---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 628b"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "628b"
heading: "National random sample study of child welfare"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/628b"
units:
  - "Chapter 7 — Social Security"
  - "Subchapter IV — Grants to States for Aid and Services to Needy Families with Children and for Child-Welfare Services"
  - "Part B — Child and Family Services"
  - "Subpart 1 — stephanie tubbs jones child welfare services program"
---

# §628b. National random sample study of child welfare

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) shall conduct (directly, or by [grant](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=10), contract, or interagency agreement) a national study based on random samples of children who are at risk of [child](/usc/42/1382c.md?p=c) [abuse](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=1) or [neglect](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=16), or are determined by [States](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) to have been abused or neglected.
- (b) **Requirements—** The study required by [subsection (a)](#a) shall—
  - (1) have a longitudinal component; and
  - (2) yield data reliable at the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) level for as many [States](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) as the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) determines is feasible.
- (c) **Preferred contents—** In conducting the study required by [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) should—
  - (1) carefully consider selecting the sample from cases of confirmed [abuse](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=1) or [neglect](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=16); and
  - (2) follow each case for several years while obtaining information on, among other things—
    - (A) the type of [abuse](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=1) or [neglect](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=16) involved;
    - (B) the frequency of contact with [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local [agencies](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=1);
    - (C) whether the [child](/usc/42/1382c.md?p=c) 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](/usc/42/1382c.md?p=c); and
    - (E) the average duration of each placement.
- (d) **Reports—**
  - (1) **In general—** From time to time, the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) shall prepare reports summarizing the results of the study required by [subsection (a)](#a).
  - (2) **Availability—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) shall make available to the public any report prepared under [paragraph (1)](#d-1), in writing or in the form of an electronic data tape.
  - (3) **Authority to charge fee—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) may charge and collect a fee for the furnishing of reports under [paragraph (2)](#d-2).
- (e) **Appropriation—** Out of any money in the Treasury of the [United States](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-2) not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) for each of [fiscal years](/usc/42/619.md?p=3) 1996 through 2002 $6,000,000 to carry out this section.

## Source credit

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, § 429, formerly § 429A, as added Pub. L. 104–193, title V, § 503, Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2277; amended Pub. L. 105–33, title V, §§ 5591(a), 5592(a)(1)(C), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 643, 644; renumbered § 429, Pub. L. 109–288, § 6(f)(3), Sept. 28, 2006, 120 Stat. 1247.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 429 of act Aug. 14, 1935, was renumbered section 426(c) and is classified to section 626(c) of this title.

### Amendments

1997—Pub. L. 105–33, § 5592(a)(1)(C), transferred section in original to end of this subpart.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5591(a), inserted “(directly, or by grant, contract, or interagency agreement)” after “conduct”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–33 effective as if included in the enactment of title V of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104–193, see section 5593 of Pub. L. 105–33, set out as a note under section 622 of this title.