[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23816-23818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10616]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Call for Nominations for the Non-Federal Members of the 
Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee 
(ISMICC)

AGENCY: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in accordance with 
the 21st Century Cures Act, is seeking nominations for the non-federal 
members of the ISMICC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Foote, Substance Abuse and 
Mental Health Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, 14E53C, 
Rockville, MD 20857; telephone: 240-276-1279; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background and Authority

    The ISMICC is established in accordance with section 6031 of the 
21st Century Cures Act, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. App., as amended, to report to the Secretary, Congress, and any 
other relevant federal department or agency on advances in serious 
mental illness (SMI) and serious emotional disturbance (SED), research 
related to the prevention of, diagnosis of, intervention in, and 
treatment and recovery of SMI, SED, and advances in access to services 
and support for adults with SMI or children with SED. In addition, the 
ISMICC will evaluate the effect that federal programs related to 
serious mental illness have on public health, including public health 
outcomes such as (A) rates of suicide, suicide attempts, incidence and 
prevalence of SMIs, SEDs, and substance use disorders, overdose, 
overdose deaths, emergency hospitalizations, emergency room boarding, 
preventable emergency room visits, interaction with the criminal 
justice system, homelessness, and unemployment; (B) increased rates of 
employment and enrollment in educational and vocational programs; (C) 
quality of mental and substance use disorders treatment services; or 
(D) any other criteria as may be determined by the Secretary. Finally, 
the ISMICC will make specific recommendations for actions that agencies 
can take to better coordinate the administration of mental health 
services for adults with SMI or children with SED. Not later than 1 
(one) year after the date of enactment of the 21st Century Cures Act, 
and 5 (five) years after such date of enactment, the ISMICC shall 
submit a report to Congress and any other relevant federal department 
or agency.

II. Committee Composition

    The ISMICC will consist of federal members listed below or their 
designees and non-federal public members.
    Federal Membership: The ISMICC will be composed of the following 
federal members or their designees:
     The Secretary of Health and Human Services;
     The Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance 
Use;
     The Attorney General;
     The Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs;
     The Secretary of the Department of Defense;
     The Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development;
     The Secretary of the Department of Education;
     The Secretary of the Department of Labor;
     The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services; and
     The Commissioner of the Social Security Administration.
    In accordance with the Committee's authorizing statute, the 
Committee shall also ``include not less than 14 non-Federal public 
members appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.'' 21st 
Century Cures Act, section 6031(e)(2).
    All non-Federal public members are appointed as Special Government 
Employees for their service on the ISMICC, of which:
    (A) At least 2 members shall be an individual who has received 
treatment for a diagnosis of a serious mental illness;
    (B) At least 1 member shall be a parent or legal guardian of an 
adult with a history of a serious mental illness or a child with a 
history of a serious emotional disturbance;
    (C) At least 1 member shall be a representative of a leading 
research, advocacy, or service organization for adults with a serious 
mental illness;

[[Page 23817]]

    (D) At least 2 members shall be--
    (i) A licensed psychiatrist with experience in treating serious 
mental illnesses;
    (ii) A licensed psychologist with experience in treating serious 
mental illnesses or serious emotional disturbances;
    (iii) A licensed clinical social worker with experience treating 
serious mental illnesses or serious emotional disturbances; or
    (iv) A licensed psychiatric nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician 
assistant with experience in treating serious mental illnesses or 
serious emotional disturbances;
    (E) At least 1 member shall be a licensed mental health 
professional with a specialty in treating children and adolescents with 
a serious emotional disturbance;
    (F) At least 1 member shall be a mental health professional who has 
research or clinical mental health experience in working with 
minorities;
    (G) At least 1 member shall be a mental health professional who has 
research or clinical mental health experience in working with medically 
underserved populations;
    (H) At least 1 member shall be a State certified mental health peer 
support specialist;
    (I) At least 1 member shall be a judge with experience in 
adjudicating cases related to criminal justice or serious mental 
illness;
    (J) At least 1 member shall be a law enforcement officer or 
corrections officer with extensive experience in interfacing with 
adults with a serious mental illness, children with a serious emotional 
disturbance, or individuals in a mental health crisis; and
    (K) At least 1 member shall have experience providing services for 
homeless individuals and working with adults with a serious mental 
illness, children with a serious emotional disturbance, or individuals 
in a mental health crisis.
    The Department strives to ensure that the membership of HHS federal 
advisory committees is fairly balanced in terms of points of view 
represented and the committee's function. Every effort is made to 
ensure that the views of women, all ethnic and racial groups, sexual 
and gender minorities and people with disabilities are represented on 
HHS Federal advisory committees and, therefore, the Department 
encourages nominations of qualified candidates from these groups. The 
Department also encourages geographic diversity in the composition of 
the Committee. Appointment to the ISMICC shall be made without 
discrimination on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual 
orientation, gender identity, disability, and cultural, religious, or 
socioeconomic status. Requests for reasonable accommodation to enable 
participation on the Committee should be indicated in the nomination 
submission.

III. Who is eligible?

    Nominations for non-federal public members are encouraged, and 
self-nominations are permitted as well. Only one nomination per 
individual is required. Multiple nominations for the same individual 
will not increase likelihood of selection. The Secretary may select 
non-federal public members from the pool of submitted nominations or 
other sources as needed to meet statutory requirements and to form a 
balanced committee that represents the diversity within the population 
of individuals with SMI or SED. Those eligible for nomination include 
representatives of leading major SMI or SED research, advocacy and 
service organizations, parents or guardians of individuals with a 
serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbance, individuals 
who have received treatment for a diagnosis of a serious mental 
illness, a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist, clinical social worker, 
marriage and family therapist, licensed professional counselor, 
psychiatric nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant with 
experience in treating SMI or SED, other licensed mental health 
professionals, criminal justice professionals, researchers and other 
individuals with professional or personal experience with a SMI or SED. 
Those eligible for nomination also include mental health professionals 
with research or clinical experience with minorities or underserved 
populations, certified peer support specialists, judges with experience 
related to criminal justice or SMI, law enforcement or corrections 
officers with experience in SMI and SED, and individuals with 
experience providing services for homeless individuals, adults with SMI 
and children with SED. In accordance with White House Office of 
Management and Budget guidelines (FR Doc. 2014-19140), federally-
registered lobbyists are not eligible.

IV. Responsibilities of Appointed Non-Federal Public Members

    As specified in the Committee's authorizing statute (section 6031 
of the 21st Century Cures Act), the Committee, not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and 5 years after such date of 
enactment, shall submit to Congress and any other relevant Federal 
department or agency a report including: (1) A summary of advances in 
serious mental illness and serious emotional disturbance research 
related to the prevention of, diagnosis of, intervention in, and 
treatment and recovery of serious mental illnesses, serious emotional 
disturbances, and advances in access to services and support for adults 
with a serious mental illness or children with a serious emotional 
disturbance; (2) an evaluation of the effect that Federal programs 
related to serious mental illness have on public health, including 
public health outcomes such as (A) rates of suicide, suicide attempts, 
incidence and prevalence of serious mental illnesses, serious emotional 
disturbances, and substance use disorders, overdose, overdose deaths, 
emergency hospitalizations, emergency room boarding, preventable 
emergency room visits, interaction with the criminal justice system, 
homelessness, and unemployment; (B) increased rates of employment and 
enrollment in educational and vocational programs; (C) quality of 
mental and substance use disorders treatment services; or (D) any other 
criteria as may be determined by the Secretary; and; (3) specific 
recommendations for actions that agencies can take to better coordinate 
the administration of mental health services for adults with a serious 
mental illness or children with a serious emotional disturbance.

V. Member Terms

    A member of the Committee appointed under subsection (e)(2), non-
federal, shall serve for a term of 3 years, and may be reappointed for 
1 or more additional 3-year terms. Any member appointed to fill a 
vacancy for an unexpired term shall be appointed for the remainder of 
such term. A member may serve after the expiration of the member's term 
until a successor has been appointed.

VI. Meetings

    The ISMICC shall meet not fewer than 2 times each year.

VII. Submission Instructions and Deadline

    Nominations should include: A cover letter and a current curriculum 
vitae or resume. Cover letters should be no longer than 3 pages, 
indicate which slot/slots the individual is applying for, describe 
relevant personal and professional experience with serious mental 
illness or serious emotional disturbance, and indicate their contact 
information. Up to 2 letters of support are permitted in addition to 
the

[[Page 23818]]

nomination, with a page limit of 3 pages per letter. Please do not 
include other materials unless requested.
    Nominations are due June 2, 2017, by midnight eastern daylight 
time, and may be sent to Pamela Foote, Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, 14E53C, Rockville, 
MD 20857; email: [email protected] by standard or express 
mail, or via email:

Carlos Castillo,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-10616 Filed 5-23-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P