trends in number and severity of cases, incidence of screened out and investigated (substantiated and unsubstantiated) cases, and incidence and prevalence of maltreatment by a wide variety of demographic characteristics (for a full list of topics see CAPTA Sec. 104. Research and Assistance Activities and Demonstrations).