National Youth In Transiton Database (NYTD)

About

Background

Public Law 106-1 69 established the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) at section 477 of the Social Security Act, providing States with flexible funding to carry out programs that assist youth in making the transition from foster care to self-sufficiency. The law requires the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to develop a data collection system to track the independent living services States provide to youth and develop outcome measures that may be used to assess States' performance in operating their independent living programs. The law requires ACF to impose a penalty of between one and five percent of the State's annual allotment on any State that fails to comply with the reporting requirements.

For more information on CFCIP, please go to:

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/programs_fund/state_tribal/jh_chafee.htm

For information on the Virginia Independent Living Program, please go to: www.vailp.com

Overview

To meet the law's mandate, ACF published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on July 14, 2006 and a final rule on February 26, 2008. The rule establishes the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) and requires that States engage in two data collection activities. First, the State is to collect information on each youth who receives independent living services paid for or provided by the State and transmit this information to ACF biannually. Second, the State is to collect demographic and outcome information on certain youth in foster care whom the State will follow over time to collect additional outcome information. This information will allow ACF to track which independent living services States provide and assess the collective outcomes of youth.

States will have until October 1, 2010 to implement the rule at which time they must begin to collect data. The first submission of data to ACF will be due no later than May 15, 2011.

FAQs About NYTD

What Virginia must collect and report to the federal government as a result of NYTD?

On October 1, 2010, Virginia will engage in two data collection and reporting activities. First, Virginia will collect and report basic demographic data on each youth and the IL services provided to them by local departments of social services, private providers, foster and adoptive parents and others as required in thirteen broad categories:

Second, a survey will be administered to certain youth in foster care at age 17 and a follow-up survey with some or all of these youth at age 19 and again at 21. The purpose of the survey is to collect and report information about the following youth outcomes:

financial self-sufficiency
experience with homelessness
educational attainment
positive connections with adults
high-risk behavior
access to health insurance

Virginia will collect and report outcomes information on a new cohort of youth every three years.

When will Virginia begin collecting and reporting data?

Virginia must begin collecting NYTD data on October 1, 2010 and must transmit its first semiannual data file no later than May 15, 2011. NYTD will follow the same reporting schedule as Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS).

What data submission standards must Virginia meet?

To comply with NYTD standards, Virginia data submissions must meet certain file format requirements and data accuracy standards. Virginia must also meet a youth participation rate standard for the NYTD outcomes survey. If Virginia does not comply with these data standards, Virginia may be penalized between one and five percent of its annual Chafee Foster Care Independence Program allotment.

Where can I obtain more information or request technical assistance?

For more information or request technical assistance, please e-mail us at va.ilp@dss.virginia.gov.

Please check back, regularly for NYTD updates!