2020-01047. Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information collection request titled Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB): Assessment of Processes and Outcomes to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. CDC previously published a “Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations” notice on September 25, 2019 to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC did not receive comments related to the previous notice. This notice serves to allow an additional 30 days for public and affected agency comments.

CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in comments that:

(a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

(d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including, through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses; and

(e) Assess information collection costs.

To request additional information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call [phone] or send an email to [e-mail]. Direct written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to [phone]. Provide written comments within 30 days of notice publication.

Proposed Project

Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB): Assessment of Processes and Outcomes—New—Center for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support (CSTLTS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) works to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S. CDC strives to fulfill this mission, in part, by supporting state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) health departments. One mechanism for supporting STLT health departments is through CDC's support of a national, voluntary accreditation program.

CDC supports the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), a non-profit organization that serves as the independent accrediting body. PHAB, with considerable input from national, state, tribal, and local public health professionals, developed a consensus set of standards to assess the capacity of state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments. The first health departments were accredited by PHAB in early 2013; as of August 2019, a total of 268 health departments (36 state, three Tribal and 229 local) as well as one statewide integrated local public health department system have been accredited. Accreditation is granted for a five-year period and the first several health departments have successfully completed the reaccreditation process. Formal efforts to assess the outcomes of the accreditation program began in late 2012 and continue to date. Priorities focus on gathering feedback for program improvement and documenting program outcomes to demonstrate impact and inform decision making about future program direction. Starting in 2012 and running through December 2019, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the social science organization NORC at the University of Chicago, led evaluation efforts. CDC will assume support of the evaluation starting in 2020 and as a result, OMB approval for data collection is being sought.

The purpose of this ICR is to support the collection of information from participating health departments through a series of five surveys. The surveys seek to collect longitudinal data on each health department throughout their accreditation process.

The respondent universe will include STLT health department directors or designees. All surveys will be administered electronically; a link to the survey website will be provided in the email invitation. The surveys will be administered on a quarterly basis and sent to all health departments that reach each milestone in the accreditation process (application, recently accredited, accredited for one year, approaching reaccreditation, and reaccreditation). Each health department will be invited to participate in each survey once (for a total of 5 surveys max per health department). The total annualized estimated burden is 100 hours. There are no costs to respondents other than their time.

Estimated Annualized Burden Hours

Type of respondents	Form name	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden per response (in hours)
STLT HD Directors or Designee	Survey 1: Applicants	60	1	20/60
STLT HD Directors or Designee	Survey 2: Recently Accredited HDs	60	1	20/60
STLT HD Directors or Designee	Survey 3: HDs Accredited One Year	60	1	20/60
STLT HD Directors or Designee	Survey 4: HDs Approaching Reaccreditation	60	1	20/60
STLT HD Directors or Designee	Survey 5: Reaccredited HDs	60	1	20/60

Jeffrey M. Zirger,

Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.