42 U.S.C. § 628b — National random sample study of child welfare

(a) Study. The Secretary must conduct, directly or through a grant, contract, or interagency agreement, a national study using random samples of children at risk of abuse or neglect or whom States determine have been abused or neglected. (b) Requirements. The study must (1) include a longitudinal part and (2) produce data reliable at the State level for as many States as the Secretary finds feasible. (c) Preferred contents. The Secretary should consider sampling confirmed abuse or neglect cases and following each case for several years, collecting information about (1) the type of abuse or neglect; (2) contacts with State or local agencies; (3) whether and why the child was separated from the family; (4) the number, type, and characteristics of out-of-home placements; and (5) the average length of each placement. (d) Reports. The Secretary must periodically prepare reports summarizing the study. The Secretary must make them public in writing or electronic data tape and may charge a fee for providing them. (e) Appropriation. For fiscal years 1996 through 2002, $6,000,000 each year is appropriated from otherwise unappropriated Treasury money to carry out this section.