Opportunity
Federal Register #0970-AC23
Withdrawal of Proposed Rule for Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS)
Buyer
Health and Human Services Department, Children and Families Administration
Posted
August 12, 2026
Identifier
0970-AC23
This notice announces the withdrawal of a proposed rule by the Health and Human Services Department, Children and Families Administration, regarding the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS). - Government Buyer: - Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - Administration for Children and Families (ACF) - Purpose of Notice: - Withdrawal of a previously proposed rule to amend AFCARS regulations (45 CFR 1355.40 and related appendices) - The proposed rule would have changed requirements for States to collect and report data on children in out-of-home care and in subsidized adoption or guardianship arrangements - Would have implemented penalty requirements from the Adoption Promotion Act of 2003 - No OEMs, vendors, products, or services are requested or mentioned - The withdrawal is intended to clarify current regulatory priorities and eliminate confusion caused by the unfinalized rule
Description
This document withdraws a proposed rule published on January 11, 2008, which would have amended the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) regulations to modify requirements for States to collect and report data on children in out-of-home care and subsidized adoption or guardianship arrangements. It also withdraws the provision implementing AFCARS penalty requirements of the Adoption Promotion Act of 2003. The withdrawal is effective August 12, 2026, and reflects the decision not to finalize the proposed rule after nearly 20 years and multiple administrations.