Notice2021-28060
Proposed Information Collection Activity; State Access and Visitation Grant Application (OMB #0970-0482)
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
December 28, 2021
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentChildren and Families Administration
Abstract
The federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is requesting a 3-year extension of the State Access and Visitation Grant Application (OMB #0970-0482, expiration 5/31/2022). There are changes requested to the form.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 246 (Tuesday, December 28, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 28, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73787-73788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28060]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Proposed Information Collection Activity; State Access and
Visitation Grant Application (OMB #0970-0482)
AGENCY: Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for
Children and Families, HHS.
ACTION: Request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: The federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE),
Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) is requesting a 3-year extension of the
State Access and Visitation Grant Application (OMB #0970-0482,
expiration 5/31/2022). There are changes requested to the form.
DATES: Comments due within 60 days of publication. In compliance with
the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ACF is
soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information
collection described above.
ADDRESSES: You can obtain copies of the proposed collection of
information and submit comments by emailing <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e980878f868a8685858c8a9d808687a9888a8fc781819ac78e869f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="056c6b636a666a69696066716c6a6b456466632b6d6d762b626a73">[email protected]</span></a>.
Identify all requests by the title of the information collection.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description: The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996 created the ``Grants to States for Access
and Visitation'' program (AV grant program). Funding for the program
began in fiscal year 1997 with a capped, annual entitlement of $10
million. The statutory goal of the program is to provide funds to
states that will enable them to provide services for the purpose of
increasing noncustodial parent access to and visitation with their
children. State governors decide which state entity will be responsible
for implementing the AV grant program in addition to determining who
will be served, what services will be provided, and whether the
services will be statewide or in local jurisdictions. The statute
specifies certain activities that may be funded, including voluntary
and mandatory mediation, counseling, education, the development of
parenting plans, supervised visitation, and the development of
guidelines for visitation and alternative custody arrangements. Even
though OCSE manages this program, funding for the AV grant is separate
from funding for federal and state administration of the child support
program.
Section 469B(e)(3) of the Social Security Act (Pub. L. 104-193)
requires that each state receiving an AV grant award shall monitor,
evaluate, and report on such programs in accordance with regulations.
Additionally, the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance states that
there is an application requirement for Grants to States for Access and
Visitation Programs (93.597). The application process assists OCSE in
complying with this requirement and emphasizes program efficiency,
coordination of services, building support for parenting time services,
and ensuring the safety of parents and children.
Specifically, the application requires states to submit a detailed
program plan indicating how they anticipate spending their funds within
the program statute and regulations. The applications cover 3 fiscal
years and any changes made to the plan during the 3-year period will
require a notification of change to OCSE.
OCSE will review the applications to ensure that planned services
meet the requirements laid out in section 469B(e)(3) of the Social
Security Act (Pub. L. 104-193). This review will include monitoring of
program compliance and the safe delivery of services. In addition to
monitoring, the report will also assist in OCSE's ability to provide
technical assistance to states that request assistance.
The State Access and Visitation Grant Application is proposing
changes to the application itself, including requirements for states
and territories to:
--Address disparities in access;
--ensure the proactive identification of systemic barriers to AV grant
services for people of color and other underserved populations;
--describe how grant activities will redress such barriers; and
--describe how outreach and recruitment efforts will promote equity in
access for underserved or marginalized populations.
The grant application also expands requirements for partnerships
with domestic violence service providers to address the access issues
experienced by marginalized victims of domestic violence.
Respondents: Recipients of the State Access and Visitation Grant
(54 states and territories).
Annual Burden Estimates
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Total number of Average burden
Instrument Total number of responses per hours per Total burden Annual burden
respondents respondent response hours hours
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State Access and Visitation Grant Application...................... 54 1 10 540 180
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Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 180.
Comments: The Department specifically requests comments on: (a)
Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether
the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection
of information on respondents, including through the
[[Page 73788]]
use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions
submitted within 60 days of this publication.
Authority: Sec. 469B(e)(3), Public Law 104-193.
Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-28060 Filed 12-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-41-P
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