Administration for Children and Families – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is requesting a 3-year extension of form ACF-123: Guidance for Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (OMB #0970-0157, expiration date: 6/30/2020). There are minor clarifying changes requested to the guidance.

The Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) Administration for Native Americans (ANA) is requesting a revision to the information collection: Ongoing Progress Report (OPR) and the Objective Work Plan (OWP) (OMB #0970-0452). Changes are proposed to reduce the burden on the public by combining ANA's Annual Data Report (OMB #0970-0475) with the OPR.

This rule is intended to eliminate regulations that are outdated or unnecessary and to make technical amendments to the Flexibility, Efficiency, and Modernization in Child Support Enforcement (FEM) final rule, published on December 20, 2016, including to amend the compliance date for review and adjustment of child support orders. The Office of Child Support Enforcement is also making conforming amendments to the regulations as a result of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE), is providing notice of a re-established matching program between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and State Public Assistance Agencies (SPAAs) participating in the Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) Program. The matching program provides the SPAAs with VA compensation and pension data on a periodic basis to use in determining public assistance applicants' and recipients' eligibility for certain public assistance benefits. HHS/ACF/OPRE facilitates the matching program, and the Department of Defense (DoD), Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) conducts the matches of SPAA and VA data and provides associated support.

The Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) is accepting mandatory formula grant applications and State Plans from states and territories for the development of and implementation for Title V State Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) Program. The Title V State SRAE Funding Opportunity Announcement sets forth the application requirements for the receipt of the following documents from applicants and awardees: Application, State Plan, and Performance Progress Report.

The Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is proposing to collect data for a new descriptive study, Adoption Call to Action (ACTA) Data Collection.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) is requesting a 3- year extension of the application and Withdrawal of Application or Declination of Placement Form for the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) Program. Proposed revisions to each instrument are minimal. These forms were previously approved under OMB #0970-0498, expiration 7/31/ 2020. ORR is currently seeking a new OMB number specific to these forms, as they were previously approved as part of another information collection package for ORR's Unaccompanied Alien Children's program.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), is providing notice of a new matching agreement to re-establish the matching program between HHS/ACF/OCSE (hereinafter, ``OCSE'') and state workforce agencies (SWA) administering the Unemployment Compensation benefits program (UC). The matching program compares SWA records with new hire and quarterly wage information maintained in the National Directory of New Hires (NDNH), the outcomes of which help SWAs administer their UC programs.

Pursuant to the Head Start Act, notice is hereby given of three 1-day tribal consultation sessions to be held between HHS/ACF OHS leadership and the leadership of tribal governments operating Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The purpose of these consultation sessions is to discuss ways to better meet the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) children and their families, taking into consideration funding allocations, distribution formulas, and other issues affecting the delivery of Head Start services in their geographic locations. Three tribal consultations will be held as part of HHS/ACF or ACF Tribal Consultation Sessions. Please note the planned tribal consultation dates may be impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions. OHS will consider virtual means of facilitating tribal consultations and/or the postponing of tribal consultations should travel restrictions and group meeting limitations remain in effect.

This rule finalizes revisions to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) regulations proposed on April 19, 2019. AFCARS regulations require title IV-E agencies to collect and report data to ACF on children in out-of-home care, children who exit out-of-home care to adoption or legal guardianship, and children who are covered by a title IV-E adoption or guardianship assistance agreement.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will host a virtual Tribal Consultation to consult on ACF programs and tribal priorities.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is requesting a three-year extension of the collection of information under the Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP), the Annual Progress and Services Report (APSR), and the Annual Budget Expenses Request and Estimated Expenditures (CFS-101) collection (OMB #0970-0426, expiration 1/31/2021). There are minor changes to the APSR, the burden hours for the APSR, and CFS-101 form.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) proposes to revise the existing overarching generic clearance for Grant Reviewer Recruitment (GRR) forms to expand the focus from recruiting just grant reviewers to recruiting expert reviewers in general.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is requesting expedited review of an information collection request from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and inviting public comments on the proposed collection. The request consists of several forms that allow the Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) Program to monitor care provider facility compliance with federal laws and regulations, legal agreements, and ORR policies and procedures; and perform other administrative tasks.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is requesting a 3-year extension of form ACF-123: Guidance for Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (OMB #0970-0157, expiration date: 6/30/2020). There are minor clarifying changes requested to the guidance.

Pursuant to Section 814 of the Native American Programs Act of 1974 (NAPA), as amended, ANA is required to provide members of the public an opportunity to comment on proposed changes in interpretive rules and general statements of policy and to give notice of the proposed changes no less than 30 days before such changes become effective. In accordance with notice requirements of NAPA, ANA herein describes proposed interpretive rules and general statements of policy that relate to ANA's new funding opportunity announcement (FOA) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, Social and Economic Development Strategies Growing Organizations (SEDS-GO), (HHS-2020-ACF-ANA-NN-1837).

The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), proposes survey data collection activities as part of the Youth Empowerment IDEAS study.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeks approval for a one- time study to examine familial outcomes 8 or more years after a child's adoption from the child welfare system. The primary objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of instability events that occur in families who have adopted children who have exited the foster care system. The second objective is to understand risk and protective factors associated with post adoption instability.

The Office of Human Services, Emergency Preparedness and Response (OHSEPR) is the emergency management office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF). OHSEPR is requesting a 3-year extension of the Immediate Disaster Case Management Intake Assessment tool (OMB #0970-0461). The content of the form has not changed. There is one modification to the proposed use of resulting aggregate data, to include a use to advance research with a goal of developing a Quality Assurance/Performance Improvement process.

Statement of Organizations, Functions, and Delegations of Authority. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has reorganized the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF). The reorganization has no impact on existing delegations of authority. The reorganization within the ACYF Office of the Commissioner amends the functions of the Office of Management Services and creates the Office of Budget. Within the Children's Bureau (CB), it creates the Division of Performance Measurement and Improvement. It removes the Office of Data Analysis, Research and Evaluation from the Office of the Commissioner and transfers the functions to the Division of Performance Measurement and Improvement. Within the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), it renames the Division of Adolescent Development and Support to the Division for Optimal Adolescent Development and elevates the Runaway Homeless Youth office to the Division of Runaway and Homeless Youth. It also creates the Division of Evaluation, Data and Policy. Lastly, it renames the Division of Family Violence Prevention to the Division of Family Violence Prevention and Services.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is requesting expedited review of an information collection request from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and inviting public comments on the proposed revisions. The request consists of the addition of questions to the Initial Medical Exam Form to track instances of COVID-19.

The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is proposing data collection activities conducted for the Next Generation of Enhanced Employment Strategies (NextGen) Project. The objective of this project is to identify and rigorously evaluate innovative interventions designed to promote employment and economic security among low-income individuals with complex challenges to employment. The project will include an experimental impact study, descriptive study, and cost study.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing to collect data on human trafficking and other victimization experiences among youth recently or currently involved in the child welfare system. The goal of the one-time survey is to better understand trafficking experiences; to identify modifiable risk and protective factors associated with trafficking victimization; and to inform child welfare policy, programs, and practice.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) is requesting a 3- year extension of the application and Withdrawal of Application or Declination of Placement Form for the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) Program. Proposed revisions to each instrument are minimal. These forms were previously approved under OMB #0970-0498, expiration 7/31/ 2020. ORR is currently seeking a new OMB number specific to these forms, as they were previously approved as part of another information collection package for ORR's Unaccompanied Alien Children's program.

Form ACF-196T is used by tribes to report expenditures for the Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will use the financial data provided by tribes to estimate quarterly funding needs, calculate award amounts, and assess compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. ACF is requesting an extension with no changes to the form and minor updates to the instructions.