[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 187 (Thursday, September 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54202-54205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21282]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for OMB Review; Services Provided to Unaccompanied 
Children (0970-0553)

AGENCY: Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and 
Families, Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Administration for 
Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS), is inviting public comments on revisions to an approved 
information collection. The request consists of several forms that 
allow the Unaccompanied Children (UC) Program to provide services to UC 
as required by statute and ORR policy.

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: ORR received several comments on this information 
collection in response to the Federal Register Notice published on 
February 25, 2021, (86 FR 11537) and has provided responses to those 
comments in its final submission to OMB. UC Path is critical to program 
operations, and it is important that rollout of the new system not be 
delayed. Therefore, the below description details what will be included 
in the initial launch of the UC Path case management system and 
revisions based on public comments will be made after initial launch. 
ORR plans to conduct a deliberative review of commenters' suggestions 
and concerns and submit a request for revisions to this information 
collection request in January 2022. The upcoming information collection 
request will also include revisions based on feedback from UC Path 
system users (i.e., ORR grantee, contractor, and federal staff).
    A. ORR revised 11 instruments currently approved under OMB #0970-
0553 and plans to add 11 new instruments to this collection. All 
instruments will be incorporated into ORR's new case management system, 
UC Path. In addition, ORR plans to remove one currently approved 
instrument from this collection. Finally, ORR plans to replace the term 
``unaccompanied alien child (UAC)'' with ``unaccompanied children 
(UC)'' throughout the instruments in this collection.
    1. Sponsor Assessment (Form S-5): This instrument is used by case 
managers to document their assessment of the suitability of a potential 
sponsor to provide for the safety and well-being of a UC. ORR 
reformatted and reorganized the instrument and reworded some of the 
fields. In addition, ORR made the following revisions:
    [cir] In the ``Sponsor Basic Information'' section, added the field 
``Relationship to UC.''
    [cir] In the ``Family Relationships'' section, added the field 
``Home Address'' and removed the field ``Are you married to your 
partner?''
    [cir] In the ``Household Composition'' section, removed the field 
``Valid Identity Document Received.''
    [cir] In the ``Previous Sponsorship'' section, removed the field 
``How many children did you sponsor?'' and added the following fields: 
``What contact do you still have with the child?,'' What is the child's 
current legal status?,'' and ``HHM/AACG Name.''
    [cir] In the ``Proof of Identity'' section, removed the following 
fields: ``Sponsor's identity is verified,'' ``Household member's 
identity is verified,'' ``Adult Caregiver's identity is verified,'' and 
``Additional information on identity.''
    [cir] In the ``Proof of Immigration Status or U.S. Citizenship'' 
section, added the following fields: ``Proof of Immigration Document 
Type,'' ``Expiration Date,'' ``Date Documents Issued,'' and ``Verified 
by Government Agency or Consulate.''
    [cir] In the ``Proof of Address'' section, added the field 
``Alternate Phone'' and removed the following fields: ``Work Phone,'' 
``Fax,'' ``Describe the area/neighborhood where you reside,'' ``Do you 
receive your mail at a different address?,'' ``If yes, what is the 
address that you use to receive mail?,'' and ``Resided at Address 
Within Past 5 Years.''
    [cir] In the ``Proof of Financial Stability'' section, added the 
following fields: ``List Proof of Financial Stability documents 
provided,'' ``Proof of Financial Stability Document Type,'' and ``Date 
Document Issued.''
    [cir] In the ``Care Plan'' section, added the fields ``Are you 
aware of any mental health conditions of the UC which will need 
treatment?'' and ``Explain how you

[[Page 54203]]

plan to supervise and ensure the safety of the UC'' and removed eight 
other fields.
    [cir] Removed the ``Safety Plan'' section.
    [cir] In the ``Supervision Plan'' section, removed the fields 
``SSN/A No.'' and ``Explain how you plan to supervise the minor.''
    [cir] In the ``Alternate Adult Caregiver Plan'' section, removed 
the field ``SSN/A No.''
    [cir] In the ``Self-Disclosed Criminal History'' section, added the 
fields ``Conviction'' and ``List any child abuse and neglect history'' 
and removed six other fields.
    [cir] In the ``Sponsor's Knowledge of UC Journey and Apprehension'' 
section, added the field ``If there is a debt still owed for the UC's 
journey, please explain.''
    [cir] In the ``Human Trafficking'' section, added the fields ``If 
you have travelled back to your country of origin since your arrival in 
the U.S., please explain.'' and ``Were you ever restricted from 
quitting or leaving the work?'' and removed 16 other fields.
    2. Home Study Assessment (formerly titled Home Study Report) (Form 
S-6): This instrument is used by home study providers to document their 
assessment of a potential sponsor after performing a home site visit. 
ORR reformatted and reorganized the instrument and reworded some of the 
fields. In addition, ORR made the following revisions:
    [cir] In the ``UC Background'' section, removed the question 
related to the UC's understanding of certain U.S. laws. Questions about 
how sponsor disciplines children and whether UC would feel safe living 
with sponsor were replaced with a single question asking if the UC has 
any concerns about living with sponsor.
    [cir] In the ``Sponsor's Motivation and Relationship to UC'' 
section, replaced the question on the location of the sponsor's family 
members in the U.S. and their relationship to the UC with a question 
asking if the sponsor has a family support system in the U.S. and 
whether they can provide assistance.
    [cir] In the ``Household Members'' section, removed fields related 
to background checks because this information is documented by case 
managers elsewhere in UC Path.
    [cir] In the ``Summary'' section, removed the risk factors and 
protective factors table.
    3. Adult Contact Profile (formerly titled New Sponsor) (Form S-7): 
The purpose of this instrument has been expanded; it now acts as a hub 
where users can access all records related to a sponsor, adult 
household member, or alternate adult caregiver. The average burden 
minutes per response was increased from 20 to 45 minutes. In addition, 
ORR made the following revisions:
    [cir] Replaced the ``UC Basic Information'' section with the 
``Associated UCs'' table.
    [cir] Removed the following fields: ``SSN,'' ``Country of 
Residency,'' ``Query ID,'' ``Does anyone in the Household have a 
Serious Contagious Disease?,'' and ``Do any of the Occupants Have 
Criminal Convictions or Charges, Other Than Minor Traffic Violations?''
    [cir] Added the following fields: ``AKA,'' ``Current Age,'' 
``Primary Language Spoken,'' ``Other Spoken Languages,'' ``Additional 
Cultural Information,'' and ``Legacy Address.''
    [cir] Replaced the fields related to address and address flags with 
the ``Address History'' section.
    [cir] Moved the information from the ``Affidavits of Support'' 
table to the Sponsor Assessment.
    4. Initial Intakes Assessment (Form S-8): This instrument is used 
by care providers to screen UC for trafficking or other safety 
concerns, special needs, danger to self and others, medical conditions, 
and mental health concerns. ORR reformatted and reorganized the 
instrument and reworded some of the fields. The average burden minutes 
per response was increased from 15 to 20 minutes. In addition, ORR made 
the following revisions:
    [cir] In the ``Information'' section, removed the field ``Date of 
departure from home country'' and added the following fields: ``City of 
Birth,'' ``Neighborhood of Birth,'' ``Religious Affiliation,'' ``Other 
Languages Spoken,'' ``Who did UC live with before placement?''
    [cir] Replaced the ``Family Information'' section with the ``Family 
and Friends'' and ``Adult Contact Relationships'' sections.
    [cir] Added new ``Significant Information'' section, containing six 
fields.
    [cir] In the ``Medical'' section, replaced or reworded most fields 
and expanded the fields related to allergies into multiple fields.
    [cir] Added a new ``Medication Overview'' section, containing three 
fields.
    [cir] Revised the available fields in the ``Observable or Reported 
Medical Concerns'' section.
    [cir] Reduced the number of fields in the ``Mental Health'' section 
to three.
    5. Assessment for Risk (Form S-9): This instrument is an assessment 
administered by care providers to reduce the risk that a child or youth 
is sexually abused or abuses someone else while in ORR custody. ORR 
reformatted and reorganized the instrument and reworded some of the 
fields. In addition, ORR added several fields related to the UC's 
sexual history and two fields on mental and physical disability and 
illness. The average burden minutes per response was increased from 30 
to 45 minutes.
    6. UC Assessment (Form S-11): This instrument is an in-depth 
assessment used by care providers to document information about the UC 
that is used to inform provision of services (e.g., case management, 
legal, education, medical, mental health, home studies), screen for 
trafficking or other safety concerns, and identify special needs. ORR 
reformatted and reorganized the instrument and reworded some of the 
fields. The average burden minutes per response was increased from 45 
minutes to 2 hours. In addition, ORR made the following revisions:
    [cir] Added a new ``Age-determination or Identity Concern'' 
section, containing 11 fields.
    [cir] In the ``Additional UC Information'' section, added the 
following fields: ``City of Birth,'' ``Who did UC live with before 
placement?,'' ``Neighborhood of Birth,'' and ``Other additional 
information.''
    [cir] In the ``Family and Friends'' section, removed ``Has family 
in Country of Origin?,'' ``Has Family in the US?'' fields; replaced 
``Family in Country of Origin'' and ``Family and Friends in the U.S.'' 
tables with a ``Family and Friends'' table; and added ``Separated from 
Parents/Legal Guardian?'' and ``Migrant Protection Protocol case?'' 
fields.
    [cir] Removed the ``Medical History'' and ``Medication Table'' from 
the ``Medical'' section and added the field ``Health care needs are 
being addressed?''
    [cir] Moved fields in the ``Legal'' section to the UC Profile and 
UC Legal Information instruments found in other ORR information 
collections.
    [cir] Removed all fields from the ``Criminal'' section and replaced 
them with two new fields and an area to provide details on any criminal 
charges (nine fields).
    [cir] Removed the ``Mental Health/Behavior'' section because that 
information is available in the mental health area of UC Path.
    [cir] In the ``Sponsor Information'' section, replaced the table 
with the ``Adult Contact Relationship'' table and added a section that 
displays ``Previous Sponsor Applications.''

[[Page 54204]]

    [cir] Added a ``Documents'' section in which documents directly 
related to case management may be uploaded.
    [cir] In the ``Certification'' section, created separate areas for 
both the clinician and case manager to certify that all required 
sections of the instruments are complete and accurate and added 
``Translator Name'' and ``Language'' fields.
    7. UC Case Review (Form S-12): This instrument is used by care 
providers to document new information obtained after completion of the 
UC Assessment. ORR reformatted and reorganized the instrument and 
reworded some of the fields. The average burden minutes per response 
was increased from 30 minutes to 2 hours. In addition, ORR made the 
following revisions:
    [cir] Added a new ``Age-determination or Identity Concern'' 
section, containing 11 fields.
    [cir] Created a new ``Additional UC Information'' section and added 
the following fields: ``UC Case Review Type,'' ``Who did UC live with 
before placement?,'' ``City of Birth,'' ``Religious Affiliation,'' 
``Neighborhood of Birth,'' ``Separated from Parents/Legal Guardian?,'' 
and ``Parent Separation Case Updates.''
    [cir] In the ``Medical'' section, added a new ``Health care needs 
are being addressed?'' field and a table of ``Existing Mental Health 
Diagnoses'' that is auto-populated from information entered into the 
mental health area of UC Path.
    [cir] Removed the ``Medical History'' and ``Medication Table'' from 
the ``Medical'' section.
    [cir] In the ``Mental Health'' section, removed the fields under 
``Psychological Evaluation'' and added the following fields: ``Date 
Completed,'' ``Date of Evaluation,'' and ``Evaluator.''
    [cir] Added a new ``Case Plan'' section, containing seven fields.
    [cir] Moved fields in the ``Legal'' section to the UC Profile and 
UC Legal Information instruments found in other ORR information 
collections.
    [cir] In the ``Sponsor Information'' section, replaced the table 
with the ``Adult Contact Relationships'' table and added a section that 
displays ``Previous Sponsor Applications.''
    [cir] Added a new ``Criminal'' section (two fields) and an area to 
provide details on any criminal charges (nine fields).
    [cir] Added a ``Documents'' section in which documents directly 
related to case management may be uploaded.
    [cir] Removed the ``Recommendations'' and ``Care Plan'' sections.
    [cir] In the ``Certification'' section, created separate areas for 
both the clinician and case manager to certify that all required 
sections of the instruments are complete and accurate and added 
``Translator Name'' and ``Language'' fields.
    8. Individual Service Plan (Form S-13): This instrument is used by 
care providers to document all services provided to the UC. ORR revised 
the formatting and reworded some of the fields. In addition, ORR added 
the following fields: ``Contract Number,'' ``Individual Service Plan,'' 
``Entity Name,'' ``Notes,'' ``List Team Members who Contributed to 
ISP,'' ``Translator Name,'' and ``Language.'' In addition, ORR added an 
area where documents directly related to the service plan may be 
uploaded. The average burden minutes per response was increased from 15 
to 20 minutes.
    9. Long Term Foster Care Travel Request (Form S-14): This 
instrument is used by long term foster care providers to request ORR 
approval for a UC to travel with their foster family outside of the 
local community. ORR revised the formatting and reworded some of the 
fields. In addition, ORR added the following fields: ``Status,'' 
``Transportation Notes,'' ``Policy #,'' ``Remand for Further 
Information,'' and ``ORR Decision.'' The average burden minutes per 
response was increased from 15 to 20 minutes.
    10. Child Advocate Recommendation and Appointment (Form S-15): This 
instrument is used by care providers and other stakeholders to 
recommend appointment of a child advocate for a UC. The child advocate 
contractor then enters whether a child advocate is available and ORR 
approves the appointment. ORR reformatted and reorganized the 
instrument and reworded some of the fields. No changes were made to the 
content.
    11. 30 Day Restrictive Placement Case Review (formerly titled 
Summary Notes: Thirty Day Restrictive Placement Case Review) (Form S-
16): This instrument is used by care providers to document their 30-day 
review for UC placed in a restrictive setting. ORR revised the 
formatting and added the following fields: ``Out-of-Network RTC 
Provider,'' ``Case Manager Name,'' ``Case Coordinator Name,'' ``FFS 
Name,'' ``Name and Title,'' and ``Date.''
    12. Admission (Form S-18): This instrument is used by ORR grantee 
case managers and clinicians to document the UC's initial needs, 
functioning, and history. Other instruments are also accessible from 
within the Admission instrument, such as transfer requests, travel 
requests, and various child assessments. This is a new instrument that 
ORR plans to add to this collection.
    13. Home Study/Post-Release Service (HS/PRS) Referral (Form S-19): 
This instrument is used by ORR grantee case managers to refer a UC for 
a home study and/or post-release services. This is a new instrument 
that ORR plans to add to this collection.
    14. UC Authorized/Restricted Call List and Call Log (Form S-20): 
This instrument is used by case managers to create a list of authorized 
and restricted contacts to ensure safe communication for the UC and 
document the details of phone calls made by a UC. This is a new 
instrument that ORR plans to add to this collection.
    15. Home Study/Post-Release Service (HS/PRS) Primary Provider 
Entity (Form S-21A): This instrument is used by grantee HS/PRS 
providers to add identifying information about their organization into 
the UC Path system. Each organization only needs to be created once. 
Field values may be updated as often as needed. This is a new 
instrument that ORR plans to add to this collection.
    16. Home Study/Post-Release Service (HS/PRS) Subcontractor Entity 
(Form S-21B): Entity record. Each organization only needs to be created 
once. Field values may be updated as often as needed. This is a new 
instrument that ORR plans to add to this collection.
    17. Home Study/Post-Release Service (HS/PRS) Primary Provider 
Profile (Form S-21C): This instrument is used by HS/PRS providers to 
add identifying information about caseworkers employed by their 
organization. Each organization only needs to be created once. Field 
values may be updated as often as needed. This is a new instrument that 
ORR plans to add to this collection.
    18. Home Study/Post-Release Service (HS/PRS) Subcontractor Profile 
(Form S-21D): This instrument is used by HS/PRS providers to add 
identifying information about caseworkers employed their sub-grantee 
organizations. Each organization only needs to be created once. Field 
values may be updated as often as needed. This is a new instrument that 
ORR plans to add to this collection.
    19. Post-Release Service (PRS) Event (Form S-22): This instrument 
is used by post-release service caseworkers to document referrals made 
and services provided at critical junctures of service provision, such 
as 14-day, 6-month, 12-month, and closure. The instrument contains 
auto-populated sponsor information and areas to document information 
about the HS/PRS provider, reason for referral, the minor's placement 
and safety status, and services areas addressed. This is a new

[[Page 54205]]

instrument that ORR plans to add to this collection.
    20. Case Manager Call Log and Case Notes (Form S-23): This 
instrument is used by case managers to log any contact (in-person, 
phone, video, social media, or mail) they make in relation to the UC's 
case, including any related notes. This is a new instrument that ORR 
plans to add to this collection.
    21. Sponsor Application (Form S-24): This instrument is used by 
care providers to document certain information and milestones in the 
sponsor application process. This is a new instrument that ORR plans to 
add to this collection. After publication of the 60-day Federal 
Register Notice, ORR reorganized the ``Background Checks'' data entry 
section of this instrument and removed the following fields: ``Date ARI 
Form Uploaded,'' ``Days from Offered to Accepted,'' and ``Days from 
Accepted to Occurred.''
    22. Ohio Youth Assessment System (OYAS) Reentry Tool: No changes 
were made to this instrument.
    23. UC Case Status: ORR is discontinuing this instrument.
    B. ORR plans to remove the term ``alien'' from the title of this 
information collection and revise it to read ``Services Provided to 
Unaccompanied Children.''
    C. ORR intends to conduct a phased rollout of the UC Path system. 
Beginning fall 2021, ORR plans to roll the UC Path system out to a 
small group of care provider programs. ORR will gradually expand use of 
the system to other programs and expects all care provider programs 
will be using UC Path by spring 2022. To ensure continuity of 
operations, care provider programs will need the ability to continue 
using instruments in the UC Portal system and in other formats (e.g., 
PDF, Excel) while they are waiting to transition over to the UC Path 
system. Therefore, ORR proposes continued use of the following 
instruments, concurrently with the UC Path versions of the same 
instruments, until all care provider programs are using UC Path.

    1. Sponsor Assessment (Form S-5)
    2. Home Study Report (Form S-6)
    3. New Sponsor (Form S-7)
    4. Initial Intakes Assessment (Form S-8)
    5. Assessment for Risk (Form S-9)
    6. UC Assessment (Form S-11)
    7. UC Case Review (Form S-12)
    8. Individual Service Plan (Form S-13)
    9. Long Term Foster Care Travel Request (Form S-14)

    Respondents: ORR grantee and contractor staff, UC, sponsors, and 
child advocates.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
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                                                                  Annual  number      Average
                                                  Annual  number   of  responses      burden       Annual total
         Information  collection  title                 of              per         minutes per    burden hours
                                                    respondents     respondent       response
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sponsor Assessment (Form S-5)...................             216             265              60          57,240
Home Study Assessment (Form S-6)................              60              81              45           3,645
Adult Contact Profile (Form S-7)................             216            1324              45         214,488
Initial Intakes Assessment (Form S-8)...........             216             278              20          20,016
Assessment for Risk (Form S-9)..................             216             556              45          90,072
UC Assessment (Form S-11).......................             216             278             120         120,096
UC Case Review (Form S-12)......................             216             556             120         240,192
Individual Service Plan (Form S-13).............             216             694              20          49,968
Long Term Foster Care Travel Request (Form S-14)              30               8              20              80
Child Advocate Recommendation and Appointment                216               5              15             270
 (Form S-15)....................................
Thirty Day Restrictive Placement Case Review                  15              67              45             754
 (Form S-16)....................................
Admission (Form S-18)...........................             216             278              20          20,016
Home Study/Post-Release Service (HS/PRS)                     216              68              20           4,896
 Referral (Form S-19)...........................
UC Authorized/Restricted Call List and Call Log              216            6981               5         125,658
 (Form S-20)....................................
Home Study/Post-Release Service (HS/PRS) Primary               9               1               5               1
 Provider Entity (Form S-21A)...................
Home Study/Post-Release Service (HS/PRS)                      51               1               5               4
 Subcontractor Entity (Form S-21B)..............
Home Study/Post-Release Service (HS/PRS) Primary               9              13               5              10
 Provider Profile (Form S-21C)..................
Home Study/Post-Release Service (HS/PRS)                      51              13               5              55
 Subcontractor Profile (Form S-21D).............
Post-Release Service (PRS) Event (Form S-22)....              60             968              60          58,080
Case Manager Call Log and Case Notes (Form S-23)             216            8426               5         151,668
Sponsor Application (Form S-24).................             216             265              60          57,240
Ohio Youth Assessment System (OYAS) Reentry Tool              15             101              75           1,894
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours Total:........  ..............  ..............  ..............       1,216,343
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    Authority: 6 U.S.C. 279; 8 U.S.C. 1232; Flores v. Reno Settlement 
Agreement, No. CV85-4544-RJK (C.D. Cal. 1996).

Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-21282 Filed 9-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-45-P