[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 58 (Monday, March 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 16376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06450]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Request for Assistance 
for Child Victims of Human Trafficking

AGENCY: Office on Trafficking in Persons, Administration for Children 
and Families, HHS.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office on 
Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) is requesting a three-year extension of 
the form: Request for Assistance (RFA) for Child Victims of Human 
Trafficking (OMB #0970-0362, expiration 07/31/2021). Minor revisions 
have been made to the form, including the addition of a few fields that 
will enable the OTIP Child Protection Specialist team to better 
understand the child's specific needs, connect the child to appropriate 
services, and help ensure the safety of the child.

DATES: Comments due within 60 days of publication. In compliance with 
the requirements 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 Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000, 
as amended directs the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS), upon receipt of credible information that a 
foreign national minor may have been subjected to a severe form of 
trafficking in persons and is seeking assistance available to victims 
of trafficking, to promptly determine if the child is eligible for 
benefits and services to the same extent as refugees. HHS delegated 
this authority to the Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP).
    OTIP developed a form for case managers, attorneys, law enforcement 
officers, child welfare workers, and other representatives to report 
these trafficking concerns to HHS in accordance with the TVPA of 2000, 
as amended, and allow for OTIP to review the concerns and determine 
eligibility for benefits.
    Specifically, the form asks the requester for their identifying 
information, identifying information for the child, and information 
describing the potential trafficking concerns. The form takes into 
consideration the need to compile information regarding a child's 
experiences in a trauma-informed and child-centered manner and assists 
the requester in assessing whether the child may have been subjected to 
a severe form of trafficking in persons.
    The information provided through the completion of a Request for 
Assistance (RFA) for Child Victims of Human Trafficking form enables 
OTIP to make prompt determinations regarding a foreign national minor's 
eligibility for assistance, facilitate the required consultation 
process should the minor receive interim assistance, and enable OTIP to 
assess and address potential child protection issues. OTIP also uses 
the information provided to respond to congressional inquiries, fulfill 
federal reporting requirements, and inform policy and program 
development that is responsive to the needs of victims.
    In 2019, OTIP launched Shepherd, an online case management system, 
to process requests for assistance and certification on behalf of 
foreign national minor and adult victims of trafficking. If a requester 
encounters issues submitting a request through Shepherd, they may 
submit the RFA form to OTIP as a password protected PDF to 
[email protected].
    Respondents: Representatives of governmental entities, members of 
the community, and nongovernmental entities providing social, legal, or 
protective services to foreign national minors in the United States who 
may have been subjected to severe forms of trafficking in persons. 
Furthermore, representatives within the community with a concern that a 
foreign national minor may have been subjected to severe forms of 
trafficking in persons may also use the RFA form.

                                                                 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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Request for Assistance for Child Victims of Human Trafficking......           1,200                1                1            1,200              400
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 400.
    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: 22 U.S.C. 7105(b).

John M. Sweet, Jr,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-06450 Filed 3-26-21; 8:45 am]
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