[Federal Register: May 28, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 101)]
[Notices]               
[Page 25570-25571]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28my09-88]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

 
Notice of Public Comment on Tribal Consultation Sessions

AGENCY: Office of Head Start (OHS), Administration for Children and 
Families, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of public comment on Tribal Consultation Sessions to be 
held on July 7, July 21, and July 23, 2009.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act 
of 2007, Public Law 110-134, Notice is hereby given of one-day Tribal 
Consultation Sessions to be held between the Department of Health and 
Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Head Start leadership and the leadership of Tribal governments 
operating Head Start (including Early Head Start) programs. The purpose 
of the Consultation Sessions is to discuss ways to better meet the 
needs of Indian, including Alaska Native, children and their families, 
taking into consideration funding allocations, distribution formulas, 
and other issues affecting the delivery of Head Start services in their 
geographic locations [42 U.S.C. 9835, Section 640(l)(4)].
    Date & Location:
    The Consultation Sessions will be held as follows:
    July 7, 2009--Denver, Colorado.
    July 21, 2009--Kansas City, Missouri.
    July 23, 2009--Mystic Lake, Minnesota.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nina McFadden, Regional Program 
Manager, American Indian/Alaska Native Program Branch, Office of Head 
Start, email nina.mcfadden@acf.hhs.gov or (202) 205-8569. Additional 
information and online registration are available at http://
www.hsnrc.org.

[[Page 25571]]

Information on Tribal Consultation Sessions in other Regions will be 
announced once dates and locations are confirmed.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Health and Human Services 
would like to invite leaders of Tribal governments operating Head Start 
(including Early Head Start) programs to participate in a formal 
Consultation Session with OHS leadership. The Consultation Sessions 
will take place on July 7 in Denver, Colorado; July 21 in Kansas City, 
Missouri; and July 23 in Mystic Lake (in Prior Lake outside 
Minneapolis), Minnesota. Hotel and logistical information for the 
Consultation Sessions is currently being confirmed. This information 
will be sent to Tribal leaders via email and posted on the Head Start 
Resource Center Web site, http://www.hsnrc.org, as it becomes 
available.
    The purpose of the Consultation Sessions is to solicit input on 
ways to better meet the needs of Indian, including Alaska Native, 
children and their families, taking into consideration funding 
allocations, distribution formulas, and other issues affecting the 
delivery of Head Start services in their geographic locations.
    Tribal leaders and designated representatives interested in 
submitting topics for a Consultation Session agenda should contact Nina 
McFadden at nina.mcfadden@acf.hhs.gov. The proposal should include a 
brief description of the topic area along with the name and contact 
information of the suggested presenter.
    The Consultation Sessions will be conducted with elected or 
appointed leaders of Tribal governments and their designated 
representatives [42 U.S.C. 9835, Section 640(l)(4)(A)]. Representatives 
from Tribal organizations and Native non-profit organizations are 
welcome to attend as observers. Those serving as representatives of a 
Tribe must have a written letter from the Tribal government authorizing 
them to serve as the Tribal representative. This should be submitted 
not less than 3 days in advance of the Consultation Session to Nina 
McFadden at 202-205-9721 (fax).
    A detailed report of each Consultation Session will be prepared and 
made available within 90 days of the consultation to all Tribal 
governments receiving funds for Head Start (including Early Head Start) 
programs. Tribes wishing to submit written testimony for the 
consultation report should send it to Nina McFadden at 
nina.mcfadden@acf.hhs.gov either prior to the Consultation Session or 
within 30 days after the meeting. Please note that only written 
testimony submitted to OHS will be included in the report, as an 
appendix. Testimony and comments made orally will be summarized in the 
report without attribution, along with topics of concern and 
recommendations.

    Dated: May 21, 2009.
Patricia Brown,
Acting Director, Office of Head Start.
[FR Doc. E9-12396 Filed 5-27-09; 8:45 am]

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