[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 124 (Friday, June 26, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38371-38372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13779]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Identifying and 
Addressing Human Trafficking in Child Welfare Agencies (New Collection)

AGENCY: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation; Administration 
for Children and Families; HHS.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human

[[Page 38372]]

Services (HHS) is proposing to collect data on child welfare agencies' 
efforts to identify human trafficking and subsequent service delivery. 
The goal of the study is to better understand child welfare practice in 
screening for human trafficking, and the degree to which screening is 
related to subsequent referrals for, access to, and delivery of 
specialized services for children identified as trafficking victims or 
at high-risk of trafficking.

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, 330 C Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20201, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer. All 
requests, emailed or written, should be identified by the title of the 
information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Description: ACF is proposing data 
collection as part of the study ``Identifying and Addressing Human 
Trafficking in Child Welfare Agencies,'' exploring child welfare 
practice in screening for human trafficking, and the relationship 
between screening and specialized services.
    Primary data collection includes semi-structured qualitative 
interviews with state and local human trafficking coordinators (or 
comparable staff members with greatest knowledge about human 
trafficking efforts); small group interviews with casework supervisors; 
and case narrative interviews with caseworkers.
    The interviews will be conducted by telephone (25 state agencies) 
and in-person (up to 8 local agencies or offices). Interview questions 
will be focused on how agencies select, train on, and implement 
screening for human trafficking, the details of screening protocols, 
and variations in implementation. Questions will also address the 
availability of specialized services for children identified as 
trafficking victims or at high-risk of trafficking, agency steps based 
on positive or suspected screening, and the process for initiating 
specialized services.
    Respondents: State and local human trafficking coordinators, 
casework supervisors, and caseworkers.

Annual Burden Estimates

    Data collection is expected to take place over 2 years.

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                                                    Number of
                                  Number of       responses per       Average
         Instrument              respondents       respondent       burden per     Total burden    Annual burden
                                 (total over       (total over     response  (in    (in hours)      (in hours)
                               request period)   request period)      hours)
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State Human Trafficking                     25                 1             1.5            37.5              19
 Coordinator Telephone
 Interview Guide............
Local Human Trafficking                      8                 1             1.5              12               6
 Coordinator Interview Guide
Casework Supervisor Group                   40                 1             1.5              60              30
 Interview Guide............
Caseworker Case Narrative                   48                 1               1              48              24
 Interview Guide............
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 79
    Comments: The Department specifically requests comments on (a) 
Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper 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: Section 476(a)(1-2) (42 U.S.C. 676) of the Social 
Security Act Part E-Federal Payments for Foster Care and Adoption 
Assistance.

Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-13779 Filed 6-25-20; 8:45 am]
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