background shadows

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is committed to data-driven decision making and encourages the use of research to inform program and policy. The DCF Research Review Committee is responsible for ensuring that research requests funded by DCF, involving access to DCF-affiliated staff, programs, families, individuals, children and youth and/or involving confidential DCF client data are reviewed, approved, and monitored in accordance with relevant NJ State and Federal laws and regulations.

Researchers may submit applications for research projects to the Research Review Committee by emailing completed applications to DCFData.Request@dcf.nj.gov by the submission dates listed below to be reviewed during the corresponding Committee meeting dates. 

Please review the guidelines for research proposal application submission for additional detail.

Currently, aggregate data and statistics are available on the DCF website that do not require permission from DCF for access and usage.  Links to these resources are found on DCF’s website: http://www.nj.gov/dcf/childdata/. Publicly available data from DCF’s Division of Child Protection & Permanency and Children’s System of Care can also be accessed through the NJ Child Welfare Data Hub: https://njchilddata.rutgers.edu/.  

Proposal Submission and Review Dates

The Committee meets and reviews applications for new research projects on a monthly basis. Applications must be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to the meeting date in order to be reviewed during a specified meeting. 

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION DATES PROPOSAL REVIEW DATES
November 23, 2023  December 7, 2023
December 21, 2023  January 4, 2024
 January 18, 2024  February 1, 2024
 February 22, 2024  March 7, 2024
March 21, 2024 April 4, 2024
April 18, 2024 May 2, 2024
May 23, 2024 June 6, 2024
June 20, 2024 July 11, 2024
July 18, 2024 August 1, 2024
August 22, 2024 September 5, 2024
September 19, 2024 October 3, 2024
October 24, 2024 November 7, 2024
November 21, 2024 December 5, 2024
December 19, 2024 January 2, 2025
January 23, 2025 February 6, 2025