[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 123 (Thursday, June 25, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38141-38142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13684]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Case Plan Requirement,
Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, (OMB #0970-0428)
AGENCY: Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Administration
for Children and Families, HHS.
ACTION: Request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: The Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF),
Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS), is requesting a 3-year extension of
the information collection--Case Plan Requirement, Title IV-E of the
Social Security Act, (OMB #0970-0428, expiration 3/31/2021). ACF is
reporting a change to the information collection--the burden estimates
in the previously-approved request were based on the number of children
in foster care as the respondent instead of the agency completing the
case plan. The burden estimates, therefore, are adjusted accordingly.
DATES: Comments due within 60 days of publication. In compliance with
the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, ACF is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects
of the information collection described above.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be
obtained and comments may be forwarded by emailing
[email protected]. Alternatively, copies can also be obtained
by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of
Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), 330 C Street SW, Washington,
DC 20201, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. All requests, emailed or
written, should be identified by the title of the information
collection.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Description: The case plan information
collection is authorized in sections 422(b)(8)(A)(ii) and 471(a)(16),
and defined in sections 475 and 475A of the Social Security Act (the
Act). Statutory requirements in the Act mandate that states,
territories, and tribes with an approved title IV-E plan develop a case
plan and case review system for each child in the foster care system
for whom the state, territory, or tribe receives title IV-E
reimbursement of foster care maintenance payments.
The case review system assures that each child has a case plan
designed to achieve placement in a safe setting that is the least
restrictive, most family-like setting available and in close proximity
to the child's parental home, consistent with the best interest and
special needs of the child. States, territories, and tribes meeting
these requirements also partly comply with title IV-B, section 422(b),
of the Act, which assures certain protections for children in foster
care.
The case plan is a written document that provides a narrative
description of the child-specific program of care. Federal regulations
at 45 CFR 1356.21(g) and sections 475 and 475A of the Act delineate the
specific information that must be addressed in the case plan. ACF does
not specify a format for the case plan nor does ACF require submission
of the document to the federal government. Case plan information is
recorded in a format developed and maintained by the state,
territorial, or tribal title IV-E agency.
Respondents: State, territorial, and tribal title IV-E agencies.
Annual Burden Estimates
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Total number of Average burden
Instrument Total number of responses per hours per Total burden Annual burden
respondents respondent response hours hours
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Case Plan......................................................... 64 26,427 4.8 8,118,374 2,706,125
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Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,706,125.
Comments: The Department specifically requests comments on (a)
whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the
proper
[[Page 38142]]
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the
information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection
of information on respondents, including through the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted
within 60 days of this publication.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 622; 42 U.S.C. 671; 42 U.S.C. 675.
Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-13684 Filed 6-24-20; 8:45 am]
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