FR 2021-02054

The document under review is an official notice from the Federal Register announcing a closed meeting organized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This meeting is scheduled to occur over three days, from June 22-24, 2021, and will be conducted via web conference. The purpose of the meeting is to review and evaluate grant applications focused on prevention strategies aimed at reducing youth violence, part of the CDC's National Centers of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention. The restrictions placed on the meeting's access are primarily to protect confidential information and personal privacy.

General Summary

This notice informs the public about a meeting with significant implications for violence prevention efforts across communities. The CDC aims to assess and potentially fund initiatives that could effectively diminish rates of youth violence. By reviewing grant applications, the meeting participants will contribute to shaping the future of violence prevention strategies. While closed to the public, the process will include reviewing sensitive information, which underpins the necessity for privacy during the proceedings.

Significant Issues and Concerns

Several concerns are apparent from the document:

• Lack of Transparency: The closed nature of the meeting means that the process of evaluating the grant applications lacks public oversight. This might lead to perceptions of bias or favoritism since stakeholders and interested citizens cannot observe the proceedings.

• Ambiguity in Justifications: The notice uses terms such as "confidential trade secrets" and "personal information" without further explanation, leaving ambiguity around what specific information justifies closing the meeting. Greater clarification could strengthen public trust in the process.

• Undefined Evaluation Criteria: The document does not outline the specific criteria or methodology for evaluating the grant applications. Without this information, applicants may face uncertainty over what aspects are deemed essential for success.

• Funding and Grant Information Omission: Additionally, the document does not state the number of grants to be awarded or the total funding allocation, information that would provide a clearer picture of the scope and scale of the initiative.

Public Impact

Broadly speaking, the outcomes of this meeting could have substantial implications for public health and safety. Effective strategies funded by the CDC could lead to reduced youth violence, benefiting communities nationwide by fostering safer environments for young people. On the other hand, public exclusion from the meeting might temper trust in the decision-making process and lead to questions about the fairness or effectiveness of the evaluations conducted.

Impact on Stakeholders

Different stakeholders will likely experience varying impacts:

• Applicants: Those submitting grant applications may feel disadvantaged by the lack of clarity on evaluation criteria. The closed nature of the meeting may also lead to concerns over impartiality.

• Public and Community Organizations: These groups might be positively impacted if effective youth violence prevention strategies are funded and implemented. However, they might also express concern about the openness and transparency of the grant selection process.

• Policy Experts and Analysts: Professionals in the field may find it challenging to assess the meeting's fairness and results without insight into its proceedings, potentially impacting their ability to advise on policy improvements or similar initiatives in the future.

In summary, while the meeting holds the promise of advancing crucial public health initiatives, increased transparency and detailed information could significantly enhance public trust and stakeholder confidence in the meeting's objectives and outcomes.