[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 58 (Monday, March 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20661-20662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06209]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living


Request for Information: Elder Justice Coordinating Council 
Priorities

AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, HHS.

ACTION: Request for information.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living (ACL) seeks 
information on recommended area(s) and or issue(s) for which elder 
justice stakeholders believe the Elder Justice Coordinating Council 
(Council) can be the most beneficial to promoting elder justice and 
have the greatest positive impact for survivors of elder abuse, 
neglect, and exploitation and their communities.

DATES: Information must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. (EDT) 
April 24, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit electronic 
comments to: Administration on Aging, [email protected]. 
Include ``EJCC Priorities'' in the subject line of the message.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Whittier-Eliason, (202) 795-
7467 Stephanie [email protected]. The 
[email protected] email is a resource mailbox established to 
receive public input regarding the Elder Justice Coordinating Council 
and should not be used to request information beyond the scope of this 
public input opportunity. Please do not use this mailbox to report 
suspicions of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Any suspected abuse, 
neglect or financial exploitation should be reported to your state's 
Adult Protective Services.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Passed in 2010, the Elder Justice Act 
establishes the Elder Justice Coordinating Council (Council) to 
coordinate activities related to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation 
across the Federal Government. The Council is directed by the Office of 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary serves as 
the Chair of the Council. The HHS Secretary has assigned responsibility 
for implementing the Council to the Administration on Aging (AoA) 
within ACL. AoA has long been engaged in efforts to protect older 
individuals from elder abuse including financial exploitation, physical 
abuse, neglect, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse.
    The Council is a permanent group, which meets twice a year, with 
the goal of effectively coordinating the Federal response to elder 
abuse. The Elder Justice Act also names the Attorney General of the 
U.S. as a permanent member of the Council. In addition to the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General, the statute 
provides for inclusion as Council members the heads of each Federal 
department, agency, or governmental entity identified as administering 
programs related to abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. The 
Coordinating Council receives input and support from an Elder Justice 
Interagency Working Group, a group of Federal employees in Cabinet-
level departments and Federal agencies with expertise in the field of 
elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.
    In 2014, the Council adopted ``Eight Recommendations from the Elder 
Justice Coordinating Council for Increased Federal Involvement in 
Addressing Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation.'' The eight 
recommendations represent a focused, yet balanced, approach for 
establishing greater Federal leadership in the area of elder justice 
and for improving the Federal response to elder abuse, neglect, and 
exploitation. These recommendations have served as a guide for Federal 
agencies in planning their elder justice work in the 10 years since 
adoption.

Public Input

    Through this Request for Information (RFI), ACL is seeking input 
from individuals and organizations regarding the area(s) and or 
issue(s) about which elder justice stakeholders believe the Elder 
Justice Coordinating Council can be the most beneficial to promoting 
elder justice and have the greatest positive impact for survivors of 
elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation and their communities. 
Specifically, we would like to hear from respondents: (1) how the 
Council can benefit the larger elder justice community; (2) the areas 
of elder justice in which the Council should focus their attention, and 
(3) the activities, tools, resources, or components that would best 
help states and communities create and strengthen their systems of 
services and supports in order to maximize the independence, well-
being, and health of people at risk for elder abuse, neglect, and 
exploitation, their family members, and their support networks. We also 
seek feedback on how the Council can advance equity, in alignment with 
Executive Order 13985 Advancing Racial Equity and Support for 
Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. In this regard, 
please keep in mind the following:
     All submissions will be considered and reviewed by ACL.

[[Page 20662]]

     ACL seeks recommendations to address practical matters 
regarding the Elder Justice Coordinating Council. (We may not include 
all recommendations.)
     If respondents have multiple recommendations, respondents 
may make multiple recommendations in the same submission.

Submission Questions

    1. State the area(s) and or issue(s) in elder justice that should 
be considered a priority for the Federal Government to address through 
the Elder Justice Coordinating Council.
    2. Provide detail on the reason the area(s) and or issue(s) should 
be considered a priority for the Council.
    3. State the activities, tools, resources, or components that would 
effectively help states and communities create and strengthen their 
systems of services and supports in order to maximize the independence, 
well-being, and health of people at risk for elder abuse, neglect, and 
exploitation, their family members, and their support networks.
    4. Provide detail on any benefits, including how equity will be 
advanced, and/or barriers that might result from the Council 
incorporating the recommendation.

Please Note

    This RFI is being issued for information and planning purposes 
only. It should not be construed as a solicitation or an obligation on 
the part of the Federal Government or the Administration for Community 
Living (ACL). ACL does not intend to issue any grant or contract awards 
based on responses to this invitation, or to otherwise pay for the 
preparation of any information submitted or for the government's use of 
such information. ACL will not be able to respond to submissions that 
are not within the scope of this public comment opportunity. ACL is not 
authorized to receive personally identifiable information (PII) through 
this RFI other than the contact information of the person submitting 
the information. Please do not include any PII in your submission. For 
example, do not include names, addresses, phone, or Social Security 
numbers of any individuals. We will redact responses that contain PII.

How the Information Will Be Used

    The information gathered through this RFI will be used to inform 
the Elder Justice Coordinating Council's approach to identifying areas 
in elder justice that could benefit from increased Federal involvement.

    Dated: March 19, 2024.
Alison Barkoff,
Principal Deputy Administrator for the Administration for Community 
Living, performing the delegable duties of the Administrator and 
Assistant Secretary for Aging.
[FR Doc. 2024-06209 Filed 3-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P