2020-00107. Proposed Information Collection Activity; Data Collection for the Next Generation of Enhanced Employment Strategies Project (New Collection)  

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    AGENCY:

    Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation; Administration for Children and Families; HHS.

    ACTION:

    Request for public comment.

    SUMMARY:

    The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is proposing data collection activities conducted for the Next Generation of Enhanced Employment Strategies (NextGen) Project. The objective of this project is to identify and rigorously evaluate innovative interventions designed to promote employment and economic security among low-income individuals with complex challenges to employment. The project will include an experimental impact study, descriptive study, and cost study.

    DATES:

    Comments due within 60 days of publication. 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.

    ADDRESSES:

    Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by emailing OPREinfocollection@acf.hhs.gov. Alternatively, copies can also be obtained 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. All requests, emailed or written should be identified by the title of the information collection.

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    To further build the evidence around effective strategies for helping low-income individuals find and sustain employment, OPRE is conducting the NextGen Project. This project will identify and test up to 10 innovative, promising employment interventions designed to help individuals facing complex challenges secure a pathway toward economic independence. These challenges may be physical and mental health conditions, a criminal history, or limited work skills and experience. The project is actively coordinating with the Building Evidence on Employment Strategies for Low-Income Families Project (0970-0537), another OPRE project focused on strengthening ACF's understanding of effective interventions aimed at supporting low-income individuals to find jobs, advance in the labor market, and improve their economic security. Additionally, the project is working closely with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to incorporate a focus on employment-related early interventions for individuals with current or foreseeable disabilities who have limited work Start Printed Page 907history and are potential applicants for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

    The NextGen Project will use a two-phased approach for approval of this proposed information collection activity. In Phase 1 (current request) the research team seeks approval to formally recruit programs, to administer the informed consent form and baseline participant survey, and to collect identifying and contact information for study participants. The project intends for these data collections to be uniform across programs selected for evaluation and it does not anticipate that they will require revisions.

    Under Phase 2 of the request, the project will update the information collection request for the remaining instruments to tailor to each program selected for the evaluation, as needed.

    The proposed information collection activities cover an experimental impact study, descriptive study, and cost study. Data collection activities for the impact study include: (1) Baseline survey and identifying and contact information data collection, (2) a first follow-up survey, and (3) a second follow-up survey. Data collection activities for the descriptive study include: (1) Service receipt tracking; (2) staff characteristics survey; (3) program leadership survey; (4) semi-structured program discussion guide (conducted with program leaders, supervisors, partners, staff, and providers); (5) semi-structured employer discussion guide (for those interventions that include an employer component); and (6) in-depth participant interviews. Data collection activities for the cost study include an Excel-based cost workbook.

    Respondents: Program staff, program partners, employer staff, and individuals enrolled in the NextGen Project. Program staff and partners may include case managers, health professionals, workshop instructors, job developers, supervisors, managers, and administrators. Employers may include administrators, human resources staff, and worksite supervisors.

    Annual Burden Estimates

    InstrumentTotal number of respondentsAnnual number of respondentsNumber of responses per respondentAverage burden hours per responseAnnual burden hours
    PHASE 1
    Baseline survey & identifying and contact information—participants10,0003,33310.421,400
    Baseline survey & identifying and contact information—staff20067500.421,407
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours, Phase 1:2,807
    PHASE 2 ESTIMATES
    First follow-up survey—participants8,0002,66710.832,214
    Second follow-up survey—participants8,0002,66710.832,214
    Service receipt tracking—program staff200672500.081,340
    Staff characteristics survey—program staff2006710.4228
    Program leadership survey—program leaders501710.254
    Semi-structured program discussion guide—program leaders401311.520
    Semi-structured program discussion guide—program supervisors and partners802711.027
    Semi-structured program discussion guide—program staff, providers802710.7520
    Semi-structured employer discussion guide—employers501711.017
    In-depth participant interview guide—participants2006712.0134
    Cost workbook—program staff4013132.0416
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours, Phase 2:6,434

    Comments: 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.

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    Authority: Section 413 of the Social Security Act, as amended by the FY 2017 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31).

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    Mary B. Jones,

    ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.

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    [FR Doc. 2020-00107 Filed 1-7-20; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 4184-09-P

Document Information

Published:
01/08/2020
Department:
Children and Families Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Request for public comment.
Document Number:
2020-00107
Dates:
Comments due within 60 days of publication. 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.
Pages:
906-907 (2 pages)
PDF File:
2020-00107.Pdf