[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 92 (Monday, May 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22336-22337]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09733]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Request for Nominations of Candidates To Serve as Members of the 
Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF)

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within 
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the opening 
of the nomination period for individuals qualified to serve as members 
of the Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) to serve 5-year 
terms starting in 2018 or 2019.

DATES: Nomination packages must be received by 11:59 p.m. EDT on 
Monday, July 3, 2017. Complete nomination packages must be submitted by 
the deadline in order to be considered.

ADDRESSES: Nomination packages should be submitted electronically to 
[email protected] or by U.S. mail to the address provided below in FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donyelle Russ, Center for 
Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE., MS E-69, 
Atlanta, Georgia 30329. Phone (404) 498-3971, email: [email protected].
    The submission process and qualification requirements, the 
selection process, and the time commitment of Task Force members are 
described below in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background of the CPSTF

    The CPSTF was established in 1996 by the U.S. Department of Health 
and Human Services (HHS) to identify population health interventions 
that are scientifically proven to save lives, increase lifespans, and 
improve quality of life. The CPSTF produces recommendations (and 
identifies evidence gaps) to help inform the decision making of 
federal, state, and local health departments, other government 
agencies, communities, healthcare providers and organizations, 
employers, schools and research organizations.
    The CPSTF (http://www.thecommunityguide.org/about/task-force-members.html), is an independent, nonpartisan, nonfederal, unpaid panel 
of public health and prevention experts that is statutorily mandated to 
provide evidence-based findings and recommendations about community 
preventive services, programs, and policies to improve health (Public 
Health Service Act Sec.  399U(a)). Its members represent a broad range 
of research, practice, and policy expertise in community preventive 
services, public health, health promotion, and disease prevention. The 
CPSTF members are appointed by the CDC Director and serve five year 
terms, with extensions possible in order to maintain a full scope of 
expertise, complete specific work, and ensure consistency of CPSTF 
methods and recommendations. CDC provides ``ongoing administrative, 
research, and technical support for the operations of the Task Force'' 
as directed by the Public Health Service Act Sec.  399U(c).
    The CPSTF bases its recommendations on rigorous, replicable 
systematic reviews of the scientific literature, which do all of the 
following:
     Evaluate the strength and limitations of published 
scientific studies about community-based health promotion and disease 
prevention programs, services, and policies;
     Assess whether the programs, services, and policies are 
effective in promoting health and preventing disease, injury, and 
disability;
     Examine the applicability of these programs, services, and 
policies to varied populations and settings; and
     Conduct economic analyses of recommended interventions.
    These systematic reviews are conducted, with CPSTF oversight, by 
scientists and subject matter experts from the CDC in collaboration 
with a wide range of government, academic, policy, and practice-based 
partners. CPSTF findings and recommendations and the systematic reviews 
on which they are based are available at http://www.thecommunityguide.org/index.html.

Nomination Submissions

    Nomination packages must be submitted electronically, and should 
include:
    (1) The nominee's current curriculum vitae;
    (2) A brief biographic sketch of the nominee;
    (3) The nominee's contact information, including mailing address, 
email address, and telephone number; and
    (4) A brief explanation of how the nominee meets the qualification 
requirements and how he/she would contribute to the CPSTF. The 
information provided should also attest to the nominee's willingness to 
serve as a member of the CPSTF and specify availability (i.e., calendar 
year 2018 or 2019 or either).
    CDC will later ask for detailed information that will permit 
evaluation of possible significant conflicts of interest, as 
appropriate and applicable.
    To obtain diverse perspectives, CDC encourages nominations of all 
races, genders, ages and persons living with disabilities. Interested 
individuals may self-nominate. Organizations and individuals may 
nominate one or more persons qualified for membership on the CPSTF. 
Federal employees are not eligible to be CPSTF members. Individuals 
nominated prior to this round, who continue to have interest in serving 
on the CPSTF, can be re-nominated.

Qualification Requirements

    To qualify for the CPSTF and support its mission, a nominee must, 
at a minimum, demonstrate knowledge, experience, and national 
leadership in the following areas:
     The critical evaluation of research or policy, and/or in 
the methods of evidence review; and
     Research, evaluation, or implementation of community and/
or health system-based programs, policies,

[[Page 22337]]

or services to improve population health.
    Strongest consideration will be given to individuals with expertise 
and experience:
     That is applied, with practical applications for public 
health action;
     That addresses broad public health considerations, or is 
beyond one or two highly defined areas; and
     In state and/or local health departments.
    In the current round of nominations, the strongest consideration 
will also be given to people with expertise and experience in 
systematic review methods, economic analysis, injury (in particular 
substance abuse and violence prevention), aging, and rural health. The 
CPSTF will also benefit from members with expertise and experience in 
the following areas: Minority health; worksite health; military health 
and readiness; and health media, communications and marketing.
    Candidates with experience and skills in any of these areas should 
highlight them in their nomination materials.
    All nominated individuals will be considered for CPSTF membership.
    Applicants must have no substantial conflicts of interest, whether 
financial, professional, or intellectual, that would impair the 
scientific integrity of the work of the CPSTF and must be willing to 
complete regular conflict of interest disclosures.
    Applicants must have the ability to work collaboratively with a 
team of diverse professionals who support the mission of the CPSTF. 
Applicants must have adequate time to contribute substantively to the 
work products of the CPSTF.

Nominee Selection

    Appointments to the CPSTF will be made on the basis of 
qualifications as outlined above (see Qualification Requirements) and 
the current expertise needs of the CPSTF.

Time Commitment

    The CPSTF conducts three, two-day meetings each year that are open 
to the public. In addition, a significant portion of the CPSTF's work 
occurs between meetings during conference calls and via email 
discussions. Member duties include overseeing the process of 
prioritizing Task Force work, participating in the development and 
refinement of systematic review methods, serving as members of 
individual review teams, and issuing recommendations and findings to 
help inform the decision making process about policy, practice, 
research, and research funding in a wide range of U.S. settings. The 
estimated workload for CPSTF members is approximately 168 hours a year 
in addition to the three in-person meetings. The members are all 
volunteers and do not receive any compensation beyond support for 
travel to in-person meetings.

    Dated: May 10, 2017.
Lauren Hoffmann,
Acting Executive Secretary, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2017-09733 Filed 5-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-18-P