Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request, 48820-48821 [2017-22718]

Download as PDF 48820 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 202 / Friday, October 20, 2017 / Notices programs participating in classroomlevel data collection will be contacted. All programs will be contacted a second time in fall 2021 to confirm their continued participation in the Core spring 2022 data collection. The programs from Region XI would be recruited a year earlier (i.e., spring 2018) given the increased amount of time to recruit programs in tribal communities and to obtain tribal council and/or tribal leadership approval. The method of data collection for recruitment of all programs will include telephone conversations with program directors and on-site coordinators who serve as liaisons between the FACES study team and the Head Start centers. In Region XI, an additional recruitment telephone call with tribal leadership/ tribal council will be required. All of these calls will inform program staff about the purpose of the study and will gather lists of centers in each program in order to compile the center sampling frame. The purpose of this data collection is to support the 2007 reauthorization of the Head Start program (Pub. L.110–134), which calls for periodic assessments of Head Start’s quality and effectiveness. Respondents: Head Start Program Directors and Staff, as well as tribal leadership. ANNUAL BURDEN ESTIMATES Total number of respondents Instrument srobinson on DSKBC5CHB2PROD with NOTICES Telephone script and recruitment information collection for program directors, Regions I–X ....................................... Telephone script and recruitment information collection for program directors, Region XI ........................................... Telephone script and recruitment information collection for on-site coordinators, Regions I–X .................................... Telephone script and recruitment information collection for on-site coordinators, Regions XI ...................................... Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 439. In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described above. Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, 330 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20201, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer. Email address: OPREinfocollection@ acf.hhs.gov. All requests should be identified by the title of the information collection. The Department specifically requests comments on (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:22 Oct 19, 2017 Jkt 244001 Annual number of respondents Annual burden hours 77 3 1 231 30 10 2 1 20 230 77 3 .75 173 30 10 2 .75 15 Mary Jones, ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer. [FR Doc. 2017–22713 Filed 10–19–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4184–22–P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request Title: Pre-testing of Evaluation Data Collection Activities. OMB No.: 0970–0355. Description: The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to renew a generic clearance to pre-test data collection instruments with more than nine participants to identify and resolve any question or procedural problems in survey administration. OPRE studies ACF programs, and the populations they serve, through rigorous research and evaluation projects. These include evaluations of existing programs, evaluations of innovative approaches to helping low-income children and families, research syntheses and descriptive and exploratory studies. To improve the Frm 00035 Average burden hours per response 230 comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication. PO 00000 Number of responses per respondent Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 development of its research and evaluation surveys, OPRE uses the pretesting of evaluation surveys generic clearance to employ a variety of techniques including cognitive and usability laboratory and field techniques, behavior coding, exploratory interviews, respondent debriefing questionnaires, split sample experiments, focus groups, and pilot studies/pre-tests. These activities allow OPRE to identify if and when a survey may be simplified for respondents, respondent burden may be reduced, and other possible improvements. Following standard OMB requirements, OPRE will submit a change request for each individual data collection activity under this generic clearance. Each request will include the individual instrument(s), a justification specific to the individual information collection, and any supplementary documents. OMB should review within 10 days of receiving each change request. The information collected in this effort will not be the primary subject of any published ACF reports; however, information may be made public through methodological appendices or footnotes, reports on instrument development, instrument user guides, descriptions of respondent behavior, and other publications or presentations describing findings of methodological interest. When necessary, results will be labeled as exploratory in nature. The results of this pre-testing research may be prepared for presentation at E:\FR\FM\20OCN1.SGM 20OCN1 48821 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 202 / Friday, October 20, 2017 / Notices professional meetings or publication in professional journals. Respondents: Participants in ACF programs being evaluated; participants in ACF demonstrations; recipients of ACF Grants and individuals served by ACF Grantees; comparison group members; and other relevant populations, such as individuals at risk of needing ACF services. ANNUAL BURDEN ESTIMATES Instrument Total number of respondents Number of responses per respondent Average burden hours per response Total burden hours Survey development field tests, respondent debriefing questionnaires, cognitive interviews, split sample experiments, focus groups ........................... 3,825 1 1 3,825 In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described above. Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, 330 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20201, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer. Email address: OPREinfocollection@ acf.hhs.gov. All requests should be identified by the title of the information collection. The Department specifically requests comments on (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication. Mary Jones, ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer. [FR Doc. 2017–22718 Filed 10–19–17; 8:45 am] srobinson on DSKBC5CHB2PROD with NOTICES BILLING CODE 4184–79–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:22 Oct 19, 2017 Jkt 244001 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Title: Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS). OMB No.: 0970–0422. Description: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires federal agencies to publish a 30-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is publishing this notice that summarizes the following proposed collection of information for public comment: Title of Collection: Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS). OMB Control Number: 0970–0422, expiration date February 28, 2018. Type of Review: An extension of an existing information collection. Respondents/Affected Public: Title IV–E State, Local, and Tribal Child Welfare Agencies. There have been no revisions to the existing AFCARS data collection found under federal regulations at 45 CFR 1355.40. The requirements for AFCARS being addressed by this notice are scheduled to end on September 30, 2019. ACF is requesting that OMB approve a three-year renewal to cover the period when States and IV–E Tribes must continue submitting the existing requirements. PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 On December 14, 2016, a new set of requirements (45 CFR 1355.41–44) for AFCARS reporting was published as a final rule and will go into effect on October 1, 2019. At that time, the requirements covered by this notice (45 CFR 1355.40) will be replaced by the new regulatory requirements. The requirements for the updated AFCARS requirements found in federal regulations at 45 CFR 1355.41–44 are covered by a different OMB control number (0970–0457) and are not addressed by this Notice. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In addition to this Notice, Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension or update of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. In compliance with this requirement, ACF published a notice in the Federal Register on June 30, 2017 and invited comment on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of ACF’s functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of ACF’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques when appropriate, and other forms of information technology for the existing AFCARS reporting that is required by States and Tribes. ACF received 71 comment letters to the first notice. No substantive comments were received regarding the existing AFCARS data collection in 45 CFR 1355.40 under OMB Number 0970– 0457. Instead, commenters provided feedback on the new AFCARS data E:\FR\FM\20OCN1.SGM 20OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 202 (Friday, October 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48820-48821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22718]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Title: Pre-testing of Evaluation Data Collection Activities.
    OMB No.: 0970-0355.
    Description: The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation 
(OPRE), in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) intends to request 
approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to renew a 
generic clearance to pre-test data collection instruments with more 
than nine participants to identify and resolve any question or 
procedural problems in survey administration.
    OPRE studies ACF programs, and the populations they serve, through 
rigorous research and evaluation projects. These include evaluations of 
existing programs, evaluations of innovative approaches to helping low-
income children and families, research syntheses and descriptive and 
exploratory studies. To improve the development of its research and 
evaluation surveys, OPRE uses the pre-testing of evaluation surveys 
generic clearance to employ a variety of techniques including cognitive 
and usability laboratory and field techniques, behavior coding, 
exploratory interviews, respondent debriefing questionnaires, split 
sample experiments, focus groups, and pilot studies/pre-tests. These 
activities allow OPRE to identify if and when a survey may be 
simplified for respondents, respondent burden may be reduced, and other 
possible improvements.
    Following standard OMB requirements, OPRE will submit a change 
request for each individual data collection activity under this generic 
clearance. Each request will include the individual instrument(s), a 
justification specific to the individual information collection, and 
any supplementary documents. OMB should review within 10 days of 
receiving each change request.
    The information collected in this effort will not be the primary 
subject of any published ACF reports; however, information may be made 
public through methodological appendices or footnotes, reports on 
instrument development, instrument user guides, descriptions of 
respondent behavior, and other publications or presentations describing 
findings of methodological interest. When necessary, results will be 
labeled as exploratory in nature. The results of this pre-testing 
research may be prepared for presentation at

[[Page 48821]]

professional meetings or publication in professional journals.
    Respondents: Participants in ACF programs being evaluated; 
participants in ACF demonstrations; recipients of ACF Grants and 
individuals served by ACF Grantees; comparison group members; and other 
relevant populations, such as individuals at risk of needing ACF 
services.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Number of      Average burden
                 Instrument                   Total number of   responses per      hours per       Total burden
                                                respondents       respondent        response          hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey development field tests, respondent             3,825                1                1            3,825
 debriefing questionnaires, cognitive
 interviews, split sample experiments, focus
 groups.....................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and 
Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the 
information collection described above. Copies of the proposed 
collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded 
by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Planning, Research, and Evaluation, 330 C Street SW., Washington, DC 
20201, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer. Email address: 
OPREinfocollection@acf.hhs.gov. All requests should be identified by 
the title of the information collection.
    The Department specifically requests comments on (a) whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection 
of information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted 
within 60 days of this publication.

Mary Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-22718 Filed 10-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4184-79-P
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