05-19771. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Office of the Secretary, Office of Assistant Secretary for Planning & Evaluation.

In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of Health and Human Services, is publishing the following summary of a proposed collection for public comment. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including any of the following subjects: (1) The necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

Type of Information Collection Request: Regular Clearance;

Title of Information Collection: Survey of Frontline Supervisors of Direct Service Workers Participating in the Better Jobs Better Care Demonstration;

Form/OMB No.: OS-0990-New;

Use: The President's New Freedom Initiative specifies goals for enhancing the direct service workforce availability and capability. There is currently a major shortage of direct care workers—nursing assistants, home health aides, and personal care attendants—who provide care and support to elderly people with chronic diseases and disabilities. Worker shortages are certain to grow as the demand for long-term care increases with the aging population. Thus, recruitment and retention of direct care workers has become an issue of great interest to policymakers, regulators and industry leaders. The proposed survey will ensure that HHS and other Federal, state, and local agencies have timely data available on the central role of frontline supervisors in direct care workers job quality and turnover.

Frequency: Reporting, on occasion;

Affected Public: Individuals or households, business or other for profit, not for profit institutions;

Annual Number of Respondents: 845;

Total Annual Responses: 845;

Average Burden Per Response: 30 minutes;

Total Annual Hours: 1,005;

To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access the HHS Web site address at http://www.hhs.gov/​oirm/​infocollect/​pending/​ or e-mail your request, including your address, phone number, OMB number, and OS document identifier, to [e-mail], or call the Reports Clearance Office on [phone]. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collections must be received within 30-days, of this notice directly to the Desk Officer at the address below: OMB Desk Officer: John Kraemer, OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, Attention: (OMB #OS-0990-NEW), New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington DC 20503.

Dated: September 21, 2005.

Robert E. Polson,

Office of the Secretary, Paperwork Reduction Act Reports Clearance Officer.