83 FR 29559 - Notice; Children's Bureau Proposed Research Priorities for Fiscal Years 2018-2020

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 122 (June 25, 2018)

Page Range		29559-29562
FR Document		2018-13526
The Children's Bureau (CB) within the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) announces the proposed priorities for research on the causes, prevention, assessment, identification, treatment, cultural and socio-economic distinctions, and the consequences of child abuse and neglect, and solicits comments regarding the prioritization.
Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 122 (Monday, June 25, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 122 (Monday, June 25, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29559-29562]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13526]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Notice; Children's Bureau Proposed Research Priorities for Fiscal 
Years 2018-2020

AGENCY: Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), 
Administration for Children and Families (ACF), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed priorities; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Children's Bureau (CB) within the Administration on 
Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) announces the proposed priorities 
for research on the causes, prevention, assessment, identification, 
treatment, cultural and socio-economic distinctions, and the 
consequences of child abuse and neglect, and solicits comments 
regarding the prioritization.

DATES: In order to be considered, comments must be received no later 
than August 24, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by the RIN or dockets 
number in the subject line, by email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dori Sneddon, 202-205-8024, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 104(a)(4) of the Child Abuse 
Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), as amended by the CAPTA 
Reauthorization Act of 2010, Public Law (Pub. L.) 111-320, requires the 
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to 
establish proposed priorities for research activities, provide an 
opportunity for public comment on those proposed activities, and 
maintain an official record of received public comment concerning the 
priorities. The proposed priorities are being announced for the 2-year 
period required by CAPTA. Because the amount of federal funds available 
for discretionary activities in fiscal years (FY) 2018-2020 is expected 
to be limited, respondents are encouraged to recommend how the proposed 
issues should be prioritized.
    The actual solicitation of grant applications will be posted 
electronically each fiscal year and will be available online through 
http://www.Grants.gov. Solicitations for contracts will be announced at 
later dates, online at FedBizOps. No proposals, concept papers, or 
other forms of application should be submitted at this time.
    No acknowledgement will be made of the comments submitted in 
response to this notice, but all comments received by the deadline will 
be reviewed and given thoughtful consideration in the preparation of 
the final funding priorities for the announcements.

I. Background

    As noted above, section 104(a)(4) of CAPTA requires the Secretary 
to publish proposed priorities for research activities for public 
comment every 2 years. In response to this legislative mandate, CB has 
undertaken a review of the current legislative language, the results of 
the CAPTA-funded research since the last CAPTA announcement of research 
priority areas, findings from other relevant research, and input from 
the field. Based on this review, this notice of proposed research is 
being disseminated for comment. The FY 2018 President's Budget 
requested $32,937,267 for child abuse discretionary activities to 
support efforts designed to assist and enhance national, state, and 
local efforts to prevent, identify, and treat child abuse and neglect. 
The program funds projects to compile, publish, and disseminate 
training materials; provide technical assistance; and demonstrate and 
evaluate improved methods and procedures to prevent and treat child 
abuse and neglect. Under discretionary funds, CB will continue to fund 
the following clearinghouse and technical assistance activities:
     The Child Welfare Information Gateway;
     Family Resource Information, Education, and Network 
Development Service (FRIENDS); and
     National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) 
technical assistance and technical support program.
    In addition, the child abuse discretionary activities' account 
funds a number of research and demonstration

[[Page 29560]]

grants and contracts. For those members of the public interested in 
responding to this announcement, information on previous and continuing 
projects supported by CB are available through the following websites:
     The Child Welfare Information Gateway (http://www.childwelfare.gov); and
     Children's Bureau Reports/Publications (http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/publications/index.htm).

II. Proposed Child Abuse and Neglect Research Priorities for Fiscal 
Years 2016-2018

A. Legislative Topics

    A number of research topics are suggested in the 2010 
reauthorization of CAPTA, section 104 (42 U.S.C. 5105). The legislation 
states that the Secretary shall, in consultation with other federal 
agencies and recognized experts in the field, carry out a continuing 
interdisciplinary program of research, including longitudinal research, 
that is designed to provide information needed to better protect 
children from abuse or neglect and to improve the well-being of victims 
of abuse or neglect, with at least a portion of such research being 
field initiated. Suggested research includes:
     The nature and scope of child abuse and neglect;
     The causes, prevention, assessment, identification, 
treatment, cultural and socio-economic distinctions, and the 
consequences of child abuse and neglect, including the effects of child 
abuse and neglect on a child's development and the identification of 
successful early intervention services or other services that are 
needed;
     Effective approaches to improving the relationship and 
attachment of infants and toddlers who experience child abuse or 
neglect with their parents or primary caregivers in circumstances where 
reunification is appropriate;
     Appropriate, effective, and culturally sensitive 
investigative, administrative, and judicial systems, including 
multidisciplinary, coordinated decision making procedures with respect 
to cases of child abuse and neglect;
     The evaluation and dissemination of best practices, 
including best practices to meet the needs of special populations, 
consistent with the goals of achieving improvements in child protective 
services systems of the states in accordance with CAPTA, section 
106(a), Grants to States for Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and 
Treatment Programs [42 U.S.C. 5106a], paragraphs (1) through (14), 
which include:
    i. The intake, assessment, screening, and investigation of reports 
of child abuse and neglect;
    ii. Creating and improving the use of multidisciplinary teams and 
interagency, intra-agency, interstate, and intrastate protocols to 
enhance investigation, and improving legal preparation and 
representation; and improving legal preparation and representation;
    iii. Case management, including ongoing case monitoring and 
delivery of services and treatment provided to children and their 
families;
    iv. Enhancing the general child protective system by developing, 
improving and implementing risk and safety assessment tools and 
protocols, including the use of differential response;
    v. Developing and updating systems of technology that support the 
program and track reports of child abuse and neglect from intake 
through final disposition and allow interstate and intrastate 
information exchange;
    vi. Developing, strengthening and facilitating training;
    vii. Improving the skills, qualifications, and availability of 
individuals providing services to children and families, and the 
supervisors of such individuals, through the child protection system, 
including improvements in the recruitment and retention of caseworkers;
    viii. Developing, facilitating the use of, and implementing 
research-based strategies and training protocols for individuals 
mandated to report child abuse or neglect;
    ix. Developing, implementing, or operating programs to assist in 
obtaining or coordinating necessary services for families of disabled 
infants with life threatening conditions;
    x. Developing and delivering information to improve public 
education relating to the role and responsibilities of the child 
protection system and the nature and basis for reporting suspected 
incidents of child abuse and neglect, including the use of differential 
response;
    xi. Developing and enhancing the capacity of community-based 
programs to integrate shared leadership strategies between parents and 
professionals to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect at the 
neighborhood level;
    xii. Supporting and enhancing interagency collaboration between the 
child protection system and the juvenile justice system for improved 
delivery of services and treatment, including methods for continuity of 
treatment plans and services as children transition between systems;
    xiii. Supporting and enhancing interagency collaboration among 
public health agencies, agencies in the child protective service 
system, and agencies carrying out private community-based programs
    a. To provide child abuse and neglect prevention and treatment 
services (including linkages with education systems) and the use of 
differential response; and
    b. To address the health needs, including mental health needs, of 
children identified as victims of abuse or neglect, including 
supporting prompt, comprehensive health and developmental evaluations 
for children who are the subject of substantiated child maltreatment 
reports; or
    xiv. Developing and implementing procedures for collaboration among 
child protective services, domestic violence services, and other 
agencies in
    a. Investigations, interventions, and the delivery of services and 
treatment provided to children and families, including the use of 
differential response, where appropriate; and
    b. The provision of services that assist children exposed to 
domestic violence, and that also support the caregiving role of their 
non-abusing parents.
     Effective approaches to interagency collaboration between 
the child protection system and the juvenile justice system that 
improve the delivery of services and treatment, including methods for 
continuity of treatment plans and services as children transition 
between systems;
     Effective practices and programs to improve activities 
such as the identification, screening, medical diagnosis, forensic 
diagnosis, health evaluations, and services, including activities to 
promote collaboration between--
    i. The child protective service system; and
    ii. (I) The medical community, including providers of mental health 
and developmental disability services; and
    iii. (II) Providers of early childhood intervention services and 
special education for children who have been victims of child abuse or 
neglect;
     An evaluation of the redundancies and gaps in services in 
the field of child abuse and neglect prevention in order to make better 
use of resources;
     Effective collaborations, between the child protective 
system and domestic violence service providers, that provide for the 
safety of children exposed to domestic violence and their non-abusing 
parents that improve the investigations, interventions, delivery of

[[Page 29561]]

services, and treatments provided for such children and families;
     The nature, scope, and practice of voluntary 
relinquishment for foster care or State guardianship of low-income 
children who need health services, including mental health services.
     The impact of child abuse and neglect on the incidence and 
progression of disabilities;
     The nature and scope of effective practices relating to 
differential response, including future analysis of the following:
    i. What is the underlying hypothesis about the need to engage a 
parent and/or family in order to achieve specific outcomes in Child 
Protective Services (CPS)? Which specific outcomes need to be 
considered?
    ii. Given that ``engagement'' may vary according to the eyes of the 
beholder, can specific aspects of engagement be measured with greater 
consistency and replication, particularly between the two groups who 
are part of the relationship?
    iii. How should engagement be defined in future studies?
    iv. CPS systems, in general, may be providing training to their 
caseworkers, regardless of pathway, to help them better relate to 
families and caregivers. If Alternative Response (AR) and Investigative 
Response (IR) caseworkers receive the same training and use similar 
engagement practices, should one still expect differences in family or 
caseworker perceptions of engagement?
    v. Are there specific micro-practices that should be examined in 
more depth to determine if they make a difference for parents and 
families? As examples: Does setting an appointment to visit a family 
make a difference in engaging a family in early stages of relationship 
building? Does solution-focused casework result in parent willingness 
to engage with caseworkers?
    vi. Should all low-risk families receive AR?
    vii. Should the threshold for providing a family with AR be raised?
    viii. Should CPS caseworkers also have the discretion to reassign 
IR families to AR?
    ix. If families are encouraged to build relationships with their 
CPS caseworkers and are encouraged to contact them in the future, 
should re-referral still be considered a proxy for lack of safety?
     Child abuse and neglect issues facing Indians, Alaska 
Natives, and Native Hawaiians, including providing recommendations for 
improving the collection of child abuse and neglect data for Indian 
tribes and Native Hawaiian communities; or
     The information on the national incidence of child abuse 
and neglect specified in CAPTA, section 104(a) specified in clauses (i) 
through (x) of paragraph (1)(O).

B. Other Topics

    Prevention Practices: CB is interested in research that builds on 
the existing body of knowledge of prevention practices, in particular 
primary prevention. This includes research to measure the efficacy and 
effectiveness of strategies to serve families across a spectrum of risk 
for child maltreatment, and strategies that aim to enhance the capacity 
of communities to address the physical, social, and emotional well-
being of families before the occurrence of child abuse or neglect. In 
addition, CB is interested in research that examines innovative 
techniques for the assessment and detection of the risk of incidences 
of child abuse and neglect, including techniques for the detection of 
household opioid and other substance misuse, and interventions based on 
such risk detection which mitigate or eliminate the incidence of abuse 
and neglect.
    CB has supported a number of research and demonstration projects to 
generate knowledge about effective early prevention strategies and 
interventions. Over 5 years, from 2009-2014, CB funded the Rigorous 
Evaluation of Existing Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Programs 
grant programs. Through a competitive process, grants were made to 
conduct randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of four well-established, 
community-based child abuse and neglect prevention programs located in 
three regions across the U.S., garnering information on the 
effectiveness of interventions to increase child, parent, and family 
safety and well-being. Additionally, CB has funded research and 
demonstration grants to support initiatives to prevent maltreatment and 
increase the well-being of children and youth, including: 
Infrastructure-building grants between child welfare agencies, early 
education, and schools; supportive housing models for families; and 
interventions to address child trafficking. While this work is 
contributing to the body of knowledge about the type and range of early 
intervention strategies to prevent the occurrence of maltreatment, much 
more can and must be learned at the individual and population level to 
build the protective capabilities of families and communities.
    Research interests may include: The development and demonstration 
of research methodologies that allow for valid and reliable measurement 
of primary prevention activities and assessment of risk for child abuse 
and neglect at the individual, community, and population level; the 
innovative use of data, including administrative and secondary data, to 
inform our understanding of the implementation and outcomes of primary 
prevention strategies; and integrating child abuse and neglect research 
into prevention practices and techniques for the assessment and 
detection of risk for child abuse and neglect.
    Child Protection Systems: CB is interested in research that 
examines effective state-level strategies employed to improve child 
protection systems. Questions may include: The degree to which changes 
in CPS systems' policy and practice are tied to better outcomes; 
determining the variations in local agencies that result in different 
outcomes; and whether or not child safety and well-being are improved 
by privatizing part or all of the child welfare system. Other research 
interests may include: Effective responses for children at risk of 
being harmed; barriers to consistency in CPS operations, such as 
differences in the level of resources; lack of clear laws and policy 
and the competing desire for local autonomy in government functions; 
the means by which CPS agencies try to understand the standards of the 
community they serve through outreach to additional panels and review 
teams (fatality review team, citizen review panels, external case 
reviews); and collaborations between CPS and other agencies.
    Services: CB is interested in research focused on the assessment of 
service needs and services provided. Research questions may include: 
What services are children and families receiving; to what degree are 
services responsive to the needs of the target population; and what are 
the outcomes that result from various services. Other research may 
focus on case planning and intervention, such as examining the 
development and implementation of comprehensive family assessment, 
safety planning, engaging families and monitoring risk assessment over 
the life of CPS cases, and increasing knowledge of parent and child 
engaging in the case planning process. In addition, topics of interest 
include services needs of families and children who are impacted by 
substance use disorders, trafficking, and inadequate housing including 
homelessness.
    The findings from the most recent Child and Family Service Reviews 
(CFSR) identify strengths and needs within state programs, as well as 
areas where technical assistance can lead to

[[Page 29562]]

program improvements. CB encourages research on underlying issues in 
practice areas contributing to poor performance on CFSR outcomes. State 
performance on identifying, assessing, and addressing children's mental 
needs, in particular, was found as an area needing improvement in the 
CFSRs. Areas of interest for research may include examining CPS 
procedures for identifying, assessing, and responding to children's 
mental health challenges, as well as the prevalence, type, and severity 
of mental health needs among children identified in state child welfare 
systems. In addition, findings from the National Survey of Child and 
Adolescent Well-Being show that high rates of mental health needs among 
parents, coupled with low rates of identification, assessment, and 
referral, is a serious issue. CB is interested in research that 
examines support services to strengthen families, including mental 
health services to parents and children.
    Secondary Data Analysis: CB encourages the utilization of existing 
data sources, particularly the use of service data through the National 
Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) and other child welfare 
data available through the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and 
Neglect. CB is interested in secondary data analyses using NCANDS, 
focusing on service utilization, recurrence, and perpetrators.
    Service utilization: While not all states provide complete service 
data to NCANDS, for those states that do provide complete service data, 
the following areas could be examined: The services that are provided 
to Substance Exposed Newborns and their families; services to victims 
of human trafficking; differences in service patterns that exist 
between child victims who remain in their homes and those who are 
removed; and the variations in service patterns within states according 
to county characteristics.
    Perpetrators: CB continues to be interested in perpetrators, with 
the notion that understanding who this group is and what their 
characteristics are can help to inform more effective intervention and 
prevention efforts. According to the most recent analysis of NCANDS 
data, female caregivers between the ages of 18-30 are most often 
identified as maltreators of children ages birth-3. Further exploration 
of these phenomena is necessary to identify subgroups within this 
population of female caregivers, to identify services that mitigate 
risk to infants and toddlers of young adult parents, and to develop 
targeted prevention strategies.
Field Initiated Research on Child Abuse and Neglect
    The generation of new knowledge for understanding critical issues 
in child abuse and neglect improves prevention, identification, 
assessment, and treatment. Research areas to be addressed may be those 
that will expand the current knowledge base, build on prior research, 
contribute to practice enhancements, inform policy, improve science, 
and provide insights into new approaches to the assessment, prevention, 
intervention, and treatment of child maltreatment (i.e., physical 
abuse, sexual abuse, emotional maltreatment, or neglect) on any of the 
topics listed in (A) Legislative Topics, (B) Other Topics, above, or 
any other child maltreatment topic. In addition to the topics cited 
above, practitioners and researchers are encouraged to propose other 
relevant subjects for research topics in child abuse and neglect.

    Dated: June 19, 2018.
Jerry Milner,
Acting Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.
[FR Doc. 2018-13526 Filed 6-22-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4184-29-P
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 122 / Monday, June 25, 2018 / Notices 29559

mechanisms that are designed to yield efforts within the Institute during the customers and stakeholders.
quantitative results. next three years. NIOSH is also planning Respondents will be screened and
The Agency received no comments in on discontinuing 0920–0940 (expiration selected from Individuals and
response to the 60-day notice published 3/31/2018) which accounts for service Households, Businesses, Organizations,
in the Federal Register on March 23, delivery data collections within and/or State, Local or Tribal
2018 (vol. 83, No. 57, pages 12766– NIOSH’s Health Hazard Evaluation Government. Below we provide
12768). program. The current submission will NIOSH’s projected annualized estimate
This is a Revision information
account for all service delivery data for the next three years. There is no cost
collection request. The burden hours
collections within NIOSH. to respondents other than their time.
have decreased from the previous
submission by 6,250 hours. This During the past three years the The estimated annualized burden hours
decrease accounts for the hours that information has been used by programs for this data collection activity are
were unused as well as the planned within NIOSH to collect feedback from 13,075.

ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN HOURS
Average
Number of
Number of burden per
Type of respondents Form name responses per
respondents response
respondent (in hours)

Individuals and Households, Businesses, Organizations ....... Print Surveys ......................... 50,000 1 15/60
Focus Groups ........................ 100 1 2
Online Surveys ...................... 1,500 1 15/60

Jeffrey M. Zirger, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dori I. Background
Acting Chief, Information Collection Review Sneddon, 202–205–8024, As noted above, section 104(a)(4) of
Office, Office of Scientific Integrity, Office Dori.Sneddon@acf.hhs.gov.
of the Associate Director for Science, Office CAPTA requires the Secretary to
of the Director, Centers for Disease Control SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section publish proposed priorities for research
and Prevention. 104(a)(4) of the Child Abuse Prevention activities for public comment every 2
[FR Doc. 2018–13544 Filed 6–22–18; 8:45 am] and Treatment Act (CAPTA), as years. In response to this legislative
BILLING CODE 4163–18–P amended by the CAPTA mandate, CB has undertaken a review of
Reauthorization Act of 2010, Public Law the current legislative language, the
(Pub. L.) 111–320, requires the Secretary results of the CAPTA-funded research
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND of the Department of Health and Human since the last CAPTA announcement of
HUMAN SERVICES research priority areas, findings from
Services (HHS) to establish proposed
other relevant research, and input from
priorities for research activities, provide
Administration for Children and the field. Based on this review, this
an opportunity for public comment on
Families notice of proposed research is being
those proposed activities, and maintain disseminated for comment. The FY 2018
Notice; Children’s Bureau Proposed an official record of received public President’s Budget requested
Research Priorities for Fiscal Years comment concerning the priorities. The $32,937,267 for child abuse
2018–2020 proposed priorities are being announced discretionary activities to support efforts
for the 2-year period required by designed to assist and enhance national,
AGENCY: Administration on Children, CAPTA. Because the amount of federal state, and local efforts to prevent,
Youth and Families (ACYF), funds available for discretionary identify, and treat child abuse and
Administration for Children and activities in fiscal years (FY) 2018–2020 neglect. The program funds projects to
Families (ACF), HHS. is expected to be limited, respondents compile, publish, and disseminate
ACTION: Notice of proposed priorities; are encouraged to recommend how the training materials; provide technical
request for comments. proposed issues should be prioritized. assistance; and demonstrate and
The actual solicitation of grant evaluate improved methods and
SUMMARY: The Children’s Bureau (CB)
applications will be posted procedures to prevent and treat child
within the Administration on Children,
electronically each fiscal year and will abuse and neglect. Under discretionary
Youth and Families (ACYF) announces
be available online through http:// funds, CB will continue to fund the
the proposed priorities for research on
www.Grants.gov. Solicitations for following clearinghouse and technical
the causes, prevention, assessment,
contracts will be announced at later assistance activities:
identification, treatment, cultural and
• The Child Welfare Information
socio-economic distinctions, and the dates, online at FedBizOps. No
Gateway;
consequences of child abuse and proposals, concept papers, or other
• Family Resource Information,
neglect, and solicits comments forms of application should be
Education, and Network Development
regarding the prioritization. submitted at this time.
Service (FRIENDS); and
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1

DATES: In order to be considered, No acknowledgement will be made of • National Child Abuse and Neglect
comments must be received no later the comments submitted in response to Data System (NCANDS) technical
than August 24, 2018. this notice, but all comments received assistance and technical support
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, by the deadline will be reviewed and program.
identified by the RIN or dockets number given thoughtful consideration in the In addition, the child abuse
in the subject line, by email: preparation of the final funding discretionary activities’ account funds a
CBComments@acf.hhs.gov. priorities for the announcements. number of research and demonstration

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29560 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 122 / Monday, June 25, 2018 / Notices

grants and contracts. For those members i. The intake, assessment, screening, xiii. Supporting and enhancing
of the public interested in responding to and investigation of reports of child interagency collaboration among public
this announcement, information on abuse and neglect; health agencies, agencies in the child
previous and continuing projects ii. Creating and improving the use of protective service system, and agencies
supported by CB are available through multidisciplinary teams and carrying out private community-based
the following websites: interagency, intra-agency, interstate, and programs
• The Child Welfare Information intrastate protocols to enhance a. To provide child abuse and neglect
Gateway (http://www.childwelfare.gov); investigation, and improving legal prevention and treatment services
and preparation and representation; and (including linkages with education
• Children’s Bureau Reports/ improving legal preparation and systems) and the use of differential
Publications (http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/ representation; response; and
programs/cb/publications/index.htm). iii. Case management, including b. To address the health needs,
ongoing case monitoring and delivery of including mental health needs, of
II. Proposed Child Abuse and Neglect services and treatment provided to children identified as victims of abuse
Research Priorities for Fiscal Years children and their families; or neglect, including supporting
2016–2018 iv. Enhancing the general child prompt, comprehensive health and
A. Legislative Topics protective system by developing, developmental evaluations for children
improving and implementing risk and who are the subject of substantiated
A number of research topics are safety assessment tools and protocols, child maltreatment reports; or
suggested in the 2010 reauthorization of including the use of differential xiv. Developing and implementing
CAPTA, section 104 (42 U.S.C. 5105). response; procedures for collaboration among
The legislation states that the Secretary v. Developing and updating systems child protective services, domestic
shall, in consultation with other federal of technology that support the program violence services, and other agencies in
agencies and recognized experts in the and track reports of child abuse and a. Investigations, interventions, and
field, carry out a continuing neglect from intake through final the delivery of services and treatment
interdisciplinary program of research, disposition and allow interstate and provided to children and families,
including longitudinal research, that is intrastate information exchange; including the use of differential
designed to provide information needed vi. Developing, strengthening and
response, where appropriate; and
to better protect children from abuse or facilitating training;
b. The provision of services that assist
neglect and to improve the well-being of vii. Improving the skills,
children exposed to domestic violence,
victims of abuse or neglect, with at least qualifications, and availability of
and that also support the caregiving role
a portion of such research being field individuals providing services to
of their non-abusing parents.
initiated. Suggested research includes: children and families, and the
supervisors of such individuals, through • Effective approaches to interagency
• The nature and scope of child abuse collaboration between the child
and neglect; the child protection system, including
improvements in the recruitment and protection system and the juvenile
• The causes, prevention, assessment, justice system that improve the delivery
identification, treatment, cultural and retention of caseworkers;
viii. Developing, facilitating the use of services and treatment, including
socio-economic distinctions, and the methods for continuity of treatment
consequences of child abuse and of, and implementing research-based
strategies and training protocols for plans and services as children transition
neglect, including the effects of child between systems;
individuals mandated to report child
abuse and neglect on a child’s
abuse or neglect; • Effective practices and programs to
development and the identification of improve activities such as the
ix. Developing, implementing, or
successful early intervention services or identification, screening, medical
operating programs to assist in obtaining
other services that are needed; diagnosis, forensic diagnosis, health
or coordinating necessary services for
• Effective approaches to improving families of disabled infants with life evaluations, and services, including
the relationship and attachment of threatening conditions; activities to promote collaboration
infants and toddlers who experience x. Developing and delivering between—
child abuse or neglect with their parents information to improve public i. The child protective service system;
or primary caregivers in circumstances education relating to the role and and
where reunification is appropriate; responsibilities of the child protection ii. (I) The medical community,
• Appropriate, effective, and system and the nature and basis for including providers of mental health
culturally sensitive investigative, reporting suspected incidents of child and developmental disability services;
administrative, and judicial systems, abuse and neglect, including the use of and
including multidisciplinary, differential response; iii. (II) Providers of early childhood
coordinated decision making xi. Developing and enhancing the intervention services and special
procedures with respect to cases of capacity of community-based programs education for children who have been
child abuse and neglect; to integrate shared leadership strategies victims of child abuse or neglect;
• The evaluation and dissemination between parents and professionals to • An evaluation of the redundancies
of best practices, including best prevent and treat child abuse and and gaps in services in the field of child
practices to meet the needs of special neglect at the neighborhood level; abuse and neglect prevention in order to
populations, consistent with the goals of xii. Supporting and enhancing make better use of resources;
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1

achieving improvements in child interagency collaboration between the • Effective collaborations, between
protective services systems of the states child protection system and the juvenile the child protective system and
in accordance with CAPTA, section justice system for improved delivery of domestic violence service providers,
106(a), Grants to States for Child Abuse services and treatment, including that provide for the safety of children
and Neglect Prevention and Treatment methods for continuity of treatment exposed to domestic violence and their
Programs [42 U.S.C. 5106a], paragraphs plans and services as children transition non-abusing parents that improve the
(1) through (14), which include: between systems; investigations, interventions, delivery of

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Document Created: 2018-06-23 02:29:25
Document Modified: 2018-06-23 02:29:25
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 of proposed priorities; request for comments.
Dates		In order to be considered, comments must be received no later than August 24, 2018.
Contact		Dori Sneddon, 202-205-8024, [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 29559
83 FR 29559 - Notice; Children's Bureau Proposed Research Priorities for Fiscal Years 2018-2020

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESAdministration for Children and Families

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 122 (June 25, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
