Children and Families Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD), Office of Program Support (OPS) announces the award of a single-source program expansion supplement grant of $388,640 to the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), Washington, DC, to support implementation of 3 to 4 self-advocacy summit meetings. The self-advocacy summits will be interactive meetings requiring a high degree of participation from the attending self-advocates who will act as the primary presenters. The meetings are intended to educate both the network of ADD grantees on the ADD Program's four goals and, as such, every participant will be required to communicate their expertise related to:

This notice announces that the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) has awarded a single-source expansion supplement grant of $150,000 for data collection analyses, and reporting. The following project will be funded: The University of Massachusetts, Institute for Community Inclusion will collect data, analyze, and report on the employment and economic status of youth and young adults, ages 16 to 30, with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The project will also develop a rigorous, yet practical, ethical, and affordable research design for this evaluation. The data will originate from various existing data sources and will be analyzed using appropriate data analysis techniques. The data will be simplified and categories will be formed that reflect the activities and outcomes of youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A report will be written, highlighting a profile of education, employment, and economic outcomes for youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This information will be provided to ADD and its partners, and will be made available to the public.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), Children's Bureau (CB) announces the award of five single-source program expansion supplement grants to the following organizations:

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) is announcing the award of a single-source program expansion supplement of $250,000 to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence in Harrisburg, PA. The supplemental funds will support the grantee in providing training and technical assistance to domestic violence service providers including ACF grantees, State and local social service agencies; so that they better serve victims of domestic violence and their children who are experiencing the mental health and traumatic effects of intimate partner violence. These efforts will increase domestic violence programs awareness and access to effective interventions that are trauma informed.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA), Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) program announces the award of a single-source grant (cooperative agreement) to The WorkPlace, Inc. a local, non-profit workforce investment board located in Bridgeport, CT. Award funds will support a program to provide education and training to Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) recipients, and other low-income individuals, for occupations in the health care field that pay well and are expected to either experience labor shortages or be in high demand. The city of Bridgeport, CT, faces high levels of unemployment. The WorkPlace, Inc., proposes working with numerous community partners to coordinate referrals, conduct assessments, and provide remedial and life skills training, supportive services, and occupational skills training. If performance by the grantee is deemed satisfactory and funds are available, the grantee may be awarded future funding in the form of annual noncompetitive continuation grants.

This document contains the final Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Tribal Consultation Policy outlining the policy to engage in meaningful consultation with federally recognized tribes and the procedures and processes to be followed by tribes and the ACF bureaus and offices when the need for consultation is requested or required.

Notice is hereby given that an urgent single-source grant is awarded to Survivors of Torture, International (SOTI), San Diego, CA. The grant will support direct services to persons who have experienced trauma or torture prior to their arrival in the United States. The grant will serve San Diego County, which is the area that has received the greatest number of Iraqi refugee arrivals, as well as a high percentage of other refugees and asylum-seekers. The grantee, SOTI, will provide comprehensive rehabilitative services to Iraqi and other survivors of torture, who are in need of specialized services that will enable these survivors to regain their health and independence and rebuild productive lives. In addition to provision of direct services, SOTI will train other area service providers to more effectively serve this population. SOTI will also focus on sustaining collaborations among providers serving this population. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in FY 2009, twenty-eight percent of the country's asylum-seekers came to California for resettlement. In 2010, a total of 3,663 refugees were resettled in San Diego. At least 159,550 refugees, asylees, and asylum-seekers in San Diego have come from areas where torture may be practiced. San Diego's numbers include an influx in Iraqi refugees, as one in four Iraqi refugees has resettled in California, with the vast majority resettling in San Diego. SOTI is the only program in San Diego County that provides medical affidavits for torture survivors to use in claiming asylum. They have also reported an 84 percent increase in client intakes during fiscal years (FYs) 2009 and 2010. As a result, an urgent need exists for specialized services for individuals in San Diego who have suffered torture prior to their arrival in the United States. SOTI is well positioned to provide medical, psychological, social, and legal services to Iraqis who have suffered torture and are relocated in the San Diego area. SOTI has developed a large network of pro bono service providers and possesses the clinical and programmatic expertise to serve survivors of torture. For Further Information Contact: Ronald Munia, Director, Division of Community Resettlement, Office of Refugee Resettlement, 901 D Street, SW., Washington, DC 20047. Telephone: 202-401-4559. E-mail: Ronald.Munia@acf.hhs.gov.

Pursuant to the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, Public Law 110-134, notice is hereby given of one-day Tribal Consultation Sessions to be held between the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start leadership and the leadership of Tribal Governments operating Head Start (including 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 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 [42 U.S.C. 9835, Section 640(l)(4)].

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) announces the award of a single-source grant for training and technical assistance on incoming Lesbian, Gay, Bi- Sexual and Transgender (LGBT) refugee cases to Heartland Alliance, Chicago, IL, for a total of $250,000. The additional funding provided by the award will support services to refugees through May 31, 2012. The current resettlement network has limited understanding of the issues and subgroups. Heartland Alliance will develop training and technical assistance resources, including capacity building and service delivery, specifically targeted at assisting newly arriving LGBT refugees. Heartland Alliance will have the opportunity to receive a continuation award at the same amount in FY 2012, which will provide the grantee with a two-year project period.

This notice announces a forthcoming meeting of a public advisory committee of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The meeting will be open to the public. Name of Committee: Advisory Committee for Head Start Research and Evaluation. General Function of Committee: The Advisory Committee for Head Start Research and Evaluation will provide feedback on the published final report for the Head Start Impact Study, offering interpretations of the findings, discussing implications for practice and policy, and providing recommendations on follow-up research, including additional analysis of the Head Start Impact Study data. The Committee will also be asked to provide recommendations to the Secretary regarding how to improve Head Start and other early childhood programs by enhancing the use of research-informed practices in early childhood. Finally, the Committee will be asked to provide recommendations on the overall Head Start research agenda, includingbut not limited tohow the Head Start Impact Study fits within this agenda. The Committee will provide advice regarding future research efforts to inform HHS about how to guide the development and implementation of best practices in Head Start and other early childhood programs around the country.

In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) is publishing notice that it will rescind a notice of a system of records entitled ``Location and Collection System,'' 09-90-0074, establish two new systems of records entitled ``OCSE National Directory of New Hires'' and ``OCSE Debtor File,'' and amend an existing system of records entitled ``OCSE Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders.''

On November 5, 2009, President Obama signed the ``Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies on Tribal Consultation.'' The President stated that his Administration is committed to regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal officials in policy decisions that have tribal implications, including, as an initial step, through complete and consistent implementation of Executive Order 13175. The United States has a unique legal and political relationship with Indian tribal governments, established through and confirmed by the Constitution of the United States, treaties, statutes, executive orders, and judicial decisions. In recognition of that special relationship, pursuant to Executive Order 13175 of November 6, 2000, executive departments and agencies are charged with engaging in regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal officials in the development of Federal policies that have tribal implications, and are responsible for strengthening the government-to-government relationship between the United States and Indian Tribes. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken its responsibility to comply with Executive Order 13175 very seriously over the past decade, including the initial implementation of a Department- wide policy on tribal consultation and coordination in 1997, and through multiple evaluations and revisions of that policy, most recently in 2008. Many HHS agencies have already developed their own agency-specific consultation policies that complement the Department- wide efforts. Since 2005, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has been working under the guidance of the HHS policy issued in 2005, and updated in 2008. Due to the various programs administered by ACF and the many requests from Tribes for consultation for specific programs, as well as specific program mandates for tribal consultation, ACF has decided to create an ACF Tribal Consultation Policy to help ACF program and regional offices better engage Federally recognized Indian Tribes in the development or revision of policies, regulations, and proposed legislation that impact American Indians. ACF firmly believes that to create a good policy, ACF needs input from Tribes to ensure that ACF is meeting tribal needs and to establish a partnership that can carry into the future. ACF solicited membership for an ACF Tribal/Federal Workgroup to develop the initial draft policy. The Workgroup met August 23 and 24, 2010, in Washington, DC, and again in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on September 16 and 17, 2010. The draft was reviewed by tribal leaders attending the ACF Tribal Consultation Session held in Washington, DC on September 29, 2010, and the Workgroup met again to address the comments heard at the Tribal Consultation Session. ACF will convene the Tribal/Federal Workgroup again to review and address the comments received from this publication.

This notice announces that the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) has awarded a single-source grant to the Commonwealth Election Commission of Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). In 2002, Congress enacted the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) [(Pub. L. 107-252] as a means of improving the administration of elections for Federal office. CNMI did not participate in Federal elections prior to the enactment of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-229). CNMI has now elected a non-voting Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. With its participation in Federal elections, CNMI's eligibility for funding under HAVA is now established and, to that end, ADD is funding this award for a project designed to (1) Explore accessibility of polling places; (2) provide training and technical assistance to election officials, poll workers, and election volunteers on the best methods to promote the access and participation of individuals with developmental disabilities in elections for Federal office; and (3) train voters on how to use voting equipment to include various voting machines to allow for equal opportunity for access and participation in the voting process.

This notice announces that the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) has awarded three single-source expansion supplements for data collection, analyses, and reporting. The following projects will be funded: The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Aurora, CO. This cooperative agreement will allow for data collection, analysis and reporting on spending and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including disaggregation of data related to specific demographic groups. The project will analyze and report on trends in utilization of and spending for institutional services and home and community-based services. Project staff will also participate in collaborative efforts with ADD and other data collection projects to review and report on unmet needs in data collection, analyses, and reporting activities that would promote the self- determination, independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in all facets of community life. The University of Massachusetts (Institute for Community Inclusion), Boston, MA. This cooperative agreement will provide for data collection and analyses related to the effectiveness of State agencies in promoting community integrated employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The project will collect data, analyze, and report on the employment and economic status of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities including disaggregation of data related to specific demographic groups. The project will also make recommendations related to the standardization of data and reporting of employment outcomes. Project staff will also participate in collaborative efforts with ADD and other data collection projects to review and report on unmet needs in data collection, analyses, and reporting activities that would promote the self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in all facets of community life. The University of Minnesota (The Research and Training Center), Minneapolis, MN. This cooperative agreement will provide for data collection, analyses, and reporting of national and State statistics on public and private residential services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including disaggregation of data related to specific demographic groups. The project will conduct analyses that describe the movement of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities from institutional to community settings. Project staff will also participate in collaborative efforts with ADD and other data collection projects to review and report on unmet needs in data collection, analyses, and reporting activities that would promote the self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in all facets of community life. Contact for Further Information: Ophelia McLain, Supervisory Program Specialist, Administration on Developmental Disabilities, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Mail Stop: HHH-405D, Washington, DC 20447. Telephone: 202-690-7025 E-mail: ophelia.mclain@acf.hhs.gov.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) announces the award of a single-source grant to Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, to study the characteristics, dynamics, and context of the child-only Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) client population. Chapin Hall's application was received at ACF as an unsolicited proposal and underwent objective review on December 17, 2009, where the following criteria were applied: Objectives and Need for Assistance, Facilities and Resources, Cost, and Relevance to ACF. The Federal objective reviewers determined that the proposal evidenced a high technical quality, with well-qualified staff from respected institutions operating within a reasonable budget. Reviewers found that the proposal would add value compared to past research, through its focus on long-term child-only caseload dynamics, its use of State data, and its analysis of types of case that have not received as much attention in past research. The panel also pointed out that child- only cases are a high priority issue for ACF. The proposed project offers an updated and more detailed picture of the TANF child-only caseload, including the dynamics of client entry and exit from the caseload. It also provides a timely opportunity, in light of pending TANF reauthorization, to gather policy information about a vulnerable and important ACF client group. OPRE will administer the grant in collaboration with HHSOffice of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE).

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Children's Bureau (CB), announces the award of a single-source expansion supplement to the Child Welfare League of America, Arlington, VA, to support the provision of intensive technical assistance to States. The Child Welfare League of America is a recipient of a cooperative agreement to administer the National Resource Center for Child Welfare Data and Technology (NRC-CWDT) in order to ensure continued support to States in the development of the National Youth in Transition Database. The National Youth in Transition Database will assist States, Tribes, and courts to develop, implement and/or improve effective case management information systems, or data collection systems, and to use data to manage child welfare programs in order to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families. Section 477 of the Social Security Act authorizes the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) and the Chafee Education and Training Vouchers (ETV) program. It also requires the creation of a data collection and performance measurement system. The Federal regulation at 45 CFR 1356.80 establishes the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) implementing this provision. The NYTD regulation requires States to engage in two data collection activities: the collect of information on youth and the independent living services they receive that are paid for or provided by State agencies that administer the CFCIP and ETV programs and the collection of outcome information on certain youth in foster care. States must begin collecting NYTD data on October 1, 2010 and submit the first report period data to ACF by May 15, 2011. The supplemental funding will allow the NRC-CWDT to meet the increased demand for NYTD onsite technical assistance and sponsor regional meetings without reducing requested technical assistance from courts and Tribes in the areas of data collection and exchange.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Children's Bureau (CB) announces the award of a single-source expansion supplement to the University of Oklahoma, National Resource Center for Youth Services, Tulsa, OK, to support expanded technical assistance to address emerging technical assistance needs for States and Tribes as they seek to implement legislation and changing programs dedicated to former foster youth. The grantee is the recipient of a cooperative agreement to administer the National Resource Center for Youth Development (NRCYD). The grantee has been providing technical assistance services through a cooperative agreement since September 30, 2009, pursuant to the legislative authority of the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program, Section 435(d), Title IV-B, subpart 2, of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 629e]. In February 2008, the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) final regulation was promulgated. NYTD requires States to begin collecting information from youth in foster care and young adults formerly in foster care every six months, beginning October 1, 2010. State representatives continue to identify implementation of NYTD as a significant challenge, particularly since it will require State agencies to remain in contact with youth who may no longer be receiving services from the agency. The implementation of NYTD over the next four years will require the NRCYD to continue to provide additional technical assistance to States to implement this regulation effectively. Additionally, many States see the implementation of NYTD as a method to engage youth and to strengthen youth involvement in services at the State and local level. This type of youth engagement work involves long-term systemic technical assistance. The expansion grant will allow the NRCYD to support these State initiatives over the long term. Another significant development affecting the provision of services to youth and young adults was the passage of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, Public Law 110-351, signed into law October 7, 2008. Among other provisions, the law added a provision requiring States to develop a transition plan for all youth emancipating from foster care. The law also provides States and Tribes an option to receive Federal reimbursement under title IV-E of the Social Security Act to extend foster care to older youth until age 21. In addition, the law for the first time provides an opportunity for certain Indian Tribes to receive direct funding for independent living services and education and training vouchers under the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program. The supplement will allow the NRCYD to provide more intensive technical assistance and on-site consultation to States and Tribes to continue to assist them in implementing these provisions.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Children's Bureau (CB) announces the award of a single-source expansion supplement to the Tribal Law and Policy Institute, West Hollywood, CA, to provide more intensive technical assistance to Tribes. The Tribal Law and Policy Institute administers the National Resource Center for Tribes under a cooperative agreement where technical assistance is provided to Tribes to assist in building organizational capacity so that Tribes may operate their own foster care programs under title IV-E of the Social Security Act. Under the agreement, Tribal Law and Policy Institute identifies promising practices in Tribal child welfare systems, identifies and effectively implements community and culturally based strategies and resources that strengthen Tribal child and family services. The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (the Act) was amended in 2008 by the addition of Sec. 479B, which allows Indian Tribes the option to apply for Federal funding to support the administration of their own foster care, adoption assistance, and guardianship assistance programs under title IV-E of the Social Security Act (SSA). The Act was also amended at Sec. 476(c)(2)(iii) to allow Indian Tribes to receive one-time development grants to be used to offset the cost of developing a title IV-E plan to carry out the requirements of Sec. 479B. Supplemental funding will support Regional Roundtables and build Tribal capacity in the following areas: 1. Development of a presentation on the Social Security Act and title IV-E provisions that provide foster care and adoption service funds. The presentation will be developed to be responsive to the cultural issues and needs of the Tribal audience. 2. Training for Tribal caseworkers on title IV-E requirements in order to continue the eligibility and funding of IV-E eligible children. Caseworkers will be made aware of the provisions of Public Law 110-351 to insure that all appropriate services are provided to children in care. 3. Assistance in the development of training for appropriate foster care recruitment, and retention so that placement of title IV-E eligible children will be made with licensed foster/kin families. Training will emphasize the linkages between for Tribal leaders, child welfare and court staff in the licensing and maintaining of title I-VE eligibility when children are placed in foster care.

This regulation proposes to amend Head Start Program regulations to implement statutory provisions of the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 for establishing a system of designation renewal to determine if Head Start and Early Head Start agencies are delivering high-quality and comprehensive Head Start and Early Head Start programs that meet the educational, health, nutritional, and social needs of the children and families they serve, and meet program and financial management requirements and standards.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS) has awarded an expansion supplement to National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP), located in Washington, DC. The project is designed to support T/TA that strengthens the ability of the Community Action Network to comply with and carry out the programs funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The project objective is to strengthen CSBG-eligible entity efforts related to benefits enrollment and coordination activities and asset development activities. It will do so by: (1) Assessing the CSBG Network's current benefits enrollment and coordination activities; (2) assessing the CSBG Network's asset development activities; and (3) identifying and promulgating exemplary practices in benefits enrollment and coordination activities and asset development activities. The project resources will promote accountability and help CSBG-eligible entities and States enhance the overall administration of ARRA-funded programs. These resources include issue briefs; congressional reports; a catalog of exemplary practices; webinars and/or conference calls; conference workshops focused on resources related to benefits enrollment and coordination activities and asset development activities; and online toolkit(s). The T/TA NASCSP will provide under this award is particularly critical at this time due to the large temporary increase in CSBG funding to CSBG- eligible entities and the need to ensure adherence to high standards of accountability and tracking of the funds and results. The activities funded by this expansion supplement expand upon prior activities provided by NASCSP under their cooperative agreement. A new grant award number will be issued to allow NASCSP to track and report separately on expenditures from funds made available by ARRA.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will host a tribal consultation to solicit input on the agency's draft tribal consultation policy.

Sections 474(a)(3)(C) and (D) of the Social Security Act (the Act) provide States with the opportunity to access additional funding through title IV-E to plan, design, develop, implement, and operate a Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS). The regulations at 45 CFR 1355.50-1355.57 were established in response to this legislation and were issued on December 22, 1993.

This rule revises Federal requirements for establishing and enforcing intergovernmental support obligations in Child Support Enforcement (IV-D) program cases receiving services under title IV-D of the Social Security Act (the Act). This final rule revises previous interstate requirements to apply to case processing in all intergovernmental cases; requires the responding State IV-D agency to pay the cost of genetic testing; clarifies responsibility for determining in which State tribunal a controlling order determination is made where multiple support orders exist; recognizes and incorporates electronic communication advancements; and makes conforming changes to the Federal substantial compliance audit and State self-assessment requirements.

This notice announces the re-establishment of the Advisory Committee on Head Start Research and Evaluation. The Secretary is required by section 649(g)(1) of Public Law 92-463 to convene an expert committee to review and make recommendations on the design of the study or studies that provide national analysis of the impact of Head Start programs. This committee will also advise on the progress of the study, and comment, if so desired, on the interim and final study reports of the organization(s) selected for carrying out the independent research.

The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) is accepting applications for the Basic Center Program (BCP), which is

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 522a), as amended, OCSE is publishing notice of a computer matching program between OCSE and State agencies administering unemployment compensation (UC) programs.

The following Notice of Public Comment is in response to Section 649(f) Sub-Section (3) of the 2007 Head Start School Readiness Act (the Act) requiring the Secretary to publish in the Federal Register a plan of how the Secretary will carry out section 649 Sub-Section (f) Sub-Paragraph (1) and shall provide a period for public comment.

This notice announces to LIHEAP grantees the estimated median income of four-person families in each State and the District of Columbia for FFY 2011 (October 1, 2010, to September 30, 2011). LIHEAP grantees that choose to base their income eligibility criteria on these State median income estimates may adopt these estimates (up to 60 percent) on the estimates' date of publication in the Federal Register or on a later date as discussed below. This enables these grantees to implement this notice during the period between the heating and cooling seasons. However, by October 1, 2010, or the beginning of the grantees' fiscal years, whichever is later, these grantees must adjust their income eligibility criteria so that such criteria are in accord with the FFY 2011 State median income estimates.