[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 48568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-22946]



[[Page 48568]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Comment Request for Review of ACF Disaster Case 
Management Implementation Guide; Office of Human Services Emergency 
Preparedness and Response

AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health 
and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Administration 
for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Human Services Emergency 
Preparedness and Response (OHSEPR) intends to submit to notice in the 
Federal Register for comments on the ACF Disaster Case Management 
Implementation Guide, dated December 10, 2008.
    Disaster case management is the process of organizing and providing 
a timely, coordinated approach to assess disaster-related needs as well 
as existing healthcare, mental health and human services needs that may 
adversely impact an individual's recovery if not addressed. Disaster 
case management facilitates the delivery of appropriate resources and 
services, works with a client to implement a recovery plan and 
advocates for the client's needs to assist him/her in returning to a 
pre-disaster status while respecting human dignity. If necessary, 
disaster case management helps transition the client with pre-existing 
needs to existing case management providers after disaster-related 
needs are addressed. This is facilitated through the provision of a 
single point of contact for disaster assistance applicants who need a 
wide variety of services that may be provided by many different 
organizations.
    The purpose of disaster case management is to rapidly return 
individuals and families who have survived a disaster to a state of 
self-sufficiency. This is accomplished by ensuring that each individual 
has access to a case manager who will capture information about the 
individual's situation and then serve as his/her advocate and help him/
her organize and access disaster-related resources, human services, 
healthcare and mental healthcare that will help him/her achieve pre-
disaster levels of functioning and equilibrium. The service is 
particularly critical in situations where large-scale mortality, 
injuries, or personal property damage have occurred. Disaster case 
management is based on the principles of self-determination, self-
sufficiency, federalism, flexibility and speed, and support to States.
    Comments are particularly invited on: the program guidelines of the 
ACF Disaster Case Management Pilot Program; and recommendations on 
program improvements based on valid evidence and methodology.
    For a copy of the ACF Disaster Case Management Implementation 
guide, please contact Kaee Ross at 202-401-9331, or visit http://www.acf.hhs.gov/ohsepr/dcm/dcm.guide.html.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 8, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to--CAPT Roberta P. Lavin, 
Director, Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response, 
Administration for Children and Families, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 
6th Floor West, Washington, DC 20447 or via email to 
[email protected].

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contacts: CAPT Roberta P. Lavin, Director, 
Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response (OHSEPR), 
at [email protected] or 202-401-9306; Sylvia R. Menifee, Deputy 
Director (Operations), OHSEPR, at [email protected] or 202-
401-1448; Kaee Ross, Project Officer, OHSEPR, at [email protected] 
or 202-401-9331.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Administration for Children and Families 
(ACF), within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is 
responsible for Federal programs that promote the economic and social 
well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities. ACF 
programs aim to achieve the following:
     Families and individuals empowered to increase their own 
economic independence and productivity;
     Strong, healthy, supportive communities that have a 
positive impact on the quality of life and the development of children;
     Partnerships with individuals, front-line service 
providers, communities, American Indian tribes, Native communities, 
States, and Congress that enable solutions which transcend traditional 
agency boundaries;
     Services planned, reformed, and integrated to improve 
needed access; and
     A strong commitment to working with people with 
developmental disabilities, refugees, and migrants to address their 
needs, strengths, and abilities.

    Dated: September 16, 2009.
David A. Hansell,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. E9-22946 Filed 9-22-09; 8:45 am]
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