Administration for Children and Families October 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is requesting a 3-year extension of the Administration for Native Americans Project Outcome Assessment Survey (OMB #: 0970-0379, expiration 6/30/2025). The survey was revised based on a review by the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) and feedback from grantees, which identified some data elements that could be eliminated and areas that could be clarified.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), invites public comments to inform the use or adoption of interoperability standards for human services programs. ACF and state, local, and tribal governments all provide a number of health and human services programs for children, youth, families, communities, and individuals. ACF seeks public comment on the most effective approaches, technical standards, and technological tools that currently or could promote interoperability between health and human services programs. ACF collaborates with the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ ONC) as a critical steward and advisor for human services interoperability with responsibility for leading the development and harmonization of interoperability standards between health and human services in line with the HHS Data Strategy. The potential of interoperability across the full spectrum of health and human services is immenseit can enable efficient delivery of government services, enhance access to critical non-profit programs, and most importantly, improve overall individual and community outcomes. ACF has authority under the Title IV of the Social Security Act to designate use of interoperable data standards for several of its programs (e.g., Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), child support, child welfare, and foster care). The purpose of this RFI is to understand how ACF, in collaboration with ASTP/ONC, can better support interoperability between human services within and across states and local community resources, between states, and ACF.

Notice is hereby given to the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada (ITCN) and interested parties of a reconsideration hearing. The purpose of the hearing is to reconsider the decision of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Child Care (OCC) regarding revision to the FY2023-2025 triennial child count submitted by the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada (ITCN) as part of their triennial plan, submitted on July 1, 2022. Because the child count was submitted as part of ITCN's FY2023-205 triennial plan, ITCN is entitled to request reconsideration to determine "whether such Plan or amendment conforms to the requirements for approval under the Act and pertinent Federal regulations." The sole issue to be reconsidered is OCC's decision to reduce ITCN's child count.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services seeks approval to collect information to deepen our understanding of Head Start programs' funding approaches, as well as how the use of multiple funding sources within a single Head Start program may be associated with the delivery of Head Start's comprehensive services and early care and education (ECE) funding landscapes within states. Interviews will be conducted with Head Start staff, as well as state and local/regional staff knowledgeable about and/or directly responsible for ECE financial decision making and/or funding source administration. Existing documents from Head Start programs and ECE agencies will also be reviewed to further contextualize interview data.

The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is requesting approval of the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) Final Report Templates. HMRF grant programs are required to submit a final report describing their local evaluation analyses and findings. This request includes guidance for grant recipients in the form of templates. Information will inform technical assistance to support grantees in developing and submitting the final reports to ACF to fulfill a grant requirement.