Search Results for keywords:"Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a final rule to amend safety standards for child restraint systems in vehicles. The goal is to improve the ease of use and effectiveness of lower and tether anchorages in cars, fulfilling the MAP-21 mandate. The new regulations include clearer labeling, standardized anchorage configurations, and improved testing tools to ensure child safety systems are more user-friendly. The rule includes a phased implementation starting in September 2028 to allow manufacturers time to incorporate these changes into vehicle designs.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is conducting a new study to assess the strength capabilities of children, in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. They have submitted a request for approval to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and invite public comments by February 18, 2021. The study, in partnership with the University of Michigan, will collect data from nearly 800 children aged 3 months to 5 years to update strength data that was last gathered over 40 years ago. This information will help improve child safety standards and designs for consumer products.

The Department of Commerce is seeking comments from the public on the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH), as they prepare to submit information collection requests to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This survey, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, gathers important data to estimate the health and wellbeing of children nationwide, focusing on those with special health care needs. There are two modes of data collection: an online survey and a mail-in paper survey. Public comments on this information collection are welcomed to help reduce paperwork burdens and improve the process before the final submission to OMB.

The Department of Commerce is submitting an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the National Survey of Children's Health. This survey gathers data on the health and well-being of children across the United States, helping agencies estimate national and state-level impacts, especially for children with special health care needs. The survey involves about 375,000 addresses and uses both web and mail questionnaires, with some households receiving cash incentives to encourage participation. Written comments on the survey are invited within 30 days of the notice's publication.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced changes to the way it manages records about unaccompanied children in federal custody due to their immigration status. The updated system, now called the ORR Unaccompanied Children Bureau (UCB) Administrative Program Records, aims to enhance privacy protections and clarify routine uses of data, especially concerning law enforcement and child welfare investigations. The revisions prohibit using children's information for immigration enforcement purposes without consent and specify situations where information can be shared, like health care coordination or missing children investigations. These changes are part of HHS's ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of unaccompanied children.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is introducing a new system of records to be managed by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within its Administration for Children and Families. This system, titled ORR Unaccompanied Children Bureau Child Abuse or Neglect Investigation Records and Central Registry, aims to document cases related to child abuse or neglect at ORR facilities and maintain a registry to vet individuals who may work with unaccompanied children. The information stored will be used for investigations and to ensure that those with a history of abuse or neglect are not allowed to work or volunteer in positions involving direct contact with children under ORR care. Importantly, the data recorded will not be shared for immigration enforcement purposes without prior written consent from the individual concerned.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has introduced the 2024 Public Access Policy, which enhances public access to scholarly publications resulting from NIH-funded research. This policy mandates that authors submit their accepted manuscripts to PubMed Central, a digital archive, making them freely accessible without an embargo period starting December 31, 2025. The aim is to foster transparency, encourage collaboration, and ensure the public can engage with the latest scientific findings. The policy is grounded in feedback and is consistent with federal expectations for open access to taxpayer-funded research.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is proposing new procedures to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), including the addition of new categorical exclusions (CEs). These CEs are actions usually not expected to impact the environment significantly. NIST seeks public input on these draft procedures and the justification for the new CEs by January 10, 2025. The proposal is part of a larger effort to streamline and ensure consistency with environmental regulations.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is requesting feedback on the development of Child Nutrition Programs Tribal Pilot Projects. These projects, authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, will allow Tribes and Tribal organizations to take on roles traditionally held by State agencies in administering school meal programs. The USDA is seeking input from Tribes, Tribal organizations, State agencies, and others on topics like eligibility criteria and the selection process for these pilot projects. Written comments are being accepted until March 24, 2025, to help shape the application process and evaluate potential challenges and support needs.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule to reduce the dust-lead clearance levels in order to lower childhood lead exposure. These levels indicate the acceptable amount of lead residue following lead abatement activities. The new standards lower the clearance levels from 40 micrograms per square foot to 10 micrograms for floors, and from 250 to 100 micrograms for window sills. This change is made to align with updated science and aims to improve children's health by minimizing lead exposure. This rule is effective from March 8, 2021.