[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 169 (Thursday, August 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51831-51833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7364]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Children's Bureau Proposed Research Priorities for Fiscal Years 
2006-2008

AGENCY: Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), 
Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Response to Notice of Proposed Child Abuse and Neglect Research 
Priorities for Fiscal Years 2006-2008.

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SUMMARY: The Children's Bureau solicited comments from the public on 
the Proposed Research Priorities for Fiscal Years 2006-2008 in Volume 
71, Number 23 of the Federal Register on February 3, 2006. Comments 
were due by April 4, 2006. All comments received by the deadline were 
reviewed and given consideration in the preparation of this notice.

Summary of Public Comments

    Section 104 (a)(4) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act 
(CAPTA), as amended by the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 
2003, Public Law (Pub. L.). 108-36, requires the Secretary of the U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish proposed 
priorities for research activities for public comment and to maintain 
an official record of such public comment. In response to this 
requirement, proposed priorities were published in February 2006 for 
public comment and the responses received are detailed in this 
document.
    The Children's Bureau received over a dozen written responses from 
a variety of sources; State protection and advocacy systems; community 
agencies for children and families; national, State and local 
associations and non-profit organizations; universities; hospitals; 
children''s medical centers; mental health services agencies; agencies 
serving children with disabilities; and private citizens.

Legislative Topics

    One response commented on the proposed research topic of the causes 
of child abuse and neglect. The commenter noted this issue as a high 
priority, suggested that understanding the cause of child abuse and 
neglect is central to understanding the dynamics of the issues as a 
whole, and necessary for designing effective prevention and 
intervention services. In contradiction to this comment, another set of 
comments received ranked causes of abuse and neglect as a low priority 
and suggested that there has been a wealth of research conducted in 
this area.
    A comment was received in response to the proposed research topic 
on the socio-economic distinctions and consequences of child abuse and 
neglect. The commenter suggested issues surrounding cultural and socio-
economic distinctions be studied in more depth given the recent studies 
on overrepresentation of children of color in the child welfare and 
juvenile justice systems. The commenter suggested that a longitudinal 
study be conducted on this issue, and determination of how culture, 
ethnicity and race play into the identification, assessment, prevention 
and treatment and the consequences faced by families of color as a 
result of involvement with the child protection system.
    A number of comments were received in response to the proposed 
research priority on the identification of successful early 
intervention services or other needed services; these responses 
supported the Children's Bureau's attention to this area.
    The evaluation and dissemination of best practices was mentioned in 
a number of responses. One response supported proposed research on 
State-level strategies to improve child protection systems under this 
topic area. Another commenter noted that attention to ``what works'' in 
child protection and child welfare services has reached a ``new low,'' 
and greater support is needed in establishing a body of evidence about 
effective services.
    A number of comments were received in response to paragraphs (1) 
through (14), under the heading of the evaluation and dissemination of 
best practices consistent with the goals of achieving improvements in 
child protective services systems of the States in accordance with 
CAPTA [Section 106(a), Grant to States for Child Abuse and Neglect 
Prevention and Treatment Program].
    A comment was received encouraging that priority be given to 
paragraph (ii): Creating and improving the use of multidisciplinary 
teams and interagency protocol to enhance investigation, and improving 
legal preparation and representation.
    Another comment was received encouraging that priority be given to 
paragraph (iv): Enhancing the general child protective system by 
developing, improving and implementing risk and safety assessment tools 
and protocols. This response specifically requested research on 
differential response in child protective services.
    One comment was received related to paragraph (x): Developing, 
implementing or operating programs to assist in obtaining or 
coordinating necessary services for families of disabled infants with 
life-threatening conditions. The comment received related to this 
paragraph noted the lack of mention given to issues related to persons 
with disabilities, specifically parents with disabilities or to 
children with disabilities (beyond this mention of disabled infants). 
Additional attention to this response can be found below in the field-
initiated research area.
    One comment was received in response to paragraph (xi): Developing 
and delivering information to improve public education relating to the 
role and responsibilities of the child protection system and the nature 
and basis for reporting suspected incidents of child abuse and neglect. 
This commenter noted that mandated reporters often experience confusion 
as to their responsibility to report suspected child abuse or neglect, 
even after receiving training in this area. Due to the severity of 
child abuse and neglect and the consequences at stake, the commenter 
suggested additional research be conducted to explore better ways to 
develop and deliver training and information to mandated reporters and 
the public.
    A comment was received encouraging that priority be given to 
paragraph (xii): Developing and enhancing the capacity of community-
based programs to integrate shared leadership strategies between 
parents and professionals to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect 
at the neighborhood level.
    One response was a comment encouraging that priority be given to 
paragraph (xiii): Supporting and

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enhancing interagency collaboration between the child protection system 
and the juvenile justice system for improved delivery of services and 
treatment, including methods for continuity of treatment plans and 
services as children transition between systems.
    Two responses were submitted in response to paragraph (xiv): 
Supporting and enhancing collaboration among public health agencies, 
the child protection system and private community-based programs to 
provide child abuse and neglect prevention and treatment services 
(including linkages with education systems) and to address the health 
needs, including mental health needs, of children identified as abused 
or neglected, including supporting prompt, comprehensive health and 
developmental evaluations for children who are the subject of 
substantiated child maltreatment reports. One response suggested 
researching the use of differential response in child protective 
services in reference to this priority area, focused on collaboration 
among child protection systems and other public and private agencies.

Other Topics

    A number of comments addressed the priority area of prevention 
practices. Responses were received noting particular interest in 
effective child abuse and neglect prevention practices, supporting 
focused research to enlarge the knowledge base in this area. Responses 
were received stating support for the approach included in the CAPTA 
amendments for ``an evaluation of the redundancies and gaps in services 
in the field of child abuse and neglect prevention in order to make 
better use of resources.'' Two comments received suggest that 
prevention research be the highest priority, and strongly supported the 
Bureau's emphasis on prevention. Another comment supported the 
Children's Bureau priority of the evaluation of services to prevent 
abuse and the recurrence of abuse. Attention to home visitation as a 
prevention strategy is suggested by two commenters. The use of respite 
care is suggested in one submission. Research on respite, particularly 
used to support families of children with disabilities is the focus of 
this comment.
    In response to the priority area of child protection systems, a 
comment was received in regards to disproportionality within child 
welfare and as noted earlier, comments were received in terms of 
collaborative efforts among service providers targeting children 
involved in the child welfare system or at risk of involvement.
    A number of responses were directed at the services research 
priority area. Comments were received supporting assessment of services 
needed by and provided to children and families. One commenter 
responded encouraging the prioritization of research in the 
identification of early intervention services and the assessment and 
provision of services to children and families, and the analysis of 
services provided to victims of child maltreatment and the response of 
protective services to children's mental health issues. As noted 
earlier in terms of best practices, a response supported attention to 
``what works'' in child protective and child welfare services. This 
commenter also supported the assessment of services provided to 
children and families and the relationship of these services to 
outcomes, as outlined in the proposed research priorities. This 
commenter suggested that little is known about the services provided to 
children and families, and encouraged furthering this concept to 
encompass the inclusion of documentation for services received by in-
home and community service cases.
    A comment was received related to the provision of legal services 
for children, specifically legal counsel. It suggested research to 
examine state and local policies for appointing legal representation 
for children in court proceedings, and to analyze disparities in 
outcome for children who are or are not appointed legal counsel.
    A comment was submitted encouraging research in the area of service 
provision to both children and parents with mental health needs.
    One comment was received in response to the proposed program 
evaluation of priority area initiatives (or Evaluation of Programs 
Addressing Administration Priorities). This comment expressed support 
of the evaluation of effectiveness of healthy marriage promotion and 
fatherhood initiatives to prevent child abuse and neglect.
    Two comments were received in response to the proposed research 
area entitled Perpetrators. Specifically, one comment supported 
research in the area of characterizations of perpetrators to inform 
more effective intervention and prevention efforts. One commenter 
submitted a response supporting the pre-existing item ``research on 
perpetrators and their patterns of perpetrating behaviors,'' and 
supporting integrating recognition of perpetrator subgroups though the 
research priorities.

Additional Comments

    Finally, several respondents recommended additional areas of 
research. In addition to supporting the research priorities already 
outlined by the Children's Bureau, a number of additional suggestions 
were submitted.
    Research related to the CAPTA requirement linked to IDEA Part C was 
noted by three commenters. Research in the area of privatization, 
specifically in terms of cost effectiveness and efficiency (noting 
workload and workforce issues) was submitted in response to this 
solicitation for comment.
    A response was received encouraging that attention be paid to the 
documentation of in-home or community-based services and the lack of a 
data collection systems for these services.
    Research projects focusing on attention to risk factors associated 
with child abuse and neglect, including domestic violence, substance 
abuse, mental health issues, poverty and perpetrators experience as a 
victim of child abuse were submitted as a comment.
    One response encouraged research on the effectiveness of supervised 
visitation programs and trauma and the engagement of caregivers in 
treatment of trauma.
    Comments were received including research in the areas of non-
violent households and research on corporal and physical punishment as 
they relate to child maltreatment.
    Two comments were received on research in the field of 
disabilities, for children faced with disabilities and parents with 
disabilities involved in the child welfare system.
    A comment was received supporting research to ascertain the 
prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol spectrum 
disorder (FASD) in the foster care population, research on the 
development of a protocol of services for children in the foster care 
system diagnosed with FAS/FASD, and a longitudinal study on the impact 
of intervention, treatment and services on children in foster care 
diagnosed with FAS/FASD.

Conclusion

    Throughout the Fiscal Years 2006-2008, the Children's Bureau will 
address these proposed priorities, taking into consideration the public 
comments and current funding cycles in drafting future announcements. 
All grant applications will be posted

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electronically each every fiscal year at http://www.grants.gov.

Joan E. Ohl,
Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.
[FR Doc. 06-7364 Filed 8-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P