Notice2021-15168
Best Practices for Advancing Cultural Competency, Language Access and Sensitivity Toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 16, 2021
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services Department
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) seeks input from Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and AAPI-serving organizations to inform the development of guidance describing best practices for advancing cultural competency, language access, and sensitivity toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the context of the Federal Government's COVID-19 response. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals or proposal abstracts. Please note: This request is for information (RFI) and is for planning purposes only. It is not a notice for a proposal and does not commit the federal government to issue a solicitation, make an award, or pay any costs associated with responding to this announcement. All submitted information shall remain with the federal government and will not be returned. All responses will become part of the public record and will not be held confidential. The federal government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for purposes deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Respondents are advised that the federal government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. Responses will not be accepted after the due date. After a review of the responses received, a notice of funding opportunity or pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 134 (Friday, July 16, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 134 (Friday, July 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37757-37758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15168]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Best Practices for Advancing Cultural Competency, Language Access
and Sensitivity Toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
AGENCY: Office of Minority Health, Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS).
ACTION: Request for information.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office
of Minority Health (OMH) seeks input from Asian American and Pacific
Islander (AAPI) communities and AAPI-serving organizations to inform
the development of guidance describing best practices for advancing
cultural competency, language access, and sensitivity toward Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders in the context of the Federal
Government's COVID-19 response. This is NOT a solicitation for
proposals or proposal abstracts.
Please note: This request is for information (RFI) and is for
planning purposes only. It is not a notice for a proposal and does not
commit the federal government to issue a solicitation, make an award,
or pay any costs associated with responding to this announcement. All
submitted information shall remain with the federal government and will
not be returned. All responses will become part of the public record
and will not be held confidential. The federal government reserves the
right to use information provided by respondents for purposes deemed
necessary and legally appropriate. Respondents are advised that the
federal government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the
information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to
any information submitted. Responses will not be accepted after the due
date. After a review of the responses received, a notice of funding
opportunity or pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be
published.
DATES: To be assured consideration in the development of best practices
guidance, written comments must be submitted and received at the
address provided below, no later than 11:59 p.m. on August 17, 2021.
ADDRESSES: OMH invites the submission of the requested information
through one of the following methods:
<bullet> Preferred method: Submit information through the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the online
instructions for submissions.
<bullet> Email: Send comments to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6b0602050419021f12030e0a071f032b030318450c041d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ddb0b4b3b2afb4a9a4b5b8bcb1a9b59db5b5aef3bab2ab">[email protected]</span></a> with the
subject line ``OMH RFI: AAPI Best Practices.''
Submissions received after the deadline will not be reviewed.
Respond concisely and in plain language. You may use any structure or
layout that presents your information well. You may respond to some or
all of our questions, and you can suggest other factors or relevant
questions. You may also include links to online material or interactive
presentations. Clearly mark any proprietary information and place it in
its own section or file. Your response will become government property,
and we may publish some of its non-proprietary content.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Juliet Bui, 1101 Wootton Parkway,
Suite 100, Rockville, MD, 20852, (240) 453-6166, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4b013e27222e3f65093e220b232338652c243d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aae0dfc6c3cfde84e8dfc3eac2c2d984cdc5dc">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background Information
On January 26, 2021, President Biden issued a Memorandum Condemning
and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance against Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. The memorandum
directed the HHS Secretary, in coordination with the COVID-19 Health
Equity Task Force, to
[[Page 37758]]
consider issuing guidance describing best practices for advancing
cultural competency, language access, and sensitivity toward AAPIs in
the context of the federal government's COVID-19 response, including
best practices set forth by public health organizations and experts for
mitigating racially discriminatory language in describing the COVID-19
pandemic. OMH is leading a Departmental response to the memorandum. In
accordance with this memorandum, OMH seeks to obtain information that
may become part of or inform guidance to be issued regarding best
practices.
II. Definitions
For the purposes of this RFI, the following working definitions
apply.
Best practices--A practice supported by evidence indicating
effectiveness in advancing cultural competence, language access or
sensitivity toward AAPIs in the context of the COVID-19 response,
generally demonstrated through systematic review, research, evaluation
or practice-based evidence. Practices could include interventions,
programs, strategies, policies, procedures, processes or other
activities.
COVID-19 response--Federal activities including, but not limited
to:
<bullet> Data collection, utilization and reporting
<bullet> Allocation of personal protective equipment (PPE), tests,
vaccines, therapeutics and other resources
<bullet> Enforcement of anti-discrimination and HIPAA requirements
pertaining to availability and access to COVID-19 care and treatment
<bullet> Assistance to individuals and families experiencing
disproportionate economic or health effects from COVID-19
<bullet> Training and placement of contact tracers and other workers
<bullet> Outreach related to vaccine trust and uptake, public health
measures/prevention, testing, or other mitigation measure
III. Questions
<bullet> What specific best practices in the areas listed below
should be included in federal guidance? Please describe the best
practice(s), evidence of its effectiveness, and how it has been applied
(or could be applied) to COVID-19 response activities.
[cir] Advancing cultural competency toward AAPIs
[cir] Advancing language access for AAPIs
[cir] Advancing sensitivity toward AAPIs
[cir] Mitigating racially discriminatory language against AAPIs
[cir] Practices that apply the National Standards for Culturally and
Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (National
CLAS Standards).
<bullet> What sources/resources should HHS use to identify
additional best practices in these areas?
<bullet> What considerations should be made in the content,
audiences and format for best practices guidance products, particularly
to support implementation?
<bullet> How should the best practices guidance be disseminated
(e.g., mechanisms, audiences)?
<bullet> Beyond issuing best practices guidance, how can HHS
support implementation of the best practices?
Dated: July 12, 2021.
Juliet Bui,
Public Health Advisor, Office of Minority Health.
[FR Doc. 2021-15168 Filed 7-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-29-P
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