Action: National Initiative to Strengthen Coordination and Modernize Child Welfare Information and Verification Processes

DATE: October 23, 2025

TO: Joe Bock, Acting Children's Bureau Commissioner and Ben Goldhaber, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Administration

THROUGH: Cody Inman, Senior Advisor

FROM: Alex J. Adams, Assistant Secretary for Children and Families

SUBJECT: Action: National Initiative to Strengthen Coordination and Modernize Child Welfare Information and Verification Processes

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is launching an initiative to establish a single, authoritative national contact list for Child Abuse and Neglect (CA/N) registries. This centralized registry is expected to provide accurate, consistent, and real-time access to CA/N contact information across all states and territories. By consolidating this data under ACF's stewardship, the initiative aims to streamline background check processes, improve compliance with federal requirements, and accelerate safe placement decisions for children. Ultimately, this effort is expected to strengthen child safety outcomes and enhance operational efficiency across ACF programs. This initiative reflects ACF's commitment to modernizing child welfare infrastructure and delivering timely, data-informed decisions that protect children and support state partners.

BACKGROUND

The Child Abuse and Neglect (CA/N) registry check process is a critical safeguard for protecting children in foster care, adoption, and early childhood programs. As the federal steward of child- and family-serving programs, ACF has a responsibility to ensure that CA/N registry checks are supported by accurate, accessible, and up-to-date contact information. Federal and state laws require that all prospective foster parents, adoptive parents, childcare providers, and others working with children undergo CA/N registry checks in every state where they have resided.
These checks depend on accurate and accessible contact information for each state's designated CA/N registry authority.
For state child welfare agencies, the accuracy of this information directly affects their ability to meet statutory timelines for licensing, placement, and background screening. Inaccurate or outdated contact details can result in delays, incomplete checks, and compliance challenges that may affect both child safety and program performance. ACF program offices, including the Children's Bureau (CB), the Office of Child Care (OCC), the Office of Head Start (OHS), and the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), depend on this information to ensure compliance with federal requirements and promote child well-being.

PROBLEM

There is currently no centralized, authoritative national source for CA/N registry contact information. This absence contributes to data duplication, outdated records, and delays in processing background checks across ACF programs and state systems. The lack of a centralized source introduces systemic inefficiencies and risks that undermine timely placements and federal oversight responsibilities

SOLUTION

Develop a centralized, authoritative CA/N contact registry, led by the ACF Children's Bureau and Office of Administration in coordination with state agencies, to serve as the official, continuously updated federal resource for all states and territories. This list will ensure accuracy, efficiency, and timely access to critical information.

DIRECTIVE

Today, I am directing the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) - through the Children's Bureau and the Office of Administration, in coordination with ACF Digital Services - to lead a national effort to strengthen coordination and promote innovation in how states share Child Abuse and Neglect (CA/N) and related background check information, and to advance solutions that improve access to fingerprinting services.

This initiative will take a national, systems-level view of the barriers that limit efficiency and consistency in background checks, including challenges such as access to fingerprinting services and the lack of standardized processes for interstate checks. ACF will collaborate with federal partners, state and partner organizations to identify proven practices, promote innovative solutions, and establish a sustainable framework for maintaining accurate and timely information.

The expected outcome of this initiative will improve consistency, accuracy, and timeliness in how information, processes, and partnerships are managed, fostering stronger collaboration and better outcomes for children and families. ACF teams should deliver an initial project plan within 60 days of this directive. This work will lay the foundation for a more coordinated and sustainable system that advances ACF's mission and the nation's shared responsibility for child safety.

Alex J. Adams
Assistant Secretary
Administration for Children and Families