81 FR 12105 - National Child Care Hotline and Web Site; Comment Request
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 45 (March 8, 2016)
Administration for Children and Families
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 45 (March 8, 2016)
| Page Range | 12105-12107 | |
| FR Document | 2016-05085 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 8, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 12105-12107] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-05085] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families National Child Care Hotline and Web Site; Comment Request AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: As authorized by section 658L(b) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act (42 U.S.C. 9858j(b)), as amended by the CCDBG Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-186), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is developing a National toll-free hotline and Web site for child care. We are interested in comments that describe effective design features and easy-to-use functions for a national Web site that will link to new and existing state and local Web sites. The Web site will disseminate easy-to-understand information about Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) funded child care providers for parents of eligible children, the general public, and providers. The new national hotline will link to new and existing CCDF Lead Agency hotlines where users can report possible health and safety violations or instances of child abuse and neglect in CCDF-eligible provider settings. ACF previously asked for comments and suggestions related to the national Web site for consumer education, submission of complaints and related provisions in the CCDBG Act in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (80 FR 80465, Dec. 24, 2015, available online at https://federalregister.gov/a/2015-31883). If you have already commented on this regulatory process, there is no need to duplicate your comments. However, if your comments are more closely related to the design, functionality, or other considerations of the national Web site or hotline, we invite your additional comments here. DATES: The deadline for receipt of comments is midnight, April 7, 2016. ADDRESSES: Submit comments to [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CCDBG Act of 2014 Two of the CCDBG Act's purposes are ``to promote parental choice to empower working parents to make their own decisions regarding the child care services that best suits their family's needs'' and ``to encourage States to provide consumer education information to help parents make informed choices about child care services and to promote involvement by parents and family members in the development of their children in child care settings'' (42 U.S.C. 9857(b)(1) & (3)). Subpart D of the proposed [[Page 12106]] regulations describes parental rights and responsibilities and provisions related to parental choice, including requirements that Lead Agencies maintain a record of parental complaints and consumer education activities conducted by Lead Agencies to increase parental awareness of the range of child care options available to them. Lead Agency Consumer Education Web site ACF has proposed amending paragraph (a) of Sec. 98.33 to require Lead Agencies ``to collect and disseminate consumer education information to parents of eligible children, the general public, and providers through a consumer-friendly and easily accessible Web site'' (80 FR 80569-70) Consistent with new requirements enacted by the CCDBG Act of 2014, the proposed regulations would require state Web sites to, at a minimum, include five components: (1) Lead Agency policies and procedures, (2) provider-specific information, (3) aggregate number of deaths, serious injuries, and instances of substantiated child abuse in child care settings each year, (4) referral to local child care resource and referral organizations, and (5) directions on how parents can contact the Lead Agency, or its designee, and other programs to better understand information on the Web site. The reauthorized CCDBG Act also requires the Secretary to operate, either directly or through the use of grants or contracts, a national Web site and a national toll free hotline. Both the national Web site and hotline must have the capacity to help families in every state and community in the nation. National Consumer Education Web site While the primary responsibility to operate a parental complaint hotline and a consumer education Web site remains with Lead Agencies, the CCDBG Act also requires the Secretary to operate a national Web site for consumer education and submission of complaints (42 U.S.C. 9858j(b)). The statute requires several components be included in the national Web site, including many of the same requirements of the Lead Agency consumer education Web sites. We propose to incorporate all requirements of the national Web site into the requirements of the Lead Agency consumer education Web site, including the localized list of child care providers searchable by zip code proposed at Sec. 98.33(a)(2)(i) (80 FR 80570). The statute allows for the national Web site to provide the information either ``directly or through linkages to State databases'' (42 U.S.C. 9858j(b)(2)(b)). It is not feasible or practical for HHS to recreate databases many states have already created. Therefore, we are proposing to require Lead Agencies to include these components in their databases and Web sites to which we plan to link the national Web site. ACF intends to design a national Web site that will respond to the CCDBG Act requirements and will connect to state, territory, and local systems, if available, provide an additional entry point to Lead Agency Web sites for families seeking information, and make that information available in multiple languages. The national Web site will not create a national database or duplicate Lead Agency systems already in place. The national Web site will be hosted by `childcare.gov' and refer users to local child care providers 24 hours a day. The Web site will provide easy-to-understand child care consumer education and referral services and enable a child care consumer to enter a zip code and obtain a referral to local child care providers within a specified search radius. The national Web site will provide to consumers, directly or through linkages to state databases, at a minimum: a localized list of all eligible child care providers, differentiating between licensed and license-exempt providers; any provider-specific information from a Quality Rating and Improvement System or information about other quality indicators, any other provider-specific information about compliance with licensing and health and safety requirements to the extent the information is publicly available and to the extent practicable; referrals to local resource and referral organizations from which consumers can find more information about child care providers; and state information about child care subsidy programs and other financial supports available to families. National Hotline The primary purpose of the parental complaint hotline is to provide parents with an easy way to submit complaints about unmet health and safety regulations or child abuse and neglect by a child care provider or their staff. The design for a national parental complaint hotline will also respond to the CCDBG Act requirements, be toll free, and connect to a Lead Agency single point of contact as an additional option for parents and the public. While not intended as a child care referral call center, the national hotline will provide links to applicable state information. It will not serve as a federal investigatory system. The value of parental complaint hotlines is illustrated by the longstanding national hotline established for the Department of Defense (DOD) military child care program. The Military Child Care Act of 1989 (Pub. L. 101-189) required the creation of a national 24-hour, toll- free hotline that allows parents to submit complaints about military child care centers anonymously. DOD has found the hotline to be an important tool in engaging parents in child care. In addition, complaints received through the hotline have helped DOD identify problematic child care programs. (Campbell, N., Appelbaum, J., Martinson, K., Be All That We Can Be: Lessons from the Military for Improving Our Nation's Child Care System, National Women's Law Center, 2000). Request for Comments ACF recognizes the diversity of existing systems and processes, information technology (IT) systems' capacity, investments, and limited resources (time, people, funding) available to Lead Agencies and their partners. We are not only interested in comments that describe effective and easy-to-use design features for a national parent complaint hotline and a national consumer education Web site, but also in how the design of both can help Lead Agencies as they adapt their systems to implement federal guidance. We welcome all comments and suggestions around the functions and features for both the national Web site and the national parent complaint hotline and encourage your input around the following: National Consumer Complaint HotlineThe national parent complaint hotline will be available for parents and providers who want to report health and safety violations or child abuse in CCDBG-eligible child care. What will parents and providers need to make the hotline easy to find and use? What protocols should be included for use with a national hotline to make sure that local, state, or territory authorities follow up on any complaints reported to the national parent complaint hotline? What types of information will help states and territories increase their ability to receive and share data with a national hotline? When thinking about the implementation of a parent complaint hotline, what barriers, challenges, and concerns come to mind related to current state policy and laws that might [[Page 12107]] impact the ability of state and territory agencies and a national hotline to share information with each other? National Consumer Education and Referral Web site The CCDBG Act of 2014 and proposed rules list the types of information that must be made available for parents and providers on a state, territory, and national Web site. What will parents and providers need to make this information useful when searching for high- quality early childhood services? In particular, what Web site design features will deliver information that is accurate and easy to find and understand, so that parents can easily find high-quality services that meet their needs? Are there any priorities? Providers may use the national Web site as a way to increase visibility of their programs and services. What kinds of information should providers be able to include that would help both themselves and parents? A primary tenant of the national Web site will be to link to Web sites, services, and data that state and territory lead agencies make available. To remove any overlap of services, what national Web site design options will support these efforts? When it comes to data availability, what national Web site supports will help existing state and local systems to participate in the national Web site? For example: would state and local systems benefit from guidance on how to develop effective web services, data governance, application programming interfaces (API), or creating standards for collection of data? With a focus on provider quality information and availability of data, what information or technical assistance will state and territories need to make this information available online? What technologies and strategies can be used to overcome barriers, challenges, and concerns regarding potential design models of a national Web site? Dated: March 2, 2016. Linda K. Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Development, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. [FR Doc. 2016-05085 Filed 3-7-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4184-43-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 8, 2016 / Notices 12105
due child and spousal support by On an ongoing basis, State child (1) 42 U.S.C. 652(b), 42 U.S.C. 664,
intercepting certain Federal payments, support agencies submit names, Social and 26 U.S.C. 6402(c), for the offset of
including Federal tax refunds, of Security numbers, and the amount(s) of the Federal tax refund of the
parents who have been ordered to pay past-due child and spousal support of noncustodial parent;
support and are delinquent. The Federal noncustodial parents who are
(2) 31 U.S.C. 3701 et seq. and 31
Offset programs consist of a cooperative delinquent in making payments to
U.S.C. 3716(h), for the offset of the
effort among the Department of the OCSE.
Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Federal laws authorize information Federal payments other than Federal tax
the Federal Office of Child Support collection activities pertaining to the refunds of the noncustodial parent; and
Enforcement (OCSE), and State child Federal Offset and Passport Denial (3) 42 U.S.C. 654(31) and 42 U.S.C.
support agencies. programs and require State child 652(k), to Department of State for the
The Passport Denial program reports support agencies to submit information denial, revocation, restriction, or
noncustodial parents who owe child pertaining to past-due support that limitation of the passport of the
and spousal support above a threshold meets specific criteria and to comply noncustodial parent.
to the Department of State, which will with Annual Certification Letter
then deny passports. requirements: Respondents: State IV–D Agencies.
ANNUAL BURDEN ESTIMATES
Number of Average
Number of Total burden
Instrument responses per burden hours
respondents hours
respondent per response
Input Record .................................................................................................... 54 52 .3 842.40
Output Record ................................................................................................. 54 52 .46 1,291.68
Payment File .................................................................................................... 54 52 .135 379.08
Certification Letter ............................................................................................ 54 1 .4 21.60
CSP FCE Processing screens ......................................................................... 173 280.65 0.01 485.52
Total .......................................................................................................... ........................ ........................ ........................ 3,020.28
Estimated Total Annual Burden DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ACF previously asked for comments
Hours: 3,020 hours. HUMAN SERVICES and suggestions related to the national
Additional Information: Copies of the Web site for consumer education,
Administration for Children and submission of complaints and related
proposed collection may be obtained by
Families provisions in the CCDBG Act in a Notice
writing to the Administration for
of Proposed Rulemaking (80 FR 80465,
Children and Families, Office of National Child Care Hotline and Web Dec. 24, 2015, available online at
Planning, Research and Evaluation, 330 Site; Comment Request https://federalregister.gov/a/2015-
C Street SW., Washington, DC 20201. 31883). If you have already commented
Attention Reports Clearance Officer. All AGENCY: Administration for Children
on this regulatory process, there is no
requests should be identified by the title and Families (ACF), Department of
need to duplicate your comments.
of the information collection. Email Health and Human Services (HHS).
However, if your comments are more
address: infocollection@acf.hhs.gov. ACTION: Notice. closely related to the design,
OMB Comment: OMB is required to functionality, or other considerations of
make a decision concerning the SUMMARY: As authorized by section the national Web site or hotline, we
collection of information between 30 658L(b) of the Child Care and invite your additional comments here.
and 60 days after publication of this Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act
DATES: The deadline for receipt of
(42 U.S.C. 9858j(b)), as amended by the
document in the Federal Register. comments is midnight, April 7, 2016.
CCDBG Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113–186),
Therefore, a comment is best assured of ADDRESSES: Submit comments to
the Administration for Children and
having its full effect if OMB receives it NHWcomment@acf.hhs.gov.
Families (ACF) is developing a National
within 30 days of publication. Written toll-free hotline and Web site for child SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
comments and recommendations for the care. We are interested in comments
proposed information collection should The CCDBG Act of 2014
that describe effective design features
be sent directly to the following: Office and easy-to-use functions for a national Two of the CCDBG Act’s purposes are
of Management and Budget, Paperwork Web site that will link to new and ‘‘to promote parental choice to empower
Reduction Project, Email: OIRA_ existing state and local Web sites. The working parents to make their own
SUBMISSION@OMB.EOP.GOV, Attn: Web site will disseminate easy-to- decisions regarding the child care
Desk Officer for the Administration for understand information about Child services that best suits their family’s
Children and Families. Care and Development Fund (CCDF) needs’’ and ‘‘to encourage States to
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
funded child care providers for parents provide consumer education
Robert Sargis,
of eligible children, the general public, information to help parents make
Reports Clearance Officer. and providers. The new national hotline informed choices about child care
[FR Doc. 2016–05077 Filed 3–7–16; 8:45 am] will link to new and existing CCDF Lead services and to promote involvement by
BILLING CODE 4184–01–P Agency hotlines where users can report parents and family members in the
possible health and safety violations or development of their children in child
instances of child abuse and neglect in care settings’’ (42 U.S.C. 9857(b)(1) &
CCDF-eligible provider settings. (3)). Subpart D of the proposed
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 8, 2016 / Notices 12107
impact the ability of state and territory DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND assistance to health care organizations,
agencies and a national hotline to share HUMAN SERVICES health care networks, and health care
information with each other? providers in the implementation of cost-
Health Resources and Services effective telehealth programs to serve
National Consumer Education and Administration
Referral Web site rural and medically underserved areas
and populations.
• The CCDBG Act of 2014 and Agency Information Collection
proposed rules list the types of Activities: Submission to OMB for Need and Proposed Use of the
information that must be made available Review and Approval; Public Comment Information: The revised measures will
for parents and providers on a state, Request be used to evaluate the effectiveness of
territory, and national Web site. What the technical assistance. The tool will
AGENCY: Health Resources and Services
will parents and providers need to make also be used to address GPRA
Administration, HHS.
this information useful when searching requirements and to report to Congress
ACTION: Notice.
for high-quality early childhood the value added from the TRC Grant
services? In particular, what Web site SUMMARY: In compliance with section Program; justification for budget
design features will deliver information 3507(a)(1)(D) of the Paperwork request; measure performance relative to
that is accurate and easy to find and Reduction Act of 1995, the Health the mission of OAT/HRSA, as well as
understand, so that parents can easily Resources and Services Administration individual goals and objectives of the
find high-quality services that meet (HRSA) has submitted an Information program; identify topics of interest for
their needs? Are there any priorities? Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of future special studies; identify changes
• Providers may use the national Web Management and Budget (OMB) for in healthcare needs within rural
site as a way to increase visibility of review and approval. Comments communities, allowing programs to shift
their programs and services. What kinds submitted during the first public review
of information should providers be able focus in order to meet those needs; and
of this ICR will be provided to OMB. collect uniform consistent data and
to include that would help both OMB will accept further comments from
themselves and parents? provide guidance to grantees.
the public during the review and
• A primary tenant of the national Likely Respondents: The likely
approval period.
Web site will be to link to Web sites, respondents will be telehealth
DATES: Comments on this ICR should be
services, and data that state and territory associations, telehealth providers, rural
lead agencies make available. To remove received no later than April 7, 2016.
health providers, clinicians that deliver
any overlap of services, what national ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
services via telehealth, technical
Web site design options will support including the Information Collection
Request Title, to the desk officer for assistance providers, research
these efforts? organizations, and academic medical
• When it comes to data availability, HRSA, either by email to OIRA_
submission@omb.eop.gov, or by fax to centers.
what national Web site supports will
help existing state and local systems to 202–395–5806. Burden Statement: Burden in this
participate in the national Web site? For FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To context means the time expended by
example: would state and local systems request a copy of the clearance requests persons to generate, maintain, retain,
benefit from guidance on how to submitted to OMB for review, email the disclose or provide the information
develop effective web services, data HRSA Information Collection Clearance requested. This includes the time
governance, application programming Officer at paperwork@hrsa.gov, or call needed to review instructions; to
interfaces (API), or creating standards (301) 443–1984. develop, acquire, install and utilize
for collection of data? SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: technology and systems for the purpose
• With a focus on provider quality Information Collection Request Title: of collecting, validating and verifying
information and availability of data, Telehealth Resource Center Performance information, processing and
what information or technical assistance Measurement Tool. OMB No. 0915– maintaining information, and disclosing
will state and territories need to make 0361—Revision and providing information; to train
this information available online? Abstract: To ensure the best use of
• What technologies and strategies personnel and to be able to respond to
public funds and to meet the a collection of information; to search
can be used to overcome barriers, Government Performance Review Act
challenges, and concerns regarding data sources; to complete and review
requirements, the Federal Office of the collection of information; and to
potential design models of a national Rural Health’s Office for the
Web site? transmit or otherwise disclose the
Advancement of Telehealth (OAT) in
information. The total annual burden
Dated: March 2, 2016. collaboration with the Telehealth
hours estimated for this ICR are
Linda K. Smith, Resource Centers (TRCs) created a set of
performance measures that grantees can summarized in the table below.
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early
Childhood Development, Administration for use to evaluate the technical assistance
Children and Families, U.S. Department of services provided by the TRCs. Grantee
Health and Human Services. goals are to customize the provision of
[FR Doc. 2016–05085 Filed 3–7–16; 8:45 am] telehealth technical assistance across
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 4184–43–P the country. The TRCs provide technical
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Document Created: 2018-02-02 15:10:03
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 15:10:03
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | The deadline for receipt of comments is midnight, April 7, 2016. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 12105 |
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