[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 134 (Friday, July 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37757-37758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15168]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Best Practices for Advancing Cultural Competency, Language Access 
and Sensitivity Toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

AGENCY: Office of Minority Health, Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS).

ACTION: Request for information.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office 
of Minority Health (OMH) seeks input from Asian American and Pacific 
Islander (AAPI) communities and AAPI-serving organizations to inform 
the development of guidance describing best practices for advancing 
cultural competency, language access, and sensitivity toward Asian 
Americans and Pacific Islanders in the context of the Federal 
Government's COVID-19 response. This is NOT a solicitation for 
proposals or proposal abstracts.
    Please note: This request is for information (RFI) and is for 
planning purposes only. It is not a notice for a proposal and does not 
commit the federal government to issue a solicitation, make an award, 
or pay any costs associated with responding to this announcement. All 
submitted information shall remain with the federal government and will 
not be returned. All responses will become part of the public record 
and will not be held confidential. The federal government reserves the 
right to use information provided by respondents for purposes deemed 
necessary and legally appropriate. Respondents are advised that the 
federal government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the 
information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to 
any information submitted. Responses will not be accepted after the due 
date. After a review of the responses received, a notice of funding 
opportunity or pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be 
published.

DATES: To be assured consideration in the development of best practices 
guidance, written comments must be submitted and received at the 
address provided below, no later than 11:59 p.m. on August 17, 2021.

ADDRESSES: OMH invites the submission of the requested information 
through one of the following methods:
     Preferred method: Submit information through the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submissions.
     Email: Send comments to [email protected] with the 
subject line ``OMH RFI: AAPI Best Practices.''
    Submissions received after the deadline will not be reviewed. 
Respond concisely and in plain language. You may use any structure or 
layout that presents your information well. You may respond to some or 
all of our questions, and you can suggest other factors or relevant 
questions. You may also include links to online material or interactive 
presentations. Clearly mark any proprietary information and place it in 
its own section or file. Your response will become government property, 
and we may publish some of its non-proprietary content.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Juliet Bui, 1101 Wootton Parkway, 
Suite 100, Rockville, MD, 20852, (240) 453-6166, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background Information

    On January 26, 2021, President Biden issued a Memorandum Condemning 
and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance against Asian 
Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. The memorandum 
directed the HHS Secretary, in coordination with the COVID-19 Health 
Equity Task Force, to

[[Page 37758]]

consider issuing guidance describing best practices for advancing 
cultural competency, language access, and sensitivity toward AAPIs in 
the context of the federal government's COVID-19 response, including 
best practices set forth by public health organizations and experts for 
mitigating racially discriminatory language in describing the COVID-19 
pandemic. OMH is leading a Departmental response to the memorandum. In 
accordance with this memorandum, OMH seeks to obtain information that 
may become part of or inform guidance to be issued regarding best 
practices.

II. Definitions

    For the purposes of this RFI, the following working definitions 
apply.
    Best practices--A practice supported by evidence indicating 
effectiveness in advancing cultural competence, language access or 
sensitivity toward AAPIs in the context of the COVID-19 response, 
generally demonstrated through systematic review, research, evaluation 
or practice-based evidence. Practices could include interventions, 
programs, strategies, policies, procedures, processes or other 
activities.
    COVID-19 response--Federal activities including, but not limited 
to:

 Data collection, utilization and reporting
 Allocation of personal protective equipment (PPE), tests, 
vaccines, therapeutics and other resources
 Enforcement of anti-discrimination and HIPAA requirements 
pertaining to availability and access to COVID-19 care and treatment
 Assistance to individuals and families experiencing 
disproportionate economic or health effects from COVID-19
 Training and placement of contact tracers and other workers
 Outreach related to vaccine trust and uptake, public health 
measures/prevention, testing, or other mitigation measure

III. Questions

     What specific best practices in the areas listed below 
should be included in federal guidance? Please describe the best 
practice(s), evidence of its effectiveness, and how it has been applied 
(or could be applied) to COVID-19 response activities.

[cir] Advancing cultural competency toward AAPIs
[cir] Advancing language access for AAPIs
[cir] Advancing sensitivity toward AAPIs
[cir] Mitigating racially discriminatory language against AAPIs
[cir] Practices that apply the National Standards for Culturally and 
Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (National 
CLAS Standards).

     What sources/resources should HHS use to identify 
additional best practices in these areas?
     What considerations should be made in the content, 
audiences and format for best practices guidance products, particularly 
to support implementation?
     How should the best practices guidance be disseminated 
(e.g., mechanisms, audiences)?
     Beyond issuing best practices guidance, how can HHS 
support implementation of the best practices?

    Dated: July 12, 2021.
Juliet Bui,
Public Health Advisor, Office of Minority Health.
[FR Doc. 2021-15168 Filed 7-15-21; 8:45 am]
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