[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 203 (Tuesday, October 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66567-66568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23160]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for OMB Review; 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 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 30 days of publication. OMB must make a 
decision about the collection of information between 30 and 60 days 
after publication of this document in the Federal Register. Therefore, 
a comment is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it 
within 30 days of publication.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

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

[[Page 66568]]

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 two years.

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                                                     Number of
                                     Number of     responses per
                                    respondents     respondent    Average burden   Total burden    Annual burden
           Instrument               (total over     (total over    per response     (in hours)      (in hours)
                                      request         request       (in hours)
                                      period)         period)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.

    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.

John M. Sweet Jr.,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-23160 Filed 10-19-20; 8:45 am]
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