HHS Finally Shelves 18-Year-Old Foster Care Reporting Proposal
Published Date: 8/12/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
This document withdraws a proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register on January 11, 2008. The proposed rule would have amended the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) regulations at 45 CFR 1355.40 and the appendices to Part 1355 to modify the requirements for States to collect and report data to ACF on children in out-of-home care and in subsidized adoption or guardianship arrangements with the State. This document also withdraws the provision of the 2008 proposed rule that implemented the AFCARS penalty requirements of the Adoption Promotion Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-145).
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Withdrawal of AFCARS Data Changes
This document withdraws the proposed rule published January 11, 2008 that would have amended the AFCARS regulations at 45 CFR 1355.40 and the appendices to Part 1355 to modify how States collect and report data on children in out-of-home care and in subsidized adoption or guardianship arrangements. The withdrawal is effective August 12, 2026 and ACF does not intend to publish a final rule following that 2008 NPRM.
Withdrawal of AFCARS Penalty Provision
This document withdraws the portion of the January 11, 2008 proposed rule that would have implemented the AFCARS penalty requirements of the Adoption Promotion Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-145). The withdrawal of that penalty-related provision is effective August 12, 2026.
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Key Dates
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