Notice2021-15065
Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse Handbook of Standards and Procedures
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Published
July 15, 2021
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentChildren and Families Administration
Abstract
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), established the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse (hereafter, the Clearinghouse; https://preventionservices.abtsites.com). This Federal Register Notice (FRN) seeks comments by August 16, 2021 on the Clearinghouse's Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 1.0. Responses to this FRN will inform potential updates and clarifications to existing standards and procedures. Readers are referred to the full version of the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 1.0 on the Clearinghouse website (https://preventionservices.abtsites.com/review-process). Specifically, feedback is invited on each of the steps and operational procedures of the Prevention Services Clearinghouse systematic review process.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 133 (Thursday, July 15, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 133 (Thursday, July 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37332-37334]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15065]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse Handbook of
Standards and Procedures
AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families, HHS.
ACTION: Request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), within the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), established the
Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse (hereafter, the
Clearinghouse; <a href="https://preventionservices.abtsites.com">https://preventionservices.abtsites.com</a>). This Federal
Register Notice (FRN) seeks comments by August 16, 2021 on the
Clearinghouse's Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 1.0.
Responses to this FRN will inform potential updates and clarifications
to existing standards and procedures. Readers are referred to the full
version of the
[[Page 37333]]
Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 1.0 on the Clearinghouse
website (<a href="https://preventionservices.abtsites.com/review-process">https://preventionservices.abtsites.com/review-process</a>).
Specifically, feedback is invited on each of the steps and operational
procedures of the Prevention Services Clearinghouse systematic review
process.
DATES: The deadline for comments on this notice is August 16, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit written questions, comments,
and supplementary documents by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#58282a3d2e3d362c3137362b3d2a2e313b3d2b18393a2c392b2b373b763b3735"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3f4f4d5a495a514b5650514c5a4d49565c5a4c7f5e5d4b5e4c4c505c115c5052">[email protected]</span></a>
with ``Title IV-E PSC FRN comment'' in the subject line. To ensure that
your comments have maximum effect, please identify clearly the section
of the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 1.0 (<a href="https://preventionservices.abtsites.com/review-process">https://preventionservices.abtsites.com/review-process</a>) that your comment
addresses.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1.0 Background and Legislative Context
The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) was signed into
law as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act (H.R. 1892) on February 9,
2018. FFPSA amended the Social Security Act (the Act) to enable use of
Federal funds available under parts B and E of title IV of the Social
Security Act to provide enhanced support to children and families and
prevent foster care placements through the provision of evidence-based
mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services,
in-home parent skill-based programs, and kinship navigator services. As
described in the statutory language, these services and programs are
intended ``for children who are candidates for foster care or who are
pregnant or parenting foster youth and the parents or kin caregivers of
the children.''
The Act requires an independent systematic review of evidence to
designate programs and services as ``promising,'' ``supported,'' and
``well supported'' practices, defined as follows in section
471(e)(4)(C):
<bullet> Promising Practice: ``A practice shall be considered to be
a `promising practice' if the practice is superior to an appropriate
comparison practice using conventional standards of statistical
significance (in terms of demonstrated meaningful improvements in
validated measures of important child and parent outcomes, such as
mental health, substance abuse, and child safety and well-being), as
established by the results or outcomes of at least one study that--(1)
was rated by an independent systematic review for the quality of the
study design and execution and determined to be well-designed and well-
executed; and (2) utilized some form of control (such as an untreated
group, a placebo group, or a wait list study).''
<bullet> Supported Practice: ``A practice shall be considered to be
a `supported practice' if (I) the practice is superior to an
appropriate comparison practice using conventional standards of
statistical significance (in terms of demonstrated meaningful
improvements in validated measures of important child and parent
outcomes, such as mental health, substance abuse, and child safety and
well-being), as established by the results or outcomes of at least one
study that--(aa) was rated by an independent systematic review for the
quality of the study design and execution and determined to be well-
designed and well-executed; (bb) was a rigorous random-controlled trial
(or, if not available, a study using a rigorous quasi-experimental
research design); and (cc) was carried out in a usual care or practice
setting; and (II) the study described in sub-clause (I) established
that the practice has a sustained effect (when compared to a control
group) for at least 6 months beyond the end of treatment.''
<bullet> Well-supported Practice: ``A practice shall be considered
to be a `well-supported practice' if (I) the practice is superior to an
appropriate comparison practice using conventional standards of
statistical significance (in terms of demonstrated meaningful
improvements in validated measures of important child and parent
outcomes, such as mental health, substance abuse, and child safety and
well-being), as established by the results or outcomes of at least two
studies that--(aa) were rated by an independent systematic review for
the quality of the study design and execution and determined to be
well-designed and well-executed; and (bb) were rigorous random-
controlled trials (or, if not available, studies using a rigorous
quasi-experimental research design); and (cc) were carried out in a
usual care or practice setting; and (II) at least one of the studies
described in sub-clause (I) established that the practice has a
sustained effect (when compared to a control group) for at least 1 year
beyond the end of treatment.''
In accordance with the statute, practices must also meet the
following requirements:
<bullet> Book or manual: The practice has a book, manual, or other
available writings that specify the components of the practice protocol
and describe how to administer the practice.
<bullet> No empirical risk of harm: There is no empirical basis
suggesting that, compared to its likely benefits, the practice
constitutes a risk of harm to those receiving it.
<bullet> Weight of evidence supports benefits: If multiple outcome
studies have been conducted, the overall weight of evidence supports
the benefits of the practice.
<bullet> Reliable and valid outcome measures: Outcome measures are
reliable and valid, and are administrated consistently and accurately
across all those receiving the practice.
<bullet> No case data for severe or frequent risk of harm: There is
no case data suggesting a risk of harm that was probably caused by the
treatment and that was severe or frequent (section 471(e)(4)(C)(ii) of
the Act).
In order to meet these requirements, ACF established the
Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse carries out a systematic review
process implemented by trained reviewers using consistent, transparent
standards and procedures. The Handbook of Standards and Procedures,
Version 1.0 (<a href="https://preventionservices.abtsites.com/review-process">https://preventionservices.abtsites.com/review-process</a>)
provides a detailed description of the standards used to identify and
review programs and services for the Clearinghouse and the procedures
followed by the Clearinghouse staff. The Handbook of Standards and
Procedures, Version 1.0 was informed by public comments submitted in
response to Federal Register Notice 83 FR 29122 (<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/06/22/2018-13420/decisions-related-to-the-development-of-a-clearinghouse-of-evidence-based-practices-in-accordance">https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/06/22/2018-13420/decisions-related-to-the-development-of-a-clearinghouse-of-evidence-based-practices-in-accordance</a>), consultations with research and practice
experts, and the review processes developed and used by other prominent
evidence clearinghouses.
2.0 Request for Information (RFI)
Through this FRN, ACF invites feedback on the Handbook of Standards
and Procedures, Version 1.0 (<a href="https://preventionservices.abtsites.com/review-process">https://preventionservices.abtsites.com/review-process</a>). Specifically, feedback is invited on each of the steps
of the Prevention Services Clearinghouse systematic review process:
1. Identify programs and services for review. Candidate programs
and services relevant to the mission of the Clearinghouse are
identified using an inclusive process that invites recommendations from
stakeholders, including states, to ensure broad coverage across program
or service areas (Chapter 1).
2. Select and prioritize programs and services for review.
Candidate programs
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and services are evaluated against the program or service eligibility
criteria and prioritized for review (Chapter 2).
3. Literature search. Clearinghouse staff conduct comprehensive
literature searches to locate available and relevant research on the
prioritized programs and services (Chapter 3).
4. Study eligibility screening and prioritization. Studies
identified in the literature searches are screened against the study
eligibility criteria. Studies determined to be eligible for review are
considered against prioritization criteria to determine the order and
depth of their review (Chapter 4).
5. Evidence review. All eligible studies are reviewed by trained
reviewers using the Clearinghouse design and execution standards. Study
authors may be queried to request information deemed necessary to
assign a rating. One of three ratings is assigned to prioritized
studies: High, moderate, or low support of causal evidence (Chapter 5).
6. Program and service ratings. Studies that are rated as high or
moderate support of causal evidence are considered in assigning each
program or service one of four ratings: Well-supported, supported,
promising, or does not currently meet criteria (Chapter 6). These
ratings also take into consideration any evidence of risk of harm.
Feedback is also invited on the operational procedures for
reviewing programs and services (Chapter 7).
Responses to this FRN will inform ongoing discussion about
potential updates and clarifications to existing standards and
procedures. Consistent with the practice of other prominent federal
evidence reviews, standards and procedures may be revised over time as
research methods evolve, the needs of the field change, and lessons are
learned during the review process. Potential revisions to the
Clearinghouse's standards and procedures may affect which programs and
services are eligible or prioritized for review, which studies of
programs and services are eligible or prioritized for review, which
studies of programs and services meet design and execution ratings, and
program or service ratings. ACF especially welcomes comments on how the
standards and procedures might be revised to better reflect the goals
and requirements of the Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and
Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government
(<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/">https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/</a>) and the President's
Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific
Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking (<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/memorandum-on-restoring-trust-in-government-through-scientific-integrity-and-evidence-based-policymaking/">https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/memorandum-on-restoring-trust-in-government-through-scientific-integrity-and-evidence-based-policymaking/</a>).
Through this FRN, ACF is soliciting information from a broad array
of stakeholders. This FRN is one way to ensure that activities
associated with the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse are
transparent and build from the existing knowledge of states, federal
agencies, researchers, evaluators, program and service developers, key
stakeholders and experts, and the general public. The public will have
an opportunity to comment on specific revisions to the Clearinghouse's
standards and procedures through a future FRN.
To facilitate the review of submissions, please identify the
chapter, section, and/or page number of the Handbook of Standards and
Procedures, Version 1.0 (<a href="https://preventionservices.abtsites.com/review-process">https://preventionservices.abtsites.com/review-process</a>) that your comments address.
This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and should
not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of
ACF or HHS.
For more information about the Prevention Services Clearinghouse,
visit: <a href="https://preventionservices.abtsites.com">https://preventionservices.abtsites.com</a>.
Naomi Goldstein,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning, Research, and Evaluation.
[FR Doc. 2021-15065 Filed 7-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
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