A SOLUTION FOR NATIONAL ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE DATA COLLECTION: A MODEL DATA ENTRY SYSTEM

WE WILL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN AUTOMATED DATA ENTRY SYSTEM TO SUPPORT THE COLLECTION OF UNIFORM AND RELIABLE INFORMATION ON ALL CHILDREN, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE TITLE IV-B/IV-E AGENCY, WHO ARE IN FOSTER CARE OR WHO ARE ADOPTED. PHASE I FOCUSED ON THE INITIAL STAGES OF SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND RESULTED IN A FUNCTIONAL DESIGN FOR THE SYSTEM. PHASE I WILL PRODUCE A PRELIMINARY MARKETING PLAN. PHASE II WILL CARRY THE DESIGN THROUGH COMPLETION AND RESULTS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A FULLY FUNCTIONING ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE ANALYSIS AND REPORTING DATA ENTRY SYSTEM. FOUR TASKS COMPRISE THE PHASE II WORKPLAN: (1) FINALIZE AFCAR DATA ENTRY SYSTEM DESIGN; (2) COMPLETE PROGRAM CODING AND SYSTEM TESTING; (3) PREPARE AFCAR DATA ENTRY SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION; AND (4) ENSURE SYSTEM READINESS FOR COMMERCIALIZATION. THE RESULTING SYSTEM WILL ALLOW FOR THE TRACKING AND MONITORING OF CHILDREN IN CARE AND WILL HELP TO ENSURE STATE COMPLIANCE WITH MANDATED FEDERAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. SINCE THE SYSTEM MEETS AN IDENTIFIED AND MANDATED NEED, WHICH IMPACTS OVER 1000 STATE OR LOCAL AGENCIES, THE POTENTIAL FOR COMMERCIALIZATION IS SIGNIFICANT.