Welcome to the CANS System!

Click here to read the End User Agreement

I ACCEPT the below statement and agree to the End User Agreement

Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services' (DCFS) maintains a State Repository of all substantiated reports of abuse/neglect, and a State Central Registry (SCR) of individuals who are identified as a perpetrator in certain substantiated investigations. Placement on the SCR is determined by the severity of the abuse/neglect. Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 67, Part 5, Sections 1103 and 1105 governs the release of information from both the Repository and SCR.

Through this system, certain entities/agencies can submit a request for a child abuse/neglect clearance in accordance with the Louisiana Administrative Code. Each applicant will require a separate application. The following entities/agencies may utilize this system (entities highlighted are required to pay a non-refundable $25.00 fee for each clearance requested):

• Licensed Out of State Child Care Facilities;
• Louisiana DCFS Licensed Facilities
• Out of State Licensed Residential Facilities that house foster children or meet the federal definition of a Child Care Institution;
• Louisiana Department of Health Licensed Therapeutic Group Homes
• In State Licensed Office of Juvenile Justice Detention Center employees
• In State School Administrators, Teachers, or Other School Employees (8/1/2025). This does not include licensed Early Learning Centers located on school campuses
• Out of State Child Protective Agencies only for investigation purposes (not home studies); and
• Out of State Agencies conducting home studies for foster children or as part of an open child welfare case.

This list is not inclusive of all clearances that DCFS is authorized to conduct. Refer to our website for additional clearances that DCFS is authorized to conduct, the information released in each clearance type, and the ways to request these additional child abuse/neglect clearances.

** Note: Prior to 8/1/25, the terms Valid and Justified were used instead of Substantiated.

Steps to Request a Clearance:

Become an approved entity that authorizes you to request a child abuse/neglect clearance

1. All entities/agencies, with the exception of In State School Administrators, Teachers, or Other School Employees, create a user id and request a password by providing the required information; Click here to view a list of required documents to be submitted with your request to become an approved entity.
2. Once you are approved as an entity, you will receive an email requesting that you change your password in CANS. After changing your password, you are to click the “New Registration” tab, located at the top of the home screen, and follow the prompts.
3. For In-State School Administrators, Teachers, or Other School Employees, the Louisiana Department of Education authorizes certain individuals , using Edlink Security, to request clearances.

Request the clearance

1. For Out of State Child Protective Agencies only for investigation purposes (not home studies) and Out of State Agencies conducting home studies for foster children or as part of an open child welfare case, the Request and Consent Form A along with required documentation, is uploaded within the system to submit a formal request. The Request and Consent Form A is required to submit a formal request, and the instructions provide assistance with completing the Request and Consent Form A.
   
   For Licensed Out of State Child Care Facilities, Louisiana DCFS Licensed Facilities, Out of State Licensed Residential Facilities that house foster children or meet the federal definition of a Child Care Institution, Louisiana Department of Health Licensed Therapeutic Group Homes, In State Licensed Office of Juvenile Detention Center Employees the Request, In State School Administrators, Teachers, or Other School Employees and Consent Form B along with required documentation, is uploaded within the system to submit a formal request. The Request and Consent Form B is required to submit a formal request, and the instructions provide assistance with completing the Request and Consent Form B.
   
   It is strongly encouraged that applicants complete the Form A and/or Form B electronically using the fillable forms to not delay requests. Form A and Form B can be signed using either a handwritten signature or a secure digital signature through one of the following methods: Adobe Digital Signature or DocuSign. DCFS strongly recommends using a digital signature. Click here for instructions on how to create a digital signature.
2. If required as indicated above, submit the non-refundable fee of $25.00, per request.
3. The entity/agency will receive an email that provides directions for obtaining the clearance results from the CANS system.

Louisiana strives to complete all clearances within 10 business days. However, the appeals process of investigative findings will likely delay responses from DCFS.

Questions may be directed to [email protected]