[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 4, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19964-19965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06929]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Solicitation of Nominations for Organizations To Serve as Non-
Voting Liaison Representatives to the Advisory Committee on Women's 
Services (ACWS) Subcommittee on Maternal Mental Health

AGENCY: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 
(SAMHSA), Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 
(SAMHSA) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is 
soliciting nominations from qualified organizations to be considered 
for non-voting liaison representative positions on a subcommittee of 
the Advisory Committee for Women's Services (ACWS) focused on maternal 
mental health. The ACWS subcommittee will consist of 5 non-voting 
liaison representatives who are nominated by their organizations to 
serve as the representatives of their organizations and selected by the 
ACWS DFO. The ACWS's role is to advise the Associate Administrator for 
Women's Services (AAWS) on appropriate activities to be undertaken by 
the agencies of the Administration with respect to women's substance 
use and mental health services, including services which require a 
multidisciplinary approach. These may include discussion on the 
development of policies and programs regarding women's issues; plans to 
standardize and enhance the collection of data on women's health, and 
other emerging issues concerning women's substance use and mental 
health services. In particular, this subcommittee will focus on 
maternal mental health issues (which includes substance use) including 
prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, equity and community-based 
interventions.

DATES: Nominations must be received no later than 5 p.m. ET on April 
10, 2023, at the address listed below.

ADDRESSES: All nominations should be sent to Valerie Kolick, Designated 
Federal Officer, Advisory Committee on Women's Services, SAMHSA, 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 5600 Fishers 
Ln., Rockville, MD 20857. Nomination materials, including attachments, 
may be submitted electronically to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Valerie Kolick, Designated Federal 
Officer, Advisory Committee on Women's Services, SAMHSA, Substance 
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Ln., 
Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone number (240) 276-1738. Inquiries can be 
sent to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These five non-voting liaison representative 
positions will be occupied by individuals who are nominated by their 
organizations to serve as representatives of organizations concerned 
with maternal mental health. Organizations will be designated to occupy 
the positions for a two-year term to commence during the 2023 calendar 
year. Nominations of qualified organizations are being sought for these 
five non-voting liaison representative positions. The organizations 
chosen for representation on ACWS subcommittee will be selected by the 
Designated Federal Officer (DFO) or designee during the 2023 calendar 
year. Details of nomination requirements are provided below.
    The purpose of the ACWS is to advise the Associate Administrator 
for Women's Services (AAWS) on appropriate activities to be undertaken 
by the agencies of the Administration with respect to women's substance 
abuse and mental health services, including services which require a 
multidisciplinary approach. These may include discussion on the 
development of policies and programs regarding women's issues; plans to 
standardize and enhance the collection of data on women's health, and 
other emerging issues concerning women's substance abuse and mental 
health services.
    Management and support services for Committee activities are 
provided by staff from the HHS SAMHSA. The ACWS charter is available at 
https://www.samhsa.gov/about-us/advisory-councils/acws/committee-charter. ACWS meetings are held not less than two times per year. The 
ACWS shall consist of not more than ten (10) members to be appointed by 
the Assistant Secretary of SAMHSA, a majority of whom shall be women, 
who are not officers or employees of the Federal Government. Members 
shall be from among physicians, practitioners, treatment providers, and 
other health professionals, whose clinical practice, specialization, or 
professional expertise includes a significant focus on women's 
substance use and mental health conditions.
    Subcommittees of the ACWS may be established with the approval of 
the Assistant Secretary or the AAWS. The advice/recommendations of a 
subcommittee must be deliberated by the parent committee. A 
subcommittee may not provide advice or work products directly to the 
agency. The Department Committee Management Officer will be notified 
upon the establishment of each subcommittee and will be provided 
information on its name, membership, function, and estimated frequency 
of meetings.

Nominations

    SAMHSA is requesting nominations of organizations to fill five non-
voting liaison representative positions for the ACWS Subcommittee on 
maternal mental health. The organizations for representation will be 
selected by the DFO or designee during the 2023 calendar year.
    Selection of organizations that will serve as non-voting liaison 
representatives will be based on the organization's qualifications to 
contribute to the accomplishment of the ACWS mission, as described in 
the Committee charter. In selecting organizations to be considered for 
these positions, SAMHSA will give close attention to equitable 
geographic distribution and give priority to U.S.-chartered 501(c)(3) 
organizations that operate within the United States and have membership 
with demonstrated expertise in maternal mental health and

[[Page 19965]]

related research, clinical services, or advocacy and outreach on issues 
concerning maternal mental health.
    Organizations that currently have non-voting liaison 
representatives serving on ACWS are also eligible for nomination or to 
nominate themselves for consideration.
    The individual designated by the selected organization to serve as 
the official liaison representative will perform the associated duties 
without compensation, and will not receive per diem or reimbursement 
for travel expenses. The organizations that are selected will cover 
expenses for their designated representative to attend, at a minimum, 
one in-person ACWS meeting per year during the designated term of 
appointment.
    To qualify for consideration of selection to the Committee, an 
organization should submit the following items:
    (1) A statement of the organization's history, mission, and focus, 
including information that demonstrates the organization's experience 
and expertise in maternal mental health and related research, clinical 
services, or advocacy and outreach on issues of maternal mental health, 
as well as expert knowledge of the broad issues and topics pertinent to 
maternal mental health. This information should demonstrate the 
organization's proven ability to work and communicate with the maternal 
mental health patient and advocacy community, and other public/private 
organizations concerned with maternal mental health, including public 
health agencies at the federal, state, and local levels.
    (2) Two to four letters of recommendation that clearly state why 
the organization is qualified to serve on the ACWS subcommittee on 
maternal mental health in a non-voting liaison representative position. 
These letters should be from individuals who are not part of the 
organization.
    (3) A statement that the organization is willing to serve as a non-
voting liaison representative of the Sub-Committee and will cover 
expenses for their representative to attend in-person, at a minimum, 
one ACWS meeting per year in Rockville, MD during the designated term 
of appointment.
    (4) A current financial disclosure statement (or annual report) 
demonstrating the organization's ability to cover expenses for its 
selected representative to attend, at a minimum, one ACWS subcommittee 
meeting per year in Rockville, MD, during the term of appointment.
    Submitted nominations must include these critical elements in order 
for the organization to be considered for one of the liaison 
representative positions.
    Nomination materials should be typewritten, using a 12-point font 
and double-spaced. All nomination materials should be submitted 
(postmarked or received) by April 12, 2023.
    Electronic submissions: Nomination materials, including 
attachments, may be submitted electronically to 
[email protected]. Telephone and facsimile submissions 
cannot be accepted.
    Regular, Express or Overnight Mail: Written documents may be 
submitted to the following addressee only: Valerie Kolick, Designated 
Federal Officer, ACWS, SAMHSA, Department of Health and Human Services, 
200 Independence Avenue SW, Room 728F.3, Washington, DC 20201.
    HHS makes every effort to ensure that the membership of federal 
advisory committees is fairly balanced in terms of points of view 
represented. Every effort is made to ensure that a broad representation 
of geographic areas, sex, ethnic and minority groups, and people with 
disabilities are given consideration for membership on federal advisory 
committees. Selection of the represented organizations shall be made 
without discrimination against the composition of an organization's 
membership on the basis of age, sex, race, ethnicity, sexual 
orientation, disability, and cultural, religious, or socioeconomic 
status.
    Authority: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration's (SAMHSA) Advisory Committee for Women's Services 
(ACWS) is required by 42 U.S.C. 290aa; section 501(f)(2)(C) of the 
Public Health Service Act, as amended. The ACWS is governed by the 
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 
U.S.C. ch. 10.

    Dated: March 29, 2023.
Carlos Castillo,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-06929 Filed 4-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P