§ 628b. National random sample study of child welfare

• (a) The Secretary shall conduct (directly, or by grant, contract, or interagency agreement) a national study based on random samples of children who are at risk of child abuse or neglect, or are determined by States to have been abused or neglected.
• (b) The study required by subsection (a) shall—
  • (1) have a longitudinal component; and
  • (2) yield data reliable at the State level for as many States as the Secretary determines is feasible.
• (c) In conducting the study required by subsection (a), the Secretary should—
  • (1) carefully consider selecting the sample from cases of confirmed abuse or neglect; and
  • (2) follow each case for several years while obtaining information on, among other things—
    • (A) the type of abuse or neglect involved;
    • (B) the frequency of contact with State or local agencies;
    • (C) whether the child involved has been separated from the family, and, if so, under what circumstances;
    • (D) the number, type, and characteristics of out-of-home placements of the child; and
    • (E) the average duration of each placement.
• (d)
  • (1) From time to time, the Secretary shall prepare reports summarizing the results of the study required by subsection (a).
  • (2) The Secretary shall make available to the public any report prepared under paragraph (1), in writing or in the form of an electronic data tape.
  • (3) The Secretary may charge and collect a fee for the furnishing of reports under paragraph (2).
• (e) Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary for each of fiscal years 1996 through 2002 $6,000,000 to carry out this section.