2017-22716. Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Title: Prenatal Alcohol and Other Drug Exposures in Child Welfare (PAODE-CW) Study.

OMB No.: New Collection.

Description: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing a data collection activity as part of the Prenatal Alcohol and Other Drug Exposures in Child Welfare (PAODE-CW) Study. The study examines the current state of child welfare practice regarding the identification and provision of services for children with prenatal substance exposures, including alcohol and other drugs.

The descriptive study will document the policies and practices of child welfare agencies and related organizations to identify, assess, and refer to services children who may have been exposed to prenatal substances and/or diagnosed with a resulting condition such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The study will document procedures as well as challenges faced and lessons learned to inform the field of practice as well as policy makers, program administrators, and funders at various levels.

The proposed information collection activities consist of semi-structured interviews and surveys conducted at 28 child welfare agency sites. Focus groups conducted at 8 of the 28 sites will gather information on needs, challenges, and strategies to support children with prenatal substance exposures and their families within the child welfare system.

Respondents: State and child welfare agency directors, child welfare staff and supervisors; agency partners and service providers; and family members and caregivers of children who may have been prenatally exposed to substances.

Annual Burden Estimates

Instrument	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden hours per tresponse	Total burden hours
Interview Protocol for Local Agency Staff—Frontline Only	28	1	1	28
Interview Protocol for Local Agency Staff—Ongoing Only	28	1	1	28
Interview Protocol for Local Agency Staff—Frontline and Ongoing	15	1	1.25	19
Interview Protocol for Local Agency Medical Staff	14	1	1	14
Interview Protocol for Local Agency Director	14	1	1	14
Focus Group of Caregivers	32	1	1.5	48
Survey Instrument for Local Agency Staff—Form A General	140	1	.5	70
Survey Instrument for Local Agency—Form B General	90	1	.5	45
Survey Instrument for Local Agency Form B Differential Response	50	1	.5	25
Survey Instrument for Service Providers	12	1	.5	6
Interview Protocol for Data Staff	6	1	1.5	9
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours				305

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: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. Email address: [e-mail]. 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 Reports Clearance Officer.