[Federal Register: August 31, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 169)]
[Notices]
[Page 51831-51833]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31au06-58]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Children's Bureau Proposed Research Priorities for Fiscal Years
2006-2008
AGENCY: Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF),
Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Response to Notice of Proposed Child Abuse and Neglect Research
Priorities for Fiscal Years 2006-2008.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Children's Bureau solicited comments from the public on
the Proposed Research Priorities for Fiscal Years 2006-2008 in Volume
71, Number 23 of the Federal Register on February 3, 2006. Comments
were due by April 4, 2006. All comments received by the deadline were
reviewed and given consideration in the preparation of this notice.
Summary of Public Comments
Section 104 (a)(4) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(CAPTA), as amended by the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of
2003, Public Law (Pub. L.). 108-36, requires the Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish proposed
priorities for research activities for public comment and to maintain
an official record of such public comment. In response to this
requirement, proposed priorities were published in February 2006 for
public comment and the responses received are detailed in this
document.
The Children's Bureau received over a dozen written responses from
a variety of sources; State protection and advocacy systems; community
agencies for children and families; national, State and local
associations and non-profit organizations; universities; hospitals;
children''s medical centers; mental health services agencies; agencies
serving children with disabilities; and private citizens.
Legislative Topics
One response commented on the proposed research topic of the causes
of child abuse and neglect. The commenter noted this issue as a high
priority, suggested that understanding the cause of child abuse and
neglect is central to understanding the dynamics of the issues as a
whole, and necessary for designing effective prevention and
intervention services. In contradiction to this comment, another set of
comments received ranked causes of abuse and neglect as a low priority
and suggested that there has been a wealth of research conducted in
this area.
A comment was received in response to the proposed research topic
on the socio-economic distinctions and consequences of child abuse and
neglect. The commenter suggested issues surrounding cultural and socio-
economic distinctions be studied in more depth given the recent studies
on overrepresentation of children of color in the child welfare and
juvenile justice systems. The commenter suggested that a longitudinal
study be conducted on this issue, and determination of how culture,
ethnicity and race play into the identification, assessment, prevention
and treatment and the consequences faced by families of color as a
result of involvement with the child protection system.
A number of comments were received in response to the proposed
research priority on the identification of successful early
intervention services or other needed services; these responses
supported the Children's Bureau's attention to this area.
The evaluation and dissemination of best practices was mentioned in
a number of responses. One response supported proposed research on
State-level strategies to improve child protection systems under this
topic area. Another commenter noted that attention to ``what works'' in
child protection and child welfare services has reached a ``new low,''
and greater support is needed in establishing a body of evidence about
effective services.
A number of comments were received in response to paragraphs (1)
through (14), under the heading of the evaluation and dissemination of
best practices consistent with the goals of achieving improvements in
child protective services systems of the States in accordance with
CAPTA [Section 106(a), Grant to States for Child Abuse and Neglect
Prevention and Treatment Program].
A comment was received encouraging that priority be given to
paragraph (ii): Creating and improving the use of multidisciplinary
teams and interagency protocol to enhance investigation, and improving
legal preparation and representation.
Another comment was received encouraging that priority be given to
paragraph (iv): Enhancing the general child protective system by
developing, improving and implementing risk and safety assessment tools
and protocols. This response specifically requested research on
differential response in child protective services.
One comment was received related to paragraph (x): Developing,
implementing or operating programs to assist in obtaining or
coordinating necessary services for families of disabled infants with
life-threatening conditions. The comment received related to this
paragraph noted the lack of mention given to issues related to persons
with disabilities, specifically parents with disabilities or to
children with disabilities (beyond this mention of disabled infants).
Additional attention to this response can be found below in the field-
initiated research area.
One comment was received in response to paragraph (xi): 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.
This commenter noted that mandated reporters often experience confusion
as to their responsibility to report suspected child abuse or neglect,
even after receiving training in this area. Due to the severity of
child abuse and neglect and the consequences at stake, the commenter
suggested additional research be conducted to explore better ways to
develop and deliver training and information to mandated reporters and
the public.
A comment was received encouraging that priority be given to
paragraph (xii): 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.
One response was a comment encouraging that priority be given to
paragraph (xiii): Supporting and
[[Page 51832]]
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.
Two responses were submitted in response to paragraph (xiv):
Supporting and enhancing collaboration among public health agencies,
the child protection system and private community-based programs to
provide child abuse and neglect prevention and treatment services
(including linkages with education systems) and to address the health
needs, including mental health needs, of children identified as abused
or neglected, including supporting prompt, comprehensive health and
developmental evaluations for children who are the subject of
substantiated child maltreatment reports. One response suggested
researching the use of differential response in child protective
services in reference to this priority area, focused on collaboration
among child protection systems and other public and private agencies.
Other Topics
A number of comments addressed the priority area of prevention
practices. Responses were received noting particular interest in
effective child abuse and neglect prevention practices, supporting
focused research to enlarge the knowledge base in this area. Responses
were received stating support for the approach included in the CAPTA
amendments for ``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.'' Two comments received suggest that
prevention research be the highest priority, and strongly supported the
Bureau's emphasis on prevention. Another comment supported the
Children's Bureau priority of the evaluation of services to prevent
abuse and the recurrence of abuse. Attention to home visitation as a
prevention strategy is suggested by two commenters. The use of respite
care is suggested in one submission. Research on respite, particularly
used to support families of children with disabilities is the focus of
this comment.
In response to the priority area of child protection systems, a
comment was received in regards to disproportionality within child
welfare and as noted earlier, comments were received in terms of
collaborative efforts among service providers targeting children
involved in the child welfare system or at risk of involvement.
A number of responses were directed at the services research
priority area. Comments were received supporting assessment of services
needed by and provided to children and families. One commenter
responded encouraging the prioritization of research in the
identification of early intervention services and the assessment and
provision of services to children and families, and the analysis of
services provided to victims of child maltreatment and the response of
protective services to children's mental health issues. As noted
earlier in terms of best practices, a response supported attention to
``what works'' in child protective and child welfare services. This
commenter also supported the assessment of services provided to
children and families and the relationship of these services to
outcomes, as outlined in the proposed research priorities. This
commenter suggested that little is known about the services provided to
children and families, and encouraged furthering this concept to
encompass the inclusion of documentation for services received by in-
home and community service cases.
A comment was received related to the provision of legal services
for children, specifically legal counsel. It suggested research to
examine state and local policies for appointing legal representation
for children in court proceedings, and to analyze disparities in
outcome for children who are or are not appointed legal counsel.
A comment was submitted encouraging research in the area of service
provision to both children and parents with mental health needs.
One comment was received in response to the proposed program
evaluation of priority area initiatives (or Evaluation of Programs
Addressing Administration Priorities). This comment expressed support
of the evaluation of effectiveness of healthy marriage promotion and
fatherhood initiatives to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Two comments were received in response to the proposed research
area entitled Perpetrators. Specifically, one comment supported
research in the area of characterizations of perpetrators to inform
more effective intervention and prevention efforts. One commenter
submitted a response supporting the pre-existing item ``research on
perpetrators and their patterns of perpetrating behaviors,'' and
supporting integrating recognition of perpetrator subgroups though the
research priorities.
Additional Comments
Finally, several respondents recommended additional areas of
research. In addition to supporting the research priorities already
outlined by the Children's Bureau, a number of additional suggestions
were submitted.
Research related to the CAPTA requirement linked to IDEA Part C was
noted by three commenters. Research in the area of privatization,
specifically in terms of cost effectiveness and efficiency (noting
workload and workforce issues) was submitted in response to this
solicitation for comment.
A response was received encouraging that attention be paid to the
documentation of in-home or community-based services and the lack of a
data collection systems for these services.
Research projects focusing on attention to risk factors associated
with child abuse and neglect, including domestic violence, substance
abuse, mental health issues, poverty and perpetrators experience as a
victim of child abuse were submitted as a comment.
One response encouraged research on the effectiveness of supervised
visitation programs and trauma and the engagement of caregivers in
treatment of trauma.
Comments were received including research in the areas of non-
violent households and research on corporal and physical punishment as
they relate to child maltreatment.
Two comments were received on research in the field of
disabilities, for children faced with disabilities and parents with
disabilities involved in the child welfare system.
A comment was received supporting research to ascertain the
prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol spectrum
disorder (FASD) in the foster care population, research on the
development of a protocol of services for children in the foster care
system diagnosed with FAS/FASD, and a longitudinal study on the impact
of intervention, treatment and services on children in foster care
diagnosed with FAS/FASD.
Conclusion
Throughout the Fiscal Years 2006-2008, the Children's Bureau will
address these proposed priorities, taking into consideration the public
comments and current funding cycles in drafting future announcements.
All grant applications will be posted
[[Page 51833]]
electronically each every fiscal year at http://www.grants.gov.
Joan E. Ohl,
Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.
[FR Doc. 06-7364 Filed 8-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P