Data for 1997 are being collected. Detailed case-level data on the children who are the subjects of reports alleging child maltreatment are collected through the voluntary submission of electronic data in a common record format on each child. The DCDC data record consists of 19 data elements on reports of alleged maltreatment and the characteristics of children who are the subjects of these reports. An additional 98 data elements are collected on victims of maltreatment, including information on types of maltreatments, child disabilities, family problems, services, and characteristics of perpetrators. Since renewal of OMB approval on the SDC was received in 1998, racial and ethnicity data in the SDC are collected in accordance with OMB requirements.
States indicate if a child is counted in more than one racial group.
Racial categories in the DCDC have not yet been changed to be in compliance with OMB requirements, but will be changed at the time of seeking renewal of the approval. Hispanic Origin is collected in the categories of Yes, No, Unknown or Unable to Determine. No change will be needed in terms of collecting data on Hispanic Origin. Key findings are reported annually in the Child Maltreatment series. Short briefing papers based on DCDC data are also prepared.