[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 98 (Monday, May 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 32774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10800]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Case Plan Requirement, 
Title IV-E of the Social Security Act

AGENCY: Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, 
United States Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is 
requesting a three-year extension of the information collection Case 
Plan Requirement, Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, (Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB)) #0970-0428, expiration September 9, 2023). 
There are no changes to the requirements, but burden estimates have 
been updated to reflect current numbers of children in foster care.

DATES: Comments due within 60 days of publication. In compliance with 
the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ACF is 
soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information 
collection described above.

ADDRESSES: You can obtain copies of the proposed collection of 
information and submit comments by emailing [email protected]. 
Identify all requests by the title of the information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Description: The case plan information collection is authorized in 
sections 422(b)(8)(A)(ii) and 471(a)(16) and defined in sections 475 
and 475A of the Social Security Act (the Act). Statutory requirements 
in the Act mandate that States, Territories, and Tribes with an 
approved title IV-E plan develop a case review system and case plan for 
each child in the foster care system for whom the State, Territory, or 
Tribe receives title IV-E reimbursement of foster care maintenance 
payments. The case review system assures that each child has a case 
plan designed to achieve placement in a safe setting that is the least 
restrictive, most family-like setting available and in close proximity 
to the child's parental home, consistent with the best interest and 
special needs of the child. States, Territories, and Tribes meeting 
these requirements also partly comply with title IV-B, section 422(b), 
of the Act, which assures certain protections for children in foster 
care. The case plan is a written document that provides a narrative 
description of the child-specific program of care. Federal regulations 
at 45 CFR 1356.21(g) and sections 475 and 475A of the Act delineate the 
specific information that must be addressed in the case plan. ACF does 
not specify a format for the case plan nor does ACF require submission 
of the document to the Federal Government. Case plan information is 
recorded in a format developed and maintained by the State, 
Territorial, or Tribal title IV-E agency.
    Buren estimates have been adjusted to reflect two additional 
agencies and an increased number of children exiting foster care.
    Respondents: State, Territorial, and Tribal title IV-agencies.

                                                                 Annual Burden Estimates
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                                                                                        Total number   Average  burden
                             Instrument                              Total number of    of responses      hours  per      Total burden    Annual burden
                                                                       respondents    per  respondent      response          hours            hours
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Case Plan..........................................................              66           23,039              4.8        7,298,755        2,432,918
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,432,918.
    Comments: The Department specifically requests comments on (a) 
whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection 
of information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted 
within 60 days of this publication.
    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 622; 42 U.S.C. 671; 42 U.S.C. 675; 42 U.S.C. 
675a.

Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-10800 Filed 5-19-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P