[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 47 (Friday, March 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16773-16774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04931]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Request for Assistance 
for Child Victims of Human Trafficking

AGENCY: Office on Trafficking in Persons, Administration for Children 
and Families, Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office on 
Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) is requesting a three-year extension of 
the form: Request for Assistance (RFA) for Child Victims of Human 
Trafficking (Office of Management and Budget (OMB) #0970-0362, 
expiration 09/30/2024). Burden estimates have been updated based on 
observed increases in the volume of requests received. The RFA form and 
estimated time per response remains the same.

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 Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000, 
as amended, directs the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS), upon receipt of credible information that a 
foreign national minor may have been subjected to a severe form of 
trafficking in persons and is seeking assistance available to victims 
of trafficking, to promptly determine if the child is eligible for 
benefits and services to the same extent as refugees. HHS delegated 
this authority to OTIP.
    OTIP developed a RFA form for case managers, attorneys, law 
enforcement

[[Page 16774]]

officers, child welfare workers, and other representatives to report 
these trafficking concerns to HHS in accordance with the TVPA of 2000, 
as amended, and allow for OTIP to review the concerns and determine 
eligibility for benefits.
    Specifically, the RFA form asks the requester for their identifying 
information, identifying information for the child, and information 
describing the potential trafficking concerns. The RFA form takes into 
consideration the need to compile information regarding a child's 
experiences in a trauma-informed and child-centered manner and assists 
the requester in assessing whether the child may have been subjected to 
a severe form of trafficking in persons.
    The information provided through the completion of a RFA form 
enables OTIP to make prompt determinations regarding a foreign national 
minor's eligibility for assistance, facilitate the required 
consultation process should the minor receive interim assistance, and 
enable OTIP to assess and address potential child protection issues. 
OTIP also uses the information provided to respond to congressional 
inquiries, fulfill federal reporting requirements, and inform policy 
and program development that is responsive to the needs of victims.
    In 2019, OTIP launched Shepherd, an online case management system, 
to process requests for assistance and certification on behalf of 
foreign national minor and adult victims of trafficking. If a requester 
encounters issues submitting a request through Shepherd, they may 
submit the RFA form to OTIP as a password protected PDF to 
[email protected].
    Respondents: Representatives of governmental entities, members of 
the community, and nongovernmental entities providing social, legal, or 
protective services to foreign national minors in the United States who 
may have been subjected to severe forms of trafficking in persons. 
Furthermore, representatives within the community with a concern that a 
foreign national minor may have been subjected to severe forms of 
trafficking in persons may also use the RFA form.

Annual Burden Estimates

    Increased awareness of reporting requirements under the TVPA of 
2000, as amended among providers who serve foreign national children 
and youth has resulted in sustained, year-over-year increases in the 
number of RFA forms received by OTIP since fiscal year 2021. While the 
number of RFA forms received by OTIP each year largely reflects OTIP's 
efforts to engage case managers, attorneys, law enforcement officers, 
child welfare workers, and other representatives who serve foreign 
national children and youth, the number of RFA forms received is also 
impacted by a variety of social, political, and environmental factors 
that impact migration trends, including natural disasters and other 
climate-mediated events, that fluctuate each year. In fiscal year 2021, 
a record number of unique individuals (2,178) were referred to OTIP 
through 2,650 total RFA forms. In fiscal year 2022, 3,150 unique 
individuals were referred to OTIP through 3,709 total RFA forms. In 
fiscal year 2023, 3,612 unique individuals were referred to OTIP 
through 4,052 total RFA forms. There are no changes proposed to the RFA 
form but based on the increased need for trafficking-specific case 
management services among foreign national children and youth, as 
evidenced through sustained increases in the volume of RFA forms 
received by OTIP each year since fiscal year 2021, burden estimates for 
this collection have been revised.

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                                                                                      Total number of   Average burden
                             Instrument                              Total number of   responses per      hours per       Total burden    Annual burden
                                                                       respondents       respondent        response          hours            hours
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Request for Assistance for Child Victims of Human Trafficking......          10,500                1                1           10,500            3,500
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    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: 22 U.S.C. 7105(b).

Mary C. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-04931 Filed 3-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-47-P