[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 5027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2166]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Tribal Consultation Meetings

AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families' Office of Head Start 
(OHS).

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act 
of 2007, Public Law 110-134, notice is hereby given of a one-day Tribal 
Consultation Session to be held between the Department of Health and 
Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Head Start leadership and the leadership of Tribal Governments 
operating Head Start (including Early Head Start) programs. The purpose 
of this Consultation Session is to discuss ways to better meet the 
needs of American Indian and Alaska Native children and their families, 
taking into consideration funding allocations, distribution formulas, 
and other issues affecting the delivery of Head Start services in their 
geographic locations [42 U.S.C. 9835, Section 640(l)(4)].

DATES: February 15, 2012.

ADDRESSES: 2012 Office of Head Start Tribal Consultation Session will 
be held at the following location:
    Wednesday, February 15, 2012--Petoskey, Michigan--Odawa Hotel, 1444 
US 131 South, Petoskey, MI 49770.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Camille Loya, Acting Regional Program 
Manager Region XI, email [email protected] or phone (202) 401-
5964. Additional information and online meeting registration is 
available at http://www.headstartresourcecenter.org.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Health and Human Services 
(HHS) announces Office of Head Start (OHS) Tribal Consultations with 
leaders of Tribal Governments operating Head Start (including Early 
Head Start) programs for each of the nine geographic regions of Head 
Start where AI/AN programs are located. We are convening the OHS Tribal 
Consultations in conjunction with other Tribal Leader events in order 
to minimize the financial and travel burden for participants. The 
session in Petoskey, Michigan, is being held in conjunction with the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Midwest Alliance of 
Sovereign Tribes 2012 Midwest Tribal Consultation Session. We will 
schedule additional consultations around the country for later in the 
year.
    The agenda for the scheduled OHS Tribal Consultation will be 
organized around the statutory purposes of Head Start Tribal 
Consultations related to meeting the needs of American Indian and 
Alaska Native children and families, taking into consideration funding 
allocations, distribution formulas, and other issues affecting the 
delivery of Head Start services in their geographic locations. In 
addition, OHS will share actions taken and in progress to address the 
issues and concerns raised in 2011 OHS Tribal Consultations.
    Tribal leaders and designated representatives interested in 
submitting written testimony or proposing specific agenda topics for 
this Consultation Session should contact Camille Loya at 
[email protected]. Proposals must be submitted at least three 
days in advance of the session and should include a brief description 
of the topic area, along with the name and contact information of the 
suggested presenter.
    The Consultation Session will be conducted with elected or 
appointed leaders of Tribal Governments and their designated 
representatives [42 U.S.C. 9835, Section 640(l)(4)(A)]. Designees must 
have a letter from the Tribal Government authorizing them to represent 
the tribe. The letter should be submitted at least three days in 
advance of the Consultation Session to Camille Loya at (202) 205-9721 
(fax). Other representatives of tribal organizations and Native 
nonprofit organizations are welcome to attend as observers.
    A detailed report of each Consultation Session will be prepared and 
made available within 90 days of the Consultation Session to all Tribal 
Governments receiving funds for Head Start and Early Head Start 
programs. Tribes wishing to submit written testimony for the report 
should send testimony to Camille Loya at [email protected] 
either prior to the Consultation Session or within 30 days after the 
meeting.
    Oral testimony and comments from the Consultation Session will be 
summarized in the report without attribution, along with topics of 
concern and recommendations. Hotel and logistical information for all 
Consultation Sessions has been sent to tribal leaders via email and 
posted on the Head Start Resource Center Web site at http://www.headstartresourcecenter.org.

    Dated: January 24, 2012.
Yvette Sanchez Fuentes,
Director, Office of Head Start.
[FR Doc. 2012-2166 Filed 1-31-12; 8:45 am]
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