Voluntary Cooperative Information System (VCIS) Multi-Year File (1982-1995)

The Voluntary Cooperative Information System (VCIS) compiled aggregate information about children who experienced substitute care in the United States between 1982 and 1995. Substitute care data were collected voluntarily by the American Public Welfare Association (APWA) from state agencies administering public child welfare programs. VCIS data are annual state-level counts of children entering, in, and exiting substitute care, tabulated by various child attributes such as age, sex, race/ethnicity, or duration of care. The VCIS therefore provides a basis for both cross-sectional and longitudinal state-level analysis, including through linkage to aggregated data from its successor, the Adoption and Foster Care Reporting and Analysis System (AFCARS).

However, VCIS data have significant limitations in terms of availability and reliability, and users are strongly encouraged to read the User Guide carefully before using the data.

自愿协作信息系统（Voluntary Cooperative Information System，VCIS）汇编了1982年至1995年间美国接受替代照料（substitute care）的儿童的汇总统计数据。该数据集的替代照料相关数据由美国公共福利协会（American Public Welfare Association，APWA）从负责管理公共儿童福利项目的州级机构自愿采集所得。VCIS的数据为年度州级统计数据，涵盖进入替代照料体系、当前处于替代照料中以及退出替代照料体系的儿童数量，并依据儿童的年龄、性别、种族/族裔、照料时长等多项属性进行分类制表。因此，VCIS可为州级层面的横断面与纵向分析提供数据基础，包括可与其继任系统——收养与寄养照料报告分析系统（Adoption and Foster Care Reporting and Analysis System，AFCARS）的汇总数据进行关联分析。不过，VCIS数据在可获取性与可靠性层面存在显著局限，故强烈建议使用者在使用该数据前仔细阅读《用户指南》。