[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 163 (Thursday, August 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57965-57966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18216]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Advisory Committee for Women's Services (ACWS); Solicitation of 
Nominations for Additional Non-Voting Representatives on the Maternal 
Mental Health Task Force

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 applications from qualified individuals or organizations to 
be considered for non-voting representative positions on the Maternal 
Mental Health Task Force subcommittee of the Advisory Committee for 
Women's Services (ACWS) (ACWS Subcommittee), as authorized in the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act. This notice solicits additional 
representatives.

DATES: Nomination period is open until September 22, 2023.

ADDRESSES: All nominations should be sent to Valerie Kolick, Designated 
Federal Officer (DFO), Advisory Committee on Women's Services, SAMHSA, 
18th Floor, 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, 5600 Fishers 
Ln., Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone number (240) 276-1738. Inquiries 
can be sent to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As previously announced in 88 FR 24622 (Apr. 
21, 2023), the ACWS Subcommittee will consist of non-voting 
representatives selected by the ACWS DFO. We are issuing this current 
notice to solicit additional representatives to the ACWS Subcommittee. 
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.
    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. The ACWS meetings are held not less than two times per fiscal 
year.
    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.
    In particular, this subcommittee will focus on maternal mental 
health and substance use including prevention, screening, diagnosis, 
treatment, equity and community-based interventions. These non-voting 
positions will consist of:
    Federal members to include representatives of: Department of Health 
and Human Services, Substance Abuse Mental Health Services 
Administration, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 
Administration for Children and Families, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Health 
Resources and Services Administration, Indian Health Services, and 
other Federal departments as necessary.
    Non-Federal members to include representatives of the following 
with expertise in maternal, mental health, and/or substance use: 
professional medical societies, professional nursing societies, and/or 
health paraprofessional societies, nonprofit organizations,

[[Page 57966]]

relevant industry representatives, individuals with lived experience, 
and other representatives, as appropriate.
    Representatives will be designated to occupy the positions for a 
two-year term to commence during the 2023 calendar year. The 
individuals chosen for representation on ACWS Subcommittee will be 
recommended by the DFO or designee during the 2023 calendar year and 
appointed by the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance 
Use. Details of application requirements are provided below.

Nominations

    SAMHSA is requesting nominations of representatives to fill non-
voting positions for the ACWS Subcommittee. The representatives can be 
individuals or organizations. The representatives will be recommended 
by the DFO or designee during the 2023 calendar year and approved by 
the Assistant Secretary.
    Selection of representatives will be based on the qualifications of 
the individual or organization to contribute to the accomplishment of 
the ACWS mission, as described in the Committee charter. In selecting 
representatives to be considered for these positions and to ensure that 
representation is fairly balanced in terms of points of view, SAMHSA 
will give close attention to equitable geographic distribution, 
expertise mix, and diversity, and give priority to individuals with 
lived experience, and U.S.-chartered 501(c)(3) organizations that 
operate within the United States, and have membership with demonstrated 
expertise in maternal mental health, and/or substance use or related 
research, clinical services, or advocacy and outreach through 
professional organizations and/or industry on issues concerning 
maternal mental health and/or substance use.
    Organizations that currently have non-voting liaison 
representatives serving on ACWS are also eligible for nomination or to 
nominate themselves for consideration.
    The representatives will perform the associated duties without 
compensation and will not receive per diem or reimbursement for travel 
expenses. It is expected there will be at least one in-person ACWS 
Subcommittee meeting per year in the DC metropolitan area during the 
designated term of appointment. Representatives will need to pay for 
their own travel.
    To qualify for consideration of selection to the ACWS Subcommittee, 
an individual or organization should submit the following items:
    (1) A statement of the organization's or individual's experience 
and expertise in maternal mental health, substance use, and/or related 
research, clinical services, or advocacy and outreach through 
professional organizations and/or industry, as well as expert knowledge 
or lived experience of the broad issues and topics pertinent to 
maternal mental health and/or substance use. This information should 
demonstrate the organization's or individual's proven ability to work 
and communicate with the maternal mental and/or substance use patient 
and advocacy community, and other public/private organizations 
concerned with maternal mental health and/or substance use, including 
public health agencies at the Federal, State, and local levels.
    (2) Two to four letters of recommendation that clearly state why 
the applicant is qualified to serve on the ACWS Subcommittee in a non-
voting position. These letters should be from individuals who are not 
part of the organization.
    (3) A statement that the individual is willing to serve as a non-
voting liaison representative of the ACWS Subcommittee and will cover 
expenses to attend at least one ACWS meeting per year in Washington DC 
metropolitan area during the designated term of appointment. Submitted 
nominations must include these critical elements in order for the 
individual or organization to be considered for one of the ACWS 
Subcommittee positions.
    Nomination materials should be typewritten, using a 12-point font 
and double-spaced. Nominations are being accepted on a rolling basis 
until the deadline.
    Electronic submissions: Nomination materials, including 
attachments, may be submitted electronically to 
[email protected]. Telephone and facsimile submissions 
cannot be accepted.
    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 representatives shall be made without 
discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, ethnicity, sexual 
orientation, sexual identity, 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. 10. The Maternal Mental Health Task Force subcommittee is 
authorized in section 1113 of Public Law 117-328 (Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2023).

    Dated: August 17, 2023.
Carlos Castillo,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-18216 Filed 8-23-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P