Charter

ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR WOMEN’S SERVICES

Authority

This charter renews the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Advisory Committee for Women’s Services (ACWS) in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 290aa, section 501(f)(2)(C) of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. The ACWS is governed by the provision of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C., App., which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory committees.

Objectives and Scope of Activities

In accordance with section 501(f) of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 290aa, the Associate Administrator for Women's Services (AAWS), SAMHSA, shall provide leadership and guidance in developing and implementing agency plans to meet women's substance abuse and mental health services needs; coordinate and promote collaboration among the three SAMHSA Centers, and with other U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) components; develop policies and programs regarding women's issues; develop plans to standardize and enhance the collection of data on women's health; establish and operate the mandated agency Coordinating Committee for Women's Services; promote the allocation of sufficient resources for women's services within each SAMHSA Center; establish and support the mandated ACWS; ensure the establishment, maintenance and operation of a program to provide information on women's substance abuse and mental health services; assure the conduct of appropriate evaluation of women's services; and monitor and report on agency recruitment and hiring of women in senior positions.

Description of Duties

The ACWS shall advise the AAWS and the Administrator, SAMHSA, on appropriate activities to be undertaken by the Agency’s Centers with respect to women's substance abuse and mental health services, including services which require a multi disciplinary approach; collect and review data, including information provided by the Secretary, and report biannually to the Administrator regarding the extent to which women are represented among senior personnel, and make recommendations regarding improvement in the participation of women in the workforce of the Administration; and prepare, for inclusion in the biennial report, a description of activities of the Committee, including findings regarding: 1) the extent of expenditures made for women's substance abuse and mental health services by the SAMHSA Centers, and 2) the estimated level of funding needed for substance abuse and mental health services to meet the needs of women.

Agency or Official to Whom the Committee Reports

The ACWS shall advise and make recommendations to the AAWS and the Administrator, SAMHSA, concerning activities carried out by the Agency with respect to women’s substance abuse and mental health services.

Support

Management and support services shall be provided by the Office of Policy, Planning and Innovation, SAMHSA.

Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years

The estimated annual cost for operating the ACWS, including compensation and travel expenses for members, but excluding staff support, is $85,063. The estimate of annual person-years of staff support is 1.0, at an estimated annual cost of $94,375.

Designated Federal Official

The Administrator, SAMHSA, shall designate an Agency staff member to serve as the Designated Federal Official (DFO) of the ACWS. The DFO will approve or call all ACWS meetings and subcommittee meetings, prepare and approve meeting agendas, attend all ACWS meetings and subcommittee meetings, adjourn any meeting when the DFO determines adjournment to be in the public interest, and chair meetings when directed to do so by the official to whom the committee reports.

Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings

The ACWS shall meet no less than two times during each fiscal year. The location of the meetings of the committee shall be subject to the approval of the AAWS.

ACWS meetings shall be open to the public except as determined otherwise by the Secretary of HHS (or the designee), in accordance with the Government in Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b(c)) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Notice of all meetings shall be given to the public. In the event a portion of a meeting is closed to the public, a report will be prepared which shall contain, at a minimum, a list of members and their business addresses, the ACWS’s functions, dates and places of meetings, and a summary of committee activities and recommendations made during the fiscal year.

Duration

Continuing.

Termination

Unless renewed by appropriate action prior to its expiration, the charter for the ACWS will terminate two years from the date the charter is filed.

Membership and Designation

The ACWS shall consist of the AAWS as Chair and 10 members to be appointed by the Administrator, SAMHSA, a majority of whom shall be women who are not officers or employees of the Federal Government. Members shall be from among physicians, practitioners, treatment providers, and other health professionals, whose clinical practice, specialization, or professional expertise includes a significant focus on women's substance abuse and mental health conditions. All members shall serve as Special Government Employees.

A quorum for the conduct of business by the full Committee will consist of a majority (one more than one half) of currently appointed voting members.

The term of office of a member of the ACWS shall be 4 years, except a member may serve after the expiration of the member’s term until a successor has been appointed and taken office. Initial appointments shall be made in such a manner as to ensure that the terms of the members do not all expire in the same year. Terms of more than 2 years are contingent upon renewal of the ACWS’s charter by appropriate action prior to its expiration. A member who has been appointed for a term of 4 years may not be reappointed to an advisory committee before 2 years from the date of expiration of such term of office.

The AAWS, SAMHSA, shall also provide orientation and training for new members of the ACWS and shall provide them with such information and training as may be appropriate for their effective participation in the functions of the committee.

Subcommittee

Subcommittees composed of members and nonmembers of the parent committee may be established with the approval of the Administrator or AAWS. The advice/recommendations of a subcommittee must be deliberated by the parent committee. A subcommittee may not provide advice or work products directly to the agency. The Department Committee Management Officer will be notified upon establishment of each subcommittee and will be provided information on its name, membership, function, and estimated frequency of meetings.

Recordkeeping

The records of the ACWS shall be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 26, Item 2 or other approved agency records disposition schedule. These records shall be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552.

Filing Date

June 15, 2012

APPROVED: