Children and Families Administration 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces the estimated median income for four- person families in each State and the District of Columbia for FFY 2009 (October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009). LIHEAP grantees may adopt the State median income estimates beginning with the date of publication in the Federal Register or at a later date as discussed below. This enables LIHEAP grantees to choose to implement this notice during the period between the heating and cooling seasons. However, by October 1, 2008, or the beginning of a grantee's fiscal year, whichever is later, LIHEAP grantees using State median income estimates must adjust their income eligibility criteria to be in accord with the FFY 2009 State median income estimates. This listing of estimated State median incomes provides one of the maximum income criteria that LIHEAP grantees may use in determining a household's income eligibility for LIHEAP.

This final rule adds new regulations to require States to collect and report data to ACF on youth who are receiving independent living services and on the outcomes of certain youth who are in foster care or who age out of foster care. The final rule implements the data collection requirements of the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-169) as incorporated into the Social Security Act.

This final rule implements changes to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program required by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) (Pub. L. 109-171). The DRA reauthorized the TANF program through fiscal year (FY) 2010 with a renewed focus on work, program integrity, and strengthening families through healthy marriage promotion and responsible fatherhood. On June 29, 2006, ACF published an interim final rule implementing the required statutory changes with a 60-day comment period that ended on August 28, 2006. We have considered all comments received during this period and made necessary changes as reflected in this final rule.

This notice is hereby given that an award will be made to an unaccompanied alien shelter care provider, Southwest Regional Youth Village, Vincennes, Indiana, in the amount of $586,719. This funding will support services through September 30, 2008. This funding will support the expansion of secure program bed capacity to meet the number of unaccompanied alien children referrals from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The program is mandated by section 462 of the Homeland Security Act to ensure appropriate placement of all referrals from the DHS. ORR's ability to meet this mandate is often a challenge since the program is completely tied to DHS interior apprehension strategies and the sporadic number of border crossers. The program has very specific requirements for the provision of services. This grantee is one of the only entities with the infrastructure, licensing, experience and appropriate level of trained staff to meet the service requirements for secure capacity. The program's ability to meet the number of secure referrals from DHS can only be accommodated through the expansion of this program through the supplemental award process.

This notice announces the establishment of and invites nominations for members to the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Re- Designation of Head Start Grantees. The Secretary is required by section 641 of Public Law (Pub. L.) 110-134 to convene an expert panel to provide advice and recommendations on the development of a transparent, reliable and valid system for designation renewal of Head Start grantees. The panel is required to be convened by March 12, 2008. Nominations: We will consider nominations if they are received no later than fifteen (15) days from the date of publication of this notice. Submissions will only be taken electronically, although individuals for whom this procedure introduces a barrier may make alternative arrangements through the contact information below. Nominations in the format described below should be submitted to colleen.rathgeb@acf.hhs.gov.

Pursuant to section 814 of the Native American Programs Act of 1974, as amended by 42 U.S.C. 2991b-1, the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) herein describes its proposed interpretive rules, general statements of policy and rules of agency procedure or practice in relation to the Social and Economic Development Strategies (hereinafter referred to as SEDS), Native Language Preservation and Maintenance (hereinafter referred to as Native Language), Environmental Regulatory Enhancement (hereinafter referred to as Environmental) programs, Environmental Mitigation (hereinafter referred to as Mitigation), and Native American Healthy Marriage Initiative (hereinafter referred to as NAHMI). Under the stature, ANA is required to provide members of the public an opportunity to comment on proposed changes in interpretive rules, general statements of policy, and rules of agency procedure or practice and to give notice of the final adoption of such changes at least 30 days before the changes become effective. This notice also provides additional information about ANA's plan for administering the programs.

This final rule implements the addition of family child care as a Head Start and Early Head Start program option. Family child care is care and education provided to children in a private home or other family-like setting. In keeping with the goal of designing programs that meet family and community needs, some Head Start and Early Head Start agencies have identified family child care as an effective Head Start service delivery model.