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/.