[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 7, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35801-35802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14448]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for OMB Review; 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 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: 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    responses per      hours per       Total burden    Annual burden
                                                                      of 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.



[[Page 35802]]

    Authority:  22 U.S.C. 7105(b).

Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-14448 Filed 7-6-21; 8:45 am]
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