Human Services Resources

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is a division of the Department of Health & Human Services. We promote the economic and social well-being of children, families, individuals and communities with leadership and resources for compassionate, effective delivery of human services.

A federal agency providing access to print and electronic publications, websites, databases, and online learning tools for improving child welfare practice.

Information about adoption, child protective services, foster care, licensing, independent living services (LINKS), and more.

The federally designated national communications system for runaway and homeless youth, their parents and families, teens in crisis, and anyone else who might benefit from its services.

The AECF is one of the dominant organizations in child welfare issues in the U.S., and one of the most influential "watchdogs" for child welfare — famed for its publication of U.S. child welfare data, annually, through its KIDS COUNT Data Book – the most widely used reference on the subject.