March 5-6, 2012

Renaissance Hotel
999 9th Street NW.
Washington, DC 20001

In August 2011, ACF issued its Consultation Policy in partnership with tribes. This policy will help our program offices and program office regional presence to better engage Federally Recognized Indian Tribes in the development or revision of policies, regulations, and proposed legislation that impact American Indians. ACF firmly believes that in order to create a good working relationship with tribes, it starts with requesting and receiving input from the tribes to ensure that we are meeting their needs and to establish a partnership that can carry us into the future.Show citation box

Testimonies may be submitted no later than February 24, 2012, to:

Lillian Sparks, Commissioner
Administration for Native Americans
370 L'Enfant Promenade SW.,
Washington, DC 20447
anacommissioner@acf.hhs.gov

However, this deadline does not preclude anyone from providing testimony at the session and we will, to the extent that time allows, hear your testimony.

If you plan on attending to present your testimony, please provide the name, title, and tribe of the individual who will be presenting to Kimberly Romine. Ms. Romine may be reached at Kimberly.romine@acf.hhs.gov or by phone at (202) 205-5603.

In order to facilitate the discussion, we ask that presenters provide a brief overview of the testimony and include the specific issues to be addressed at the session. For any tribe unable to attend to present testimony, please be aware that ACF will keep the testimony record open for 30 days after the date of the consultation. After 30 days, ACF will provide written responses to all testimonies received, including those that were presented in person.

To register for the consultation, please submit your name, tribe or organization, phone, and email address to Ms. Romine.

In addition to the Tribal Consultation session, ACF will be hosting a half day Tribal Training and Technical Assistance session to provide information about ACF programs, and ACF's Integration and Interoperability Initiative. The Tribal Training and Technical Assistance session will be held the morning of March 5, 2012, in the same room as the Tribal Consultation session.

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/01/19/2012-1009/tribal-consultation-notice-of-meeting#p-5

The Children’s Bureau’s (CB) Division of State Systems (DSS) has been assigned responsibility to undertake consultation with Tribes and offers the opportunity for informed comment on the implications that the State-centric rules have on their ability to build and operate information systems that will support their title IV– E programs. This will be followed by a consultation to listen to the concerns and ideas from Tribal leaders and their representatives about the existing SACWIS rules and how CB can support title IV–E Tribal agencies in building information systems that will meet their business needs.

We propose two such combined meetings via teleconferences to reach a broad audience of interested parties. The teleconference on February 15, 2012 at 1 p.m. EST is reserved for Tribal leaders; the teleconference on February 16, 2012 at 3 p.m. EST is intended for their representatives. Access information for these teleconferences is as follows:

• February 15, 2012 at 1 p.m. EST call in: (888) 989–8183; Password: 368–9268.
• February 16, 2012 at 3 p.m. EST call in: (888) 673–9785; Password: 621–8061.

The teleconferences will be recorded, and a summary of the content will be published within 45 days of the February 16, 2012 call.

You may submit written comments about this topic by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Email: DSSComments@acf.hhs.gov. Please include ‘‘Comments on Tribal Consultation’’ in the subject line of the message.
• Mail or Courier Delivery:

If you choose to use an express, overnight, or other special delivery method, please verify first that they are able to deliver to the above address during the normal workweek. We encourage you to submit comments electronically so that they are received in a timely manner. All comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov including any personal information provided. Written comments and comments provided during consultation will receive equal consideration by CB.

If you have questions about this process, or want further information about current Federal regulations governing child welfare automation, please contact Mr. Peter Howe, John F. Kennedy Federal Building, Room 2000 West, 15 New Sudbury Street, Boston, MA 02203; voice: (617) 565–1515; by email at: peter.howe@acf.hhs.gov.

The Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act (Public Law 112-34), which was signed into law on September 30, 2011, created a new Tribal Court Improvement Program (Tribal CIP). In keeping with the Administration for Children and Families’ Tribal Consultation Policy, they are seeking input to help ensure successful implementation of the program.

To seek consultation with tribes on the implementation of the Tribal CIP, ACF will hold two conference calls in January to seek input on key questions regarding the administration, scope and duration of grant awards, as well as any other considerations for implementing the new program that participants may raise.

• Wednesday, January 11, 2012, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (EST) and 
• Thursday, January 12, 2012, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (EST).

Call-in number: 1-877-450-1348, Participant code: 77444474

Questions for Tribal Consultation on the Tribal Court Improvement Program

The Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act (Public Law 112-34), which was signed into law on September 30, 2011, creates a new Tribal Court Improvement Program (Tribal CIP). The Tribal CIP provides tribal courts with the opportunity to compete for grants to assess and improve how they handle child welfare proceedings in order to ensure children’s safety, permanence, and well-being.

The law allocates one million dollars annually for each of fiscal years 2012 – 2016 for competitive grants. Eligible applicants are the highest courts of Indian tribes or tribal consortia that: (1) are operating an approved title IV–E Foster Care and Adoption Assistance Program; (2) have been awarded a tribal implementation grant (indicating that they are seeking to implement a title IV–E plan); or (3) have a court responsible for proceedings related to foster care or adoption.

Given the size of the allocation (one million dollars annually for five years) and the requirement that awards be made on a competitive basis:

1. What is the maximum number of grants that you think the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) should make?
2. In your opinion, what should be the minimum annual grant amounts awarded per tribe and what should be the maximum annual grant amount awarded per tribe? Please share the reasons for your recommendations.
3. In your opinion, what is the appropriate length of time for the project period for the grants (two, three, four or five years) before the grants are recompeted? Please share the reasons for your recommendation.
4. Do you foresee any challenges or obstacles to tribal courts applying for grants directly? (The law indicates that the applicant is required to be the highest court of appeals for tribes or tribal consortia).
5. Do you foresee any unique challenges or obstacles to tribal courts administering the grants?
6. Are there any other suggestions or concerns that you feel it is important that ACF take into consideration in implementing this new program?

T0: State, Tribal and Territorial Agencies Administering or Supervising the Administration of Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations and Tribal Consortia

Subject: Issuance of Final Federal Register Notice on Calculation of Annual Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) Rates for Indian Tribes for Use in the Title IV-E Foster Care, Adoption Assistance, and Kinship Guardianship Assistance Programs

Purpose: The purpose of this Information Memorandum is to provide notice to title IV-E agencies and to Tribes interested in the title IV-E program that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a final notice with respect to the calculation of Tribal FMAP rates for use in the title IV-E Foster Care, Adoption Assistance, and Kinship Guardianship Assistance Programs.

Winning Innovations Selected by Secretary Sebelius

Supporting Tribal Grantees – ACF Makes it Simple 

Navigating grant requirements can be challenging, particularly when forms are complex and staff turnover is high.

 Read how ACF’s Children’s Bureau has helped tribal grantees access funds through streamlining processes and better understanding tribal needs.

The Tribal Child Welfare Team within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Region VI Children’s Bureau created a solution for improved accessibility to title IV-B grant funds (non-competitive grant to serve Indian families and children who are at risk of abuse and neglect). This process included developing improved relationships with Tribal grantees to better understand how the processes and forms could be improved to match their needs.

Without this streamlined procedure to apply for title IV-B funds, many Tribal directors would not have the time or resources to apply. The new templates are user-friendly, are written in clear and concise language and have helped improve transparency in the application process.

The new templates also allow Tribes to make updates into the same document each year. This process allows for any new directors to review an entire five year cycle and update the document with information about what has happened in their program each year. This new approach minimizes the risk of losing funding because of staff turnover.

Since implementation two years ago, nearly all of the 67 recognized Tribes within the states of Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico are taking advantage of title IV-B funding.  

Visit the Children’s Bureau website for more information about Tribal IV-B funding.

Background on HHSinnovates

The HHSinnovates program was created as part of HHS Open Government efforts to celebrate innovation by employees of HHS. The program is aimed at building a culture of innovation at HHS through facilitating the exchange of innovative ideas throughout the Department. This contest seeks not only to recognize and reward good ideas but also to help promote them across the Department.

Twice a year, HHS employees are invited to submit innovations via an internal intranet site. The top innovations are posted for secure, on-line voting and commenting by the entire HHS community. The winning innovations are recognized by the Secretary in an awards ceremony and the innovators are personally invited to share their innovations with the Department’s leadership.

The first round of HHSinnovates was launched in May 2010, the second round was launched in October 2010, and the third round was launched in May 2011. The last three rounds of HHSinnovates have demonstrated how HHS employees have overcome resource constraints, packed schedules and organizational silos to provide creative, replicable and sustainable innovations that demonstrate outstanding leadership and promising results.

Children’s Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth & Families Announces: A Webinar for Home Visiting Program Lead Agencies and Key Partners

“Partnerships and Collaboration in Home Visiting: Critical Issues in Serving Families with Substance Use Disorders”

Thursday, September 22, 2011
3:00-4:30 pm EST/ 12:00-1:30 pm PST

The purpose of this webinar is to address critical issues regarding the important linkages between substance abuse treatment and home visiting programs and key partners to support positive outcomes for families. Strategies for developing and strengthening collaboration between home visiting programs and substance abuse treatment programs will be discussed. Resources to increase the skills and competencies of home visiting staff in working with families affected by substance use disorders will be provided.

Reserve a seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/805919320

For questions, please contact Hanh Dao at Children and Family Futures, Inc., at hdao@cffutures.org or 1-866-493-2758.

November 3-4, 2011
Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel

Purpose of the Meeting:
The Children’s Bureau, in partnership with the Department of Education, is holding a two-day meeting, setting forth a call to action that will convene leaders in the child welfare, education and juvenile court systems for every State, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. With a focus on children and youth in foster care, the purpose of this meeting will be to:

• encourage participation in enhancing existing cross-system efforts to address educational stability and continuity issues;
• showcase collaborative projects and initiatives at State and local levels that support educational well-being outcomes; and
• facilitate development of action plans by each State that set forth strategies for improving educational outcomes.

Background:
The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-351) (Fostering Connections) sets forth provisions that address critical education issues. Specifically, Fostering Connections requires that State child welfare agencies:

• ensure children and youth in foster care are enrolled in school or have completed secondary school;
• consider education stability in case plans and when identifying foster care placements;
• address transportation issues and costs, when required to maintain a child in his or her school of origin; and
• coordinate with local education systems to ensure children and youth can remain in their school upon placement into foster care, or if remaining in that school is not in the best interest, that the child is enrolled immediately in a new school with all of the educational records being provided.
  

These mandates represent significant new requirements for State child welfare agencies and provide an opportunity to improve and enhance cross-systems collaboration among State child welfare agencies, juvenile courts and education systems.
Goals of the Meeting:

This meeting will bring together leaders of the three systems to:

• expand understanding of each system and the individual and collective opportunities to contribute toward the betterment of educational outcomes for children in foster care;
• gain insight into youth’s perspectives on what supports have aided in their educational success;
• familiarize participants with the educational provisions of Fostering Connections;
• increase awareness of meaningful collaborative initiatives and programs affecting educational outcomes, specifically addressing the requirements of Fostering Connections; and
• develop action plans for moving forward with specific goals that they will collaboratively champion in their respective organizations.

Who Is Invited to Attend:
The invited participants will be given the opportunity to convene as “State Foster Care Education Teams”, representing their respective State. We will ask leaders from each State Child Welfare Agency, Dependency Court Improvement Program, and Education Agency to identify members representing their system in the State Foster Care Education Teams. We look forward to having three child welfare members, three education members and two court members in every team. These teams will have the unique opportunity to work together in developing action plans aiming to serve as roadmaps to increasing collaborative supports for children and youth in foster care.

About the Meeting:
When: November 3-4, 2011
Where: Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel
2800 South Potomac Avenue
Arlington, Virginia 22207
Phone: (703) 413-1300
www.Marriott.com/WASPY

For More Information:
Please contact Taffy Compain, National Foster Care Specialist at:
Taffy.Compain@acf.hhs.gov or (202) 205-7793.

“Partnerships and Collaboration in Home Visiting:  Critical Issues in Serving Families with Substance Use Disorders”

Thursday, September 22, 2011
3:00-4:30 pm EST/ 12:00-1:30 pm PST

The purpose of this webinar is to address critical issues regarding the important linkages between substance abuse treatment and home visiting programs and key partners to support positive outcomes for families. Strategies for developing and strengthening collaboration between home visiting programs and substance abuse treatment programs will be discussed. Resources to increase the skills and competencies of home visiting staff in working with families affected by substance use disorders will be provided.

Reserve a seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/805919320

For questions, please contact Hanh Dao at Children and Family Futures, Inc., at hdao@cffutures.org or 1-866-493-2758.

On Thursday, September 1 at 12:00pm EDT/11:00am CDT/9:00am PDT, The National Center for Child Traumatic Stress will be hosting a live webinar Who are the Young Children in Foster Care? What Critical Points Must be Kept in Mind When Addressing Their Needs? with Anna Smyke, PhD, Tulane University School of Medicine; Jody Manly, PhD, Mt. Hope Family Center/University of Rochester; and Leslie Brown, LCSW, Children's Relief Nursery.


This webinar launches a 9-part series addressing complex issues and critical needs surrounding young traumatized children in the child welfare system and those who care for them. Infants' and toddlers' unique needs within the child welfare system often do not receive adequate attention. Within a trauma-informed framework, participants will learn about a variety of issues relevant to very young children, their caregivers, and the individuals and systems charged with supporting their recovery from abuse and neglect.

This series will provide a knowledge base for individuals in systems that serve young foster children, ranging from child welfare workers, resource parents (both non-family and kin), mental health providers, psychotherapists, early interventionists, early childhood educators, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech and language therapists, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), guardians ad litem, child and parent attorneys, judges, administrators, and policy makers.

Visit the NCTSN Learning Center for Child and Adolescent Trauma and join the Zero to Six Child Welfare webinar series. Or use the following course link at http://learn.nctsn.org/course/view.php?id=66

To submit a question for the presenters during the webinar, click on the chat bubble icon in the top left of the screen. To Listen by Phone call 1-866-295-5950 and enter guest code 5318986#. To submit a question, email question@nctsn.org. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jennifer Grady at Jennifer.grady@duke.edu