On January 9, 2017, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) published a notice in the FEDERAL REGISTER seeking comments from tribes, tribal organizations and others identifying challenges they face in working with ACF and in the implementation of ACF programs. The notice can be found here: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2017-01-09/pdf/2017-00111.pdf Comments are due March 10, 2017.
ACF administers a wide array of programs directly impacting tribes, including:
• Title IV-B, Subparts 1 and 2, Child Welfare and Promoting Safe and Stable Families
• Title IV-E Foster Care and Adoption Assistance
• Child Support Enforcement
• Child Care and Development Block Grant
• Head Start
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
• Native American Employment Works Program
• Family Violence and Prevention Services/Battered Women’s Shelters
• Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program
• Administration for Native Americans grant programs (including Environmental Regulatory Enhancement; Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance; and Social and Economic Development Strategies for Native Americans)
The ACF poses nine questions covering the following areas and asks that responses be as specific as possible to programs and processes.
• Challenges posed by non-federal match or cost sharing requirements
• Challenges posed by administrative costs caps
• Expansion of waiver authority
• Streamlining existing waiver authority processes
• Regulatory or administrative barriers to program implementation
• Identification of ACF practices, policies and procedures that are particularly effective
• Recommended data collection and analysis
• Suggestions for better sharing of data related to AI/AN grantee performance, outcomes, and sustainability
• Application eligibility processes that may discourage application for programs
Please let us know if we may provide additional information or assistance regarding the request of the Administration for Children and Families for comments.
