[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 11, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25938-25941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09956]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


AR16--Notice of Listening Sessions on the Department of Veterans 
Affairs Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant 
Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Announcement for Public Meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will be holding two 
public virtual listening sessions to seek input on implementing the 
requirements of section 201 of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans 
Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019. The Act mandates VA to 
establish the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant 
Program (SSG Fox SPGP) to reduce Veteran suicide through a 3-year 
community-based grant program that would provide financial

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assistance to eligible entities to provide or coordinate providing 
suicide prevention services to eligible Veterans and their families. VA 
is required to consult with certain entities related to administering 
this new grant program. VA previously published a request for 
information on April 1, 2021, seeking written comments from these 
entities to help inform VA's development of the SSG Fox SPGP and its 
implementing regulations. These public virtual listening sessions serve 
as additional means for VA to consult with these same entities.

DATES: VA will hold the first public virtual listening session on May 
25, 2021, and the second public virtual listening session on May 26, 
2021. Each meeting will start at 10:00 a.m. and conclude on or before 
5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). There will be limited space for 
participants to speak at the public virtual listening sessions. To 
accommodate as many speakers as possible, participants will have no 
more than 20 minutes to provide oral comments, testimonies and/or 
technical remarks. More concise contributions are also welcome. The 
exact time allotted will vary based on the number of participants 
registered and selected to speak.
    The sessions will be held virtually as a WebEx Event, and it will 
be open to the public to listen. Information about the meeting and 
registration to speak or listen can be obtained by emailing 
[email protected].
    Virtual attendance will be limited to 1,000 registrants. Advanced 
registration for individuals and groups is strongly encouraged (see 
registration instructions below). Individuals or groups who seek to 
speak must pre-register by May 19, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. EST. Speakers 
must virtually check-in between 9:00 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. EST to test 
their WebEx access and resolve any platform issues.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Juliana Hallows, Associate Director 
for Policy and Planning--Suicide Prevention Program, Office of Mental 
Health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP), 11MHSP, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20420, 202-266-4653. (This is not a toll-free telephone 
number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 201 of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental 
Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 (the Act), Public Law 116-171, 
enacted on October 17, 2020, requires VA to create a new community-
based suicide prevention grant program to reduce Veteran suicide. 
Section 201 authorizes the award of grants for no more than $750,000 
per grantee per fiscal year to eligible entities to provide or 
coordinate providing suicide prevention services to eligible 
individuals and their families. An eligible individual is a person at 
risk of suicide who is a Veteran as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101, an 
individual described in 38 U.S.C. 1720I(b) or an individual described 
in 38 U.S.C. 1712A(a)(1)(C)(i)-(iv).

Consultation With Interested Parties

    In administering the SSG Fox SPGP, VA is required to consult with 
certain entities to:
    1. Establish the criteria for selecting eligible entities that have 
submitted applications;
    2. Develop a framework for collecting and sharing information about 
eligible entities receiving grants; and
    3. Develop the measures and metrics eligible entities receiving 
grants will use to determine the effectiveness of programming provided 
to improve mental health status, well-being and reduce suicide risk and 
deaths by suicide.
    VA is also required to consult with entities in developing a plan 
for the design and implementing the provision of grants, including 
criteria for awarding such grants, and on non-traditional and 
innovative approaches and treatment practices. The Act requires VA to 
specifically consult with the following entities: (1) Veterans Service 
Organizations; (2) National organizations representing potential 
community partners in providing supportive services to address the 
needs of Veterans and their families, including national organizations 
that advocate for the needs of individuals with or at risk of 
behavioral health conditions as well as national organizations 
representing mayors, unions, first responders, chiefs of police and 
sheriffs, governors, a territory of the United States or representing a 
Tribal alliance; (3) National organizations representing members of the 
Armed Forces; (4) National organizations representing counties; (5) 
Organizations with which VA has a current memorandum of agreement or 
understanding related to mental health or suicide prevention; (6) State 
Departments of Veterans Affairs; (7) National organizations 
representing members of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces; (8) 
National organizations representing members of the Coast Guard; (9) 
Organizations, including institutions of higher education, with 
experience in creating measurement tools for purposes of advising the 
Secretary on the most appropriate existing measurement tool or protocol 
for VA to utilize; (10) The National Alliance on Mental Illness; (11) a 
labor organization (as such term is defined in 5 U.S.C. 7103(a)(4)); 
(12) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and PREVENTS; 
and (13) Such other organizations as the Secretary deems appropriate.
    On April 1, 2021, VA published a request for information in the 
Federal Register seeking input from these groups and entities. See 86 
FR 17268.
    These public virtual listening sessions serve as an additional 
means for VA to consult with these entities. Responses will be used to 
inform development of the SSG Fox SPGP and its implementing 
regulations. Oral comment, testimonies and technical remarks are 
encouraged to be concise and directed toward specific virtual public 
listening session topics. Please note that VA will not respond to 
comments or other questions regarding policy plans, decisions or issues 
regarding this notice.
    Comments received in response to this notice will be evaluated and, 
as appropriate, incorporated into a proposed rulemaking for grants 
under this law.

Registration

    Individual registration: VA encourages individual registrations for 
those not affiliated with or representing a group, association or 
organization.
    Group registration: Identification of the name of the group, 
association or organization should be indicated in your registration 
request. Due to virtual platform meeting limitations of WebEx and the 
statutory mandate that VA consult with certain entities, VA may select 
certain entities to speak or may limit the size of a group's 
registration to allow receipt of testimonies and/or technical remarks 
from a broad, diverse group of stakeholders. Oral comments, testimonies 
and/or technical remarks may be limited from a group, association or 
organization to no more than two (2) individuals representing the same 
group, association or organization. Efforts will be made to accommodate 
all attendees who wish to participate. However, VA will give priority 
to representatives of the stakeholders enumerated in the statute who 
request registration before May 19, 2021, 4:00 p.m. EST, and wish to 
provide oral comments, testimonies and/or technical remarks. The length 
of time allotted for participants to provide oral comments, testimonies 
and/or technical remarks during the meeting will be no more than 20 
minutes and is

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subject to the total number of participants speaking, to ensure time is 
allotted to selected registered speakers. There will be no opportunity 
for audio-visual presentations during the meeting.
    Audio (For listening purposes only): Limited to the first 200 
participants, on a first-come, first-served basis. Advanced 
registration is not required. Audio attendees will not be allowed to 
offer oral comments, testimonies and/or technical remarks as the phone 
line will be muted.
    Note: Should it be necessary to cancel the meeting due to technical 
issues or other emergencies, VA will take available measures to notify 
registered participants. VA will conduct the public meeting informally, 
and technical rules of evidence will not apply. VA will arrange for a 
written transcript of the meeting and keep the official record open for 
15 days after the meeting to allow submission of supplemental 
information. You may make arrangements for copies of the transcript 
directly with the reporter, and the transcript will also be posted in 
the docket of the rule as part of the official record when the rule is 
published.
    Each listening session will focus on specific virtual public 
listening session topics described in this notice and specified in the 
following Agenda:

Listening Session 1

Virtual Public Listening Session 1 Topics (May 25, 2021)

A. Distribution and Selection of Grants
B. Administration of Grant Program
C. Training and Technical Assistance

Agenda

09:00-10:00 Speaker Virtual Check-In
10:00-12:00 Morning Public Meeting Session
12:00-13:00 Break
13:00-17:00 Afternoon Public Meeting Session
17:00 Adjourn

Listening Session 2

Virtual Public Listening Session 2 Topics (May 26, 2021)

D. Referral for Care
E. Risk of Suicide
F. Suicide Prevention Services

Agenda

09:00-10:00 Arrival/Check-In
10:00-12:00 Morning Public Meeting Session
12:00-13:00 Break
13:00-17:00 Afternoon Public Meeting Session
17:00 Adjourn

Virtual Public Listening Session Topics

    To design and implement the SSG Fox SPGP consistent with, and 
pursuant to, section 201 of the Act, the Secretary seeks information on 
the topics and issues listed below. Commenters do not need to address 
every question and should focus on those that relate to their expertise 
or perspectives. To the extent possible, please clearly indicate which 
topics and issues you address in your response.

Virtual Public Listening Session 1: May 25, 2021

A. Distribution and Selection of Grants (Section 201(d)(h)(1) of the 
Act)
    1. What criteria should VA establish for the selection of eligible 
entities that have submitted applications under the SSG Fox SPGP?
    2. Pursuant to the Act, the Secretary shall give preference to 
eligible entities that have demonstrated the ability to provide or 
coordinate suicide prevention services. How should VA weigh evidence of 
demonstrated ability to provide or coordinate suicide prevention 
services, in giving preference to eligible entities that have 
demonstrated such ability?
B. Administration of Grant Program: Development of Measures and Metrics 
(Section 201(h)(2) of the Act)
    1. How should VA collect and share information about entities in 
receipt of grants under the SSG Fox SPGP?
    2. How can shared information about entities be used to improve the 
provision or coordination of suicide prevention services for eligible 
individuals and families?
    3. What measures and metrics should eligible entities, who are in 
receipt of grants under the SSG Fox SPGP, use to determine the 
effectiveness of the programs they are providing?
    4. What existing measurements, tool or protocols are available to 
determine program effectiveness? Which of these should be used for 
purposes of measuring effectiveness of programs provided through this 
grant program?
C. Training and Technical Assistance (Section 201(g) of the Act)
    Section 201(g) of the Act provides that the Secretary, in 
coordination with CDC, shall provide training and technical assistance 
to grant recipients. The required training and technical assistance 
will cover suicide risk identification and management, data required to 
be collected and shared with VA, the means of data collection and 
sharing, use of tools to be used to measure the effectiveness of the 
grants and the reporting requirements. The Secretary may provide the 
training and technical assistance directly or through grants or 
contracts with appropriate public or nonprofit entities.
    1. What training and technical assistance programs and tools 
currently exist for the specified subject areas described above that 
could be utilized by VA?
    2. What data collection tools and training currently exist for the 
specified subject areas that could be utilized by VA?
    3. What tools and training currently exist for measuring the 
effectiveness of grants that could be utilized by VA?
    4. What tools and training currently exist for managing reporting 
requirements that could be utilized by VA?
    5. Should VA provide training and/or technical assistance directly, 
through grants or contracts with appropriate public or nonprofit 
entities, or a combination of both?

Virtual Public Listening Session 2: May 26, 2021

D. Referral for Care (Section 201(m) of the Act)
    Section 201(m) of the Act provides that if an eligible entity in 
receipt of a grant under the SSG Fox SPGP determines that an eligible 
individual is at risk of suicide or other mental or behavioral health 
condition pursuant to a baseline mental health screening conducted 
under subsection (q)(11)(A)(ii) of the Act with respect to the 
individual, the entity shall refer the eligible individual to VA for 
additional care under subsection (n) of the Act or any other provision 
of law. Section 201(m) of the Act also provides that if an eligible 
entity in receipt of a grant under the SSG Fox SPGP determines that an 
eligible individual furnished clinical services for emergency treatment 
under subsection (q)(11)(A)(iv) of the Act requires ongoing services, 
the entity shall refer the eligible individual to VA for additional 
care under subsection (n) of the Act or any other provision of law.
    1. When an eligible entity in receipt of a grant under the SSG Fox 
SPGP determines that an eligible individual is at risk of suicide or 
other mental or behavioral health condition pursuant to a qualifying 
baseline mental health screening, by what mechanism should the eligible 
entity refer the eligible individual to VA for additional care?
    2. When an eligible entity in receipt of a grant under the SSG Fox 
SPGP determines that an eligible individual furnished clinical services 
for

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emergency treatment requires ongoing services, by what mechanism should 
the eligible entity refer the eligible individual to VA for additional 
care?
    3. How should referrals to VA for additional care be tracked and 
reported by eligible entities?
E. Risk of Suicide
    Section 201(q)(8) of the Act directs the Secretary to determine by 
regulation the degrees of risk of suicide using health, environmental 
and historical risk factors enumerated in section 201(q)(8)(A)(i)-
(iii). Section 201(q)(8) also provides that the Secretary may, through 
regulation, establish a process for determining the degrees of risk of 
suicide for use by grant recipients to focus the delivery of suicide 
prevention services.
    1. What degree(s) of exposure to, or the existence of, the health, 
environmental and historical risk factors enumerated in section 
201(q)(8)(A)(i)-(iii) should VA utilize in determining degrees of risk 
of suicide?
    2. What process should VA establish for use by grant recipients in 
determining the degrees of risk of suicide to focus the delivery of 
services using grant funds?
F. Suicide Prevention Services
    Section 201(q)(11)(A)(x) of the Act notes that suicide prevention 
services includes non-traditional and innovative approaches and 
treatment practices, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, in 
consultation with appropriate entities.
    1. What non-traditional and innovative approaches and treatment 
practices should VA determine to be appropriate to be provided under 
this grant program?

Signing Authority

    Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approved this 
document on May 5, 2021, and authorized the undersigned to sign and 
submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for 
publication electronically as an official document of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.

Jeffrey M. Martin,
Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of 
the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-09956 Filed 5-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P