[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 173 (Friday, September 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62089-62090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19391]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living


Announcing the Intent To Award a Single-Source Supplement for the 
Alternatives to Guardianship Youth Resource Center Cooperative 
Agreement

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living (ACL) announces the 
intent to award a single-source supplement to the current cooperative 
agreement held by the University of Massachusetts for the Alternatives 
to Guardianship Youth Resource Center cooperative agreement. The 
purpose of this project is to divert high school students with 
intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) away from 
guardianship to less restrictive decisional supports. The target 
audience for this information includes youth with I/DD, families, and 
caregivers of high school students with I/DD, teachers, education 
administrators, advocates, vocational rehabilitation counselors, 
guidance counselors, and school district officials. The administrative 
supplement for FY 2023 will amount to $200,000, bringing the total 
award for FY 2023 to $500,000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or comments 
regarding this program supplement, contact Dana Fink, U.S. Department 
of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living, 
Administration on Disabilities, (202) 795-7604 or via email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This supplementary funding will expand the 
Alternatives to Guardianship Youth Resource Center's engagement and 
education efforts around diverting high school students with I/DD away 
from guardianship to less restrictive decisional supports. As a result 
of funding this Center, ACL expects that:
     More students with I/DD will have more decisional options, 
such as Powers of Attorney, supported-decision-making, joint bank 
accounts, bill paying services, and medical or educational release 
forms, on completion of high school;
     Fewer young adults with I/DD will be subject to 
guardianship;
     The public will become more knowledgeable of alternatives 
to guardianship; and
     Youth will become more independent by gaining job 
experience and personal responsibilities.
    This supplement will fund:
     Support to enhance the engagement of youth advisory board 
members, including (1) a dedicated staff member for facilitation and 
administrative coordination and support and; (2) paid opportunities for 
youth advisory board members to be more deeply engaged in project 
activities.
     Continued support for two additional staff members from 
grant partner Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered who have joined the 
youth ambassador training team.
     Additional training for project staff and partners on 
allyship and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to 
support a state team of AAC users.
     Support for travel for youth ambassadors and youth 
advisors to participate in conference presentations.
     Supervisory support for the new youth trainer position 
that will begin August 2023. This youth trainer will join the Youth 
Ambassador workgroup and be part of the training team that facilitates 
the third cohort of youth ambassadors from Texas, California, and New 
York.
     Continued enhancement to the project website, which 
includes a dedicated page for each of the 40+ youth ambassadors, youth-
friendly products and videos, and plain language documents.
    The administrative supplement for FY 2023 will amount to $200,000, 
bringing the total award for FY 2023 to $500,000.
    Program Name: Center for Youth Voice Youth Choice (CYVYC) 
Alternatives to Guardianship Youth Resource Center.
    Recipient: University of Massachusetts, Boston.
    Period of Performance: The supplement award will be issued for the 
fourth year of the five-year project period of September 1, 2023, 
through August 31, 2024.
    Total Supplement Award Amount: $200,000.
    Award Type: Cooperative Agreement.
    Statutory Authority: This program is authorized under the 
Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 
Pub. L. 106-402, Section 161(2) (B), (C) and (D).
    Basis for Award:
    The University of Massachusetts is currently funded to carry out 
the CYVYC Project for the period of September 1, 2020 through August 
31, 2025. Much work has already been completed and further tasks are 
currently being accomplished. It would be unnecessarily time consuming 
and disruptive to the CYVYC project and the beneficiaries being served 
for ACL to establish a new grantee at this time

[[Page 62090]]

when critical services are presently being provided in an efficient 
manner.

    Dated: September 4, 2023.
Alison Barkoff,
Senior official performing the duties of the Administrator and the 
Assistant Secretary for Aging.
[FR Doc. 2023-19391 Filed 9-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P